Check out the various places of tourist interest near Manali. These places can be visited on a day trip from Manali. Include these excursions in your tour itinerary and make your visit to Manali more memorable.
Rohtang Pass: On a meandering uphill road, 51 km away from Manali, Rohtang Pass is an ace tourist attraction that elevates your travel experience. The pass gives summer access to the land of Lahaul and Spiti. Heavy snow closes the pass in late November which after much effort is again opened six months later by May.
As the summer picks up and snow starts to melt, tourist vehicles start making a beeline to the Pass to experience snow in the months of June to August. The tourists do also enjoy adventure activities of paragliding, trekking and skiing here. Other excursions in the area include a visit to Nehru Kund, Jogini Fall and Kothi.
Solang Valley (Nullah): An open meadow running along a slope surrounded by a deodar rich forest in the midst of high peaks around, Solang Nullah, 13 km from Manali, is one of the most beautiful tourist spots on the outskirts of the resort township. Solang bustles with tourism activity both in the summer and winters. A variety of adventure sporting activities that include quad-bike rides, zorbing, paragliding and gondola (ropeway) ride, rock climbing, ballooning, camping and mountaineering can be indulged in at Solang.
In winters, the slopes packed with snow becomes a winter sports arena for skiing where even state and national level ski championship are regularly conducted. Solang also serves as a base camp for mountaineering expeditions to Anjani Mahadev, Hanuman Tibba and Patalsu peak.
Naggar: Overlooking the valley from high up on the left bank side of the Beas River, Naggar, 22 kms from Manali, served as the capital of the principality before it moved to Sultanpur, Kullu in 1660 AD. Many monuments and temples along with a 500 year palace castle scattered around Naggar bear testimony of the importance the place once held. You can visit Nicholas Roerich Art Gallery, Vasuki Nag Temple, Tripura Sundari Temple and the Gauri Shankar Temple.
The well conserved Naggar Castle exhibits magnificent architecture, wood carvings, stone and metal craft of the times. Once a royal residence built by Raja Sidh Singh, the castle is now a museum and a heritage hotel run by Himachal Tourism. Some masterpieces from the brush of the Russian count and artist Nicholas Roerich are on permanent display at his former residence, now turned into an art gallery-cum-museum. In close proximity to Manali, Naggar is the quickest way to get off the travel grid to find solace. A blend of history and local culture, Naggar manages to maintain the arty environment with a vintage touch.
Brighu Lake: At the base of Bhrigu Peak, this small lake (altitude 4,235 meters) attracts a number of trekkers every year. Like a Himalayan jewel, the lake is flanked by snow-clad mountains on all sides. Legend has it that sage Bhrigu meditated at this place. Locals hold it sacred and believe that gods and goddesses from the valley do come here for a holy dip.
The Manali Gompa: Close to the Mall, this Buddhist monastery greets you with its bright colours. A large Buddha statue at the entrance, freshly painted facades, mowed lawns and colourful murals on the wall depicting Buddha’s life hand out a deeply spiritual experience. The monastery was built in the early 1960’s.
Mountaineering Institute, Manali: The Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports is one of the pioneer institutes of the country that has promoted adventure sports in the country. The institute offers basic to advanced level courses in mountaineering, rock climbing, trekking, river rafting, paragliding and other adventure sport disciplines.
Jagat Sukh Village: Jagat Sukh served as the capital of Kullu before it was first moved to Naggar and then to Sultanpur. The Gauri Shankar Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and the Gayatri Temple is a testimony of the times when life in the valley centred around this village.
Nehru Kund: On the way to Rohtang Pass, 5 km beyond of Manali, is a little spring fed by the sacred waters from Brighu Lake. Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first prime minister during his regular visits to Manali would only drink water from this spring. With time it has acquired the name Nehru Kund.
Manali Wildlife Sanctuary: A dense forest of deodar, kail, walnut and maple trees that shelters a lot of shy Himalayan wildlife is a great getaway for nature lovers. The sanctuary starts about 2 km from Manali. A bridle path darkened by the dense forest cover takes you past Dhungri temple to Gallant thatch. The alpine grassland and glaciers beyond Gallant thatch is a great camping site to observe the wildlife around. The birds and animals and birds that can be sighted include the Monal, Musk deer and Brown bear. Venturing further up to the snowline during summers, one can even sight Blue Sheep, Ibex and the evasive Snow leopard.
Kheerganga: Kheerganga is a paradise for nature lovers the beauty of Kheerganga attracts many trekkers or travelers every year. It is situated 99 km away from Manali. Kheerganga trek is one of the most famous treks in Himachal Pradesh.
Manikaran: Manikaran is famous for its hot springs which is situated at an altitude of 1829 m above sea level. And 81 km away from Manali. It is the perfect excursion from Manali. It has the finest hot water springs. The water of the springs is said to be radioactive.
Kasol: Kasol is a quaint village in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. It is situated in Parvati Valley, on the banks of the Parvati River, on the way between Bhuntar and Manikaran. It is located 75 km from Manali and 3.5 km from Manikaran.
