Manali
Categories: India geography stubs | Armenia geography stubs
Manali, (alt. 1,950 m or 6,398 ft), an important hill station in the mountains of Himachal Pradesh, India, near the northern end of the Kullu Valley. It is administratively part of the Kullu District. The population is approx. 30,000.
It was the beginning of an ancient trade route to Ladakh and, from there, over the Karakoram Pass on to Yarkand and Khotan in the Tarim Basin.
Manali offers the best of northwestern Himalayan beauty, second only to Kashmir valley. The twin towns of Kullu and Manali, approximately 40 km apart lie on the Beas river valley. The Beas river if snow fed by scores of tributaries originating in the glacial peaks surrounding the valley. The highest peaks average 6000 to 6500 m above sea level.
Manali is well connected by road to Delhi through NH-21 which goes on the Leh and is the world highest motorable road. Leading upto Manali, from the capital of India New Delhi are the towns of Panipat and Ambala in Haryana, Chandigarh and Ropar in Punjab and Bilaspur, Sundernagar and Mandi in Himachal. As one moves closer to Manali leaving behind Indian continental plains one experiences a gradual change in flora, fauna, lifestyle and language of the people. Despite being at high altitudes the twin towns are still at the bottom of the valley. Moving further and higher into the mountains one starts to arrive at the periphery of the windward side led by high mountain passes onto the dry plateau type leeward side. The change in climate and lifestyle is rater abrupt. On the road from Manali to Leh one comes across various Buddhist influence with plenty of monastery towns on the arid strech .
Manali is a popular Himalayan tourist destination, and is visited by many trekkers who follow the hashish trail. Manali has is considered to be one of the best in India. It also offers hot springs, spectacular religious shrines and temples, Tibetan Buddhist temples, and trekking in the surrounding mountains.
It was also featured in Time magazine's "Best of Asia" for its "Extreme Yak Sports". Yak Skiing is a sport unique to this area.[1]
The Naggar fort east of Manali reminiscent to Insignia and power of 1500 years old Pal Dynasty. Made up of rocks-stones, ensemble of rich and elegant artworks of himachal.The castle was later converted to a rest house cum a luxury hotel offering affordabilty and luxury to tourists from worldwide.
References
- Verma, V. 1996. Gaddis of Dhauladhar: A Transhumant Tribe of the Himalayas. Indus Publishing Co., New Delhi.
- Handa, O. C. 1987. Buddhist Monasteries in Himachel Pradesh. Indus Publishing Co., New Delhi. ISBN 81-85182-03-5.
Photos Hillside view near Manali
Tibetan Buddhist temple in Manali and temple statue
de:Manali
Manali is also the name of an old district of Armenia c. 400-800