Kullu Manali
most incredible destination in all of India

Why is Kullu Manali the most incredible destination in all of India

Oct 31, 2021 12:06 PM

Kullu-Manali has always been a favourite holiday destination among tourists in India. It is situated at a high altitude in the Himalayan region and is bustling with resorts. It is highly famous for its beautiful snow clad mountains but that’s not the only thing it resembles. Many people have no idea that Kullu and Manali are 2 different destinations just a stone throw away from each other

Story of Kullu-Manali

The story behind Kullu and Manali itself holds great importance. Manali was once known as “Manu-Alaya” which means ‘the adobe of Manu’. It is in the history that the sage named ‘Manu’, stepped off his ark here to recreate humanity after the world was deluged by a great flood. There was also an ancient temple dedicated to sage Manu in the Old Manali.

Kullu, on the other hand, had its mentions in the Ramayana and in Mahabharata. Kullu also holds importance in Vedic history, which has been conquered by several empires.

It was not until 1980s after the rise of militancy in Kashmir; Manali saw the boost in its tourism. Every corner started bustling with hotels and restaurants in this quiet town. Kullu retained most of its traditional charm even till date because it was not until the Independence; Kullu saw its first motorable road.

The tourism of Kullu and Manali has grown leaps and bounds because of its connectivity by both road and rail. The roads connecting to Kullu and Manali from different places include Dehradun (230km), Delhi (545km), Ambala (365km), and Chandigarh (310km). This makes Kullu and Manali as ideal holiday destinations all over the year.

Kullu and Manali are situated in the mountains of Himachal Pradesh, which turns them to be perfect picturesque holiday destinations for honeymooners. In fact, Kullu-Manali was not only the favourite tourist destination for Indians but also a favourite spot for foreign tourists. Kullu-Manali has a temperature ranging from sub-zero in winters to 20°C-25°C in summers, which makes them suitable for vast things to do for entertainment.

Things to do in Kullu-Manali

At times, Kullu-Manali was famous for leisure holidays, but now the situation was different. People fond of adventure packed vacation come here for zorbing or paragliding, especially during summers. Usually, in summers, when the snow cover of Solang valley is replaced by a lush green carpet of grass, zorbing is carried out here by sitting inside a giant transparent ball and rolling down in this valley. It is an outstanding experience to feel, at least once in a lifetime. Paragliding through this valley is another great thing to experience here. Having a birds-eye view of Solang Valley is the thing which draws adventure enthusiasts to these holiday destinations in summer.

Off late, tourists around the world visit Kullu-Manali for backpacking, trekking, and rafting. The white water rafting on the Beas River is a must thing on the to-do list of every tourist visiting Kullu-Manali. The best time to do rafting is around the month of June when the Beas River is in full flow. Apart from trekking and rafting, one can go for cable car rides and helicopter rides, rest assured that no one will get disappointed by the trip.

Even though monsoon brings in some unfavourable situations like landslides, it will not stop tourists from visiting Kullu-Manali. It is because the highway to Keylong, Ladakh runs through Kullu-Manali which grabs the interest of people looking to visit Ladakh and make it a point to stop here. The route that passes through Manali for Leh is filled with unprecedented beauty and is famous as one of the most beautiful road trips in India. It means that Manali is much calmer, pulling more offbeat tourists, backpackers and foreign nationals, particularly during monsoon.

Winter is an all-time favourite season to visit Kullu-Manali. One can get an extraordinary experience, something completely out of this world, in particular, during winters. The entire place is covered in snow and hotels slash their rates because of on-season. The town turns into an amateur ski destination. One can take ski lessons here or can race down on a snow scooter. Yak rides are famous here all over the year, but with a backdrop covered in snow is a must for an ultimate experience. Many are unaware of hot Sulphur baths at Manikaran in Kullu-Manali, it is definitely a must to do thing leaving a unique experience. It is not always possible to experience as it is highlighted during winters, in particular.

Places to Visit in Kullu-Manali

Apart from that, there are plenty of places to visit. Here are a few more places to visit in these holiday destinations.

1. Chandrakhani Pass

Chandrakhani Pass being a great start for trekkers, which plays a vital role in tourism here. It is one of the most beautiful passes with an altitude of 3660m. Its serenity is the thing which draws a number of trekkers here. The trek here is ultimate and of a moderate level with a total distance covered is somewhere around 35kms. It connects the Kullu valley to Manali village, which is the point of highlight.

2. Rohtang Pass

Rohtang Pass is situated at a height of 3979 meters, acting as a crown jewel for Kullu-Manali. It is famous as ‘Highest Jeep able Road in the World’, which serves as a gateway to Keylong, Lahaul-Spiti, and Pangi. According to Himalayan standards, it is not so high and no more a difficult one to trek on. But due to unpredictable blizzard and snowstorms, it was bearing a bad reputation. It is covered in snow completely during winters, which is inaccessible, but is a must visit during summers. It is open from May to November. There are plenty of activities to do here like ATV rides, Skiing, Sledging, Snow scooters etc.

3. Naggar Village

Nagger village acts as a home to Nagger Castle and gives a spectacular view of Beas valley. It was once the capital of Kullu kingdom and was situated high on the east side of Kullu. It has been all time a favourite place of a famous Russian painter and explorer named as Nicholas Roerich. Getting charmed to this location, he settled here in the 20th century. It is probably the most charming village in the Kullu valley. Few places like ‘Nicholas Roerich Art Gallery’ and ‘Gauri Shankar Temple’ are famous places to visit here.

4. Tibetan Monastery

Losar Festival is celebrated in the month of February at Tibetan Monastery. This festival marks the Tibetan New Year. It is the biggest festival for Tibetan people and celebrated in great zeal. The ceremonies during the event memorialize the struggle between good over evil. Tibetan people celebrate this festival by a chant, dance and passing fire torches on streets. It lasts for 15 days but the first three days of the festival have great importance. It is just 2 Km drive from Manali to the Tibetan monastery, which can be easily reached through cabs/taxis. One can go for GetMeCab service as it is providing local rides in Manali.

5. Great Himalayan National Park

Great Himalayan National Park has been recently added to the list of World Heritage Natural Site. It is well-known for its fauna and unique flora. One can find more than 180 bird species here. It consists of alpine meadows, high peaks of alpine and riverine forests. The Park also has a reputation for spotting mammals like Musk Deer, Himalayan Tahr, Bharal or Blue Sheep. It acts as a home for elusive Snow Leopard. It is a trekker’s paradise and the best time to visit is from the month of April to June and September to October. It gives a spectacular view of snow laden mountains.

There are several ways to travel to Kullu-Manali, but the most preferable and convenient way is to travel by road because of its exclusive connectivity. Taking the roadways to this holiday destination is highly recommended, resembling the scenic beauty of the surroundings. Driving down yourself might not be the best option as you might miss out the serene beauty of the route. There are multiple cab services, you can go for, but the most tried and tested one is ‘GetMeCab’. One can book a cab easily from Delhi, which is around 545 km away and most commonly used as a route for travel. Online booking facility is the main reason behind the preference of GetMeCab, which is a hassle-free process. Apart from it, the drivers are well trained and skilled to handle any terrain. Make sure to plan well in advance to get the best deals and discounts, covering most of what this spectacular place offers.