Sitting in the confines of the metropolitan jungle, you dream of a vacation which would truly make you fall in love all over again with life?A vacation which would teach you to enjoy pure beauty?lush green forest, wild flowers dancing to a tune played by the wind, gurgling brooks adding to the rhythm of the wind, a plethora of colors, watching the first rays of sun painting the snow clad mountains to a rich golden hue, camping and building a fire, being a part of Mother Nature?Doesn?t this sound like a vacation of a lifetime?then discover this destination in the Valley of Gods ? Manali.

Whether you trek areas cuddled in the heart of pine forests and icy mountain caps, wave at or touch a passing cloud, breathe the crisp pine scented air, or photograph mini rainbows, created by sunlight darting through the River Beas, it is all about communing with nature. Manali, is literally a god sent reprieve from the hot plains, pollution and daily grind of life.

History
The advocate of the Hindu Law, Manu has lent his name to the beautiful valley of Manali. Manu is said to have survived a deluge that flooded earth and come to Manali to re-create life from scratch. The land is famous for being home to the maximum number of temples dedicate to Lord Vishnu in India. Pre- British rule in India, Manali was the native grounds for agriculturists and nomadic shepherds. After the British came, they started the cultivation of apples, pears and plums for which Manali continues to be famous. This small city was the beginning point for the old trade route to Ladakh and from there to the eastern parts of Asia like China and Afghanistan

How to Reach
Air
The nearest airport to Manali is in Bhuntar that is 77 kms from Manali. You can reach the city from the airport by bus or taxi.

Rail
The comfortable way to reach Manali is to catch the Delhi ? Chandigarh- Shatabdi Express. But, the nearest railway station is at Jogindar that is 166 kms from Manali. From there you can hitch a ride on the local bus or hire a taxi available outside the railway station. Also you can travel till Chandigarh by rail and then take a bus/car from there to Manali.

Road
You can get there by Road. It is well connected to Delhi, Chandigarh. The National highway passes through from Delhi to Manali. You can either take the bus from Delhi or you can take the train to Chandigarh and then a bus from there to Manali. It's a good 10-12 hour journey so make sure you're well prepared. You can also take buses from Kullu and travel through the picturesque scenery to reach Manali. You can also reach Manali from Shimla which is 280 kms away by bus. There are many private and government buses that ply the routes to and from Manali to various parts of Himachal Pradesh and Delhi

What to see
If you have trekking on your mind or are a nature lover then the Old Manali is where you should be headed. It is located across the Manalsu river and provides you with the quiet and peace you so crave for. New Manali is a town bustling with tourists and souvenir shops. It has many hotels and fun things to do. The town of New Manali is centred around the main street ? The Mall. There are many shops, hotels and restaurants available in this street. Nearby is the Manalsu River, having a bridge over it. Once you cross the bridge, you reach the quieter part which is the Old Manali. This is more of a village and is quieter and less expensive.

Vasisht Baths
This is a small village along the banks of the River Beas, 3 kilometers from the main city. It is famous for its hot springs that have sulphur in them and said to have medicinal properties. There is also a temple of Sage Vashisht and Lord Rama that is worth visiting.

Gadhan Thekchhokling Gompa
This beautiful monastery is one of the most popular monasteries in Manali. Amongst the gushing life and myriad colours, there is also an all pervading air of serenity. There are many Tibetan handicrafts like carpets and durries that you can buy from here.

Manali Sanctuary
A small path that passes the Hidambi temple leads you to the Manali Sanctuary. It is comprised of pine trees and is a dense, but well maintained forest in its own right. It has trees like deodar, kail, horsechestnut and maple. You can commune with the wild side of nature by camping in overnight tents in this almost forest like atmosphere, at the edge of civilization. You can camp with tents at Lambadug or Galiani Thatch which are camps.

Arjun Gufa
This cave is located on the banks of the Beas River, near the Prini village. This is the cave where Arjun is supposed to have meditated in order to earn the Pashupata Astra or the weapon of Lord Indra.

Jagatsukh
Located at a distance of 6 kilometers from Manali, Jagatsukh was once the capital of Kullu. It has beautiful temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and Sandhya Gayathri. It is close to the Arjun Gufa

Kothi
Some of the picnic spots around Manali are Kothi that is 12 kilometres from Manali city. This is a beautiful picturesque Cliffside that is above the Beas River. This is an ideal picnic spot.

Solang Valley
This is 14 kilometres from Manali and is a picturesque valley that has good skiing slopes and picnic spots. Besides this you can also take a look at the breath taking glacier. You can enjoy nature in all its glory especially during the sunsets when sun beams glint off the ice from the glaciers. Skiing is popular on this valley. The mountaineering institute is situated near by and provides training and equipment to tourists who wish to trek, ski or carry out mountaineering.

Rahla Falls
This is 14 kilometers from Manali and you can watch the Beas River hurtle itself from 50 meters. It is beautiful to watch and is good spot for picnics

The Club House
This is situated at the edge of New Manali and has a skating rink in it. It also has a comfortable place to sit and sip drinks and enjoy the luxury of the surroundings.

Adventure and Freaking out
If you are an adventure freak, then Manali is the place for you! The expansive adventure opportunities available here are amazing! Prepare to be one with nature and experience the exquisite beauty and ruggedness of this Himalayan town. The Mountaineering Institute that is in Aleo on the banks of the Beas River offers training as well as equipment for hikers, trekkers, mountaineers, kayaking, white water rafting and of course skiing.

Skiing
Manali is a paradise for skiing. You can go skiing near the Tibetan valley, on the roof of the world. You can ski from January to March in the Solang valley and during the summers in the Rohtang pass. The mountaineering institute situated near Solang Valley provides equipment for skiing and also trains people to ski.

Heli Skiing
Manali also has another kind adventure sports ? Heli skiing. Helicopters drop skiers onto high slopes that are as high as 5000 or even 6500 meters from where they can ski down. Experience the thrill as you ski on the roof of the world!

Kayaking
This is also possible in the Beas River. For the those who have never done so, you can receive training in Kayaking from the Mountaineering institute situated near Solang Valley and go kayaking in the Beas River.
Hiking/Trekking

Getting close to nature is one of the reasons Manali attracts tourists each year. Trekking and hiking around this region is very popular and you can actually feel the elements of the Earth in this tiny town that is cradled by mountains and has many tributaries and rivers meandering through it. There are several treks and hikes from Manali. Trekking from Manali over the Hamta Pass to Chandertal Lake or the Lake of the Moon is a popular choice. Other locations include trekking to the Beas Kund which takes about 4 days and is mostly from May to October. Other locations include Beas Kund, Malana, Lamayuru, Padum and the Pin Valley. These treks are normally during May to October and span 7-8 days.

Jeep Safari
Exploring the rugged mountainous locations in a jeep is adventurous and requires a strong backbone! Lahaul and Spiti are two remote valleys that are popular locations for Jeep safaris. You can also travel to Leh by jeep from Manali and be back. If you have a time crunch and still want to feast your eyes on the wonders of the Himalayas, then a Jeep Safari is the thing to do. It takes roughly 5 days to travel to these locations. You can also travel to the distant Indo-Tibetan border and watch the breathtaking and serene landscapes in these locales. The best season for Jeep Safari is during summer ? from Mid July to October