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Manali Tourist Information |
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Introduction:
Himachal's main tourist resort, Manali , stands at the head of the Kullu Valley, 108km north of
Mandi. Despite lying at the heart of the region's highest mountain ranges, it remains easily accessible by
road from the plains. One can have a panoramic view of apple orchards and thick pine forests to
the eternal snowfields of Solang Nala, which shine a tantalizing stone's throw away to the north.
With the continuing troubles in Kashmir, Manali has become increasingly popular with tourists,
giving rise to an eclectic mix of honeymooners, holiday-makers, hippies, trekkers and traders. |
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How To Reach:
Air : The nearest airport is at Bhuntar (50 km).
Road : By road the distance from Delhi via Mandi is 585 km, and from Shimla the distance is 270 km. From
Shimla, Chandigarh and Delhi, Himachal Tourism plies luxury buses to Manali
Rail : The nearest narrow gauge railhead is at Jogindernagar (135 km). The nearest broad gauge railheads are
at Chandigarh (310 km), and Ambala (355 km). |
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Best Season:
In winter, the temperature can drop to below freezing point. Summer temperatures are mild. Therefore, the best season to visit Manali is from April to July, September to November.
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Facts and Figures:
Area: 5.12 sq, kms
Language: Hindi, English and Himachali
Altitude: 1926m
Rainfall: 1520 mm
Temperature Summer : Max 25ºC, Min 15ºC.
Winter : Max 5ºC, Min -5ºC.
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Festivals:
The festivals which are celebrated in Manali are :-
Lohri :- This is celebrated in mid-january day and also commemorates the last sowing of the Rabi crops.
Community bonfires, folk songs and dancing mark the festival.
Baisakhi :- It is one of Himachal's most important festivals. Rooted in the rural agrarian tradition,
it bids a final farewell to winter. Numerous village fairs complete with wrestling, dancing
and archery are also held on this day.
Dussehra :- They pay homage to lord Raghunath while music and colour fill the Silver valley. Numerous
stalls offer a variety of local wares. This is also the time when the International Folk festival celebrated. The Jwalamukhi temple in Kangra becomes the venue for a major fair.
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History:
Manali's `history' is really more myth than history. According to Hindu mythology, Manali was the home of the lawgiver Manu. Vaivasvata, the seventh incarnation of Manu, the first creation according to Hindu mythology, found a tiny fish in his bathing water. The fish told him to look after it with devotion, for one day it would do him a great service. The seventh Manu cared for the fish until it grew so huge that he released it into the sea. Before departing, the fish warned Manu of an impending deluge when the entire
world would be submerged and bade him to build a seaworthy ark. Manu and the gods were towed to dry ground by a giant fish, which was the seventh `avatar' of the god Vishnu. He is supposed to have survived when the world was drowned in Flood. Thus Manali derviced its name from Manu.
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