| Manali is one of the most beautiful towns in the | | | | North India. It is a popular Himalayan tourist destination |
| Himalayas which are almost untouched and pristine. | | | | and makes up for nearly a quarter of all tourist arrivals |
| One of the former Prime Minister's of India, Atal Bihari | | | | in Himachal Pradesh. |
| Vajpayee has given a very beautiful description of | | | | Winter Sports in Manali: Over the years, Manali has |
| Manali in one of his poems named "Bulati Tumhe | | | | gained recognition for adventure sports like skiing, |
| Manali" which literally implies Manali Hails You. He has | | | | hiking, mountaineering, mountain biking etc. One of the |
| likened the place to an eternally enchanting fairyland | | | | unique sports in the area is the Yak Skiing which was |
| with its snowy mountains, rivers, streams and forests. | | | | also featured by the Times magazine as the "Best of |
| He has also named it "a land of celestial beings where | | | | Asia" for "Extreme Yak Sports." |
| even Gods frolic and play" and where the almond | | | | Skiing: The Manali area is most suitable for winter as |
| trees and hot sulphur springs abound. According to him, | | | | well as summer skiing. The best months to ski in Manali |
| "Manali is as much a friend and comforter as a | | | | is from December to February. The place has natural |
| fragrant balmy breeze