Rohtang Pass: On a meandering uphill road, 51 km away from Manali, Rohtang Pass is an ace tourist attraction that elevates your travel experience. The pass gives summer access to the land of Lahaul and Spiti. Heavy snow closes the pass in late November which after much effort is again opened six months later by May.
As the summer picks up and snow starts to melt, tourist vehicles start making a beeline to the Pass to experience snow in the months of June to August. The tourists do also enjoy adventure activities of paragliding, trekking and skiing here. Other excursions in the area include a visit to Nehru Kund, Jogini Fall and Kothi.
Solang Valley (Nullah): An open meadow running along a slope surrounded by a deodar rich forest in the midst of high peaks around, Solang Nullah, 13 km from Manali, is one of the most beautiful tourist spots on the outskirts of the resort township. Solang bustles with tourism activity both in the summer and winters. A variety of adventure sporting activities that include quad-bike rides, zorbing, paragliding and gondola (ropeway) ride, rock climbing, ballooning, camping and mountaineering can be indulged in at Solang.
In winters, the slopes packed with snow becomes a winter sports arena for skiing where even state and national level ski championship are regularly conducted. Solang also serves as a base camp for mountaineering expeditions to Anjani Mahadev, Hanuman Tibba and Patalsu peak.
Naggar: Overlooking the valley from high up on the left bank side of the Beas River, Naggar, 22 kms from Manali, served as the capital of the principality before it moved to Sultanpur, Kullu in 1660 AD. Many monuments and temples along with a 500 year palace castle scattered around Naggar bear testimony of the importance the place once held. You can visit Nicholas Roerich Art Gallery, Vasuki Nag Temple, Tripura Sundari Temple and the Gauri Shankar Temple.
The well conserved Naggar Castle exhibits magnificent architecture, wood carvings, stone and metal craft of the times. Once a royal residence built by Raja Sidh Singh, the castle is now a museum and a heritage hotel run by Himachal Tourism. Some masterpieces from the brush of the Russian count and artist Nicholas Roerich are on permanent display at his former residence, now turned into an art gallery-cum-museum. In close proximity to Manali, Naggar is the quickest way to get off the travel grid to find solace. A blend of history and local culture, Naggar manages to maintain the arty environment with a vintage touch.
Brighu Lake: At the base of Bhrigu Peak, this small lake (altitude 4,235 meters) attracts a number of trekkers every year. Like a Himalayan jewel, the lake is flanked by snow-clad mountains on all sides. Legend has it that sage Bhrigu meditated at this place. Locals hold it sacred and believe that gods and goddesses from the valley do come here for a holy dip.
The Manali Gompa: Close to the Mall, this Buddhist monastery greets you with its bright colours. A large Buddha statue at the entrance, freshly painted facades, mowed lawns and colourful murals on the wall depicting Buddha’s life hand out a deeply spiritual experience. The monastery was built in the early 1960’s.
Mountaineering Institute, Manali: The Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports is one of the pioneer institutes of the country that has promoted adventure sports in the country. The institute offers basic to advanced level courses in mountaineering, rock climbing, trekking, river rafting, paragliding and other adventure sport disciplines.
Jagat Sukh Village: Jagat Sukh served as the capital of Kullu before it was first moved to Naggar and then to Sultanpur. The Gauri Shankar Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and the Gayatri Temple is a testimony of the times when life in the valley centred around this village.
Nehru Kund: On the way to Rohtang Pass, 5 km beyond of Manali, is a little spring fed by the sacred waters from Brighu Lake. Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first prime minister during his regular visits to Manali would only drink water from this spring. With time it has acquired the name Nehru Kund.
Manali Wildlife Sanctuary: A dense forest of deodar, kail, walnut and maple trees that shelters a lot of shy Himalayan wildlife is a great getaway for nature lovers. The sanctuary starts about 2 km from Manali. A bridle path darkened by the dense forest cover takes you past Dhungri temple to Gallant thatch. The alpine grassland and glaciers beyond Gallant thatch is a great camping site to observe the wildlife around. The birds and animals and birds that can be sighted include the Monal, Musk deer and Brown bear. Venturing further up to the snowline during summers, one can even sight Blue Sheep, Ibex and the evasive Snow leopard.
Kheerganga: Kheerganga is a paradise for nature lovers the beauty of Kheerganga attracts many trekkers or travelers every year. It is situated 99 km away from Manali. Kheerganga trek is one of the most famous treks in Himachal Pradesh.
Manikaran: Manikaran is famous for its hot springs which is situated at an altitude of 1829 m above sea level. And 81 km away from Manali. It is the perfect excursion from Manali. It has the finest hot water springs. The water of the springs is said to be radioactive.
Kasol: Kasol is a quaint village in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. It is situated in Parvati Valley, on the banks of the Parvati River, on the way between Bhuntar and Manikaran. It is located 75 km from Manali and 3.5 km from Manikaran.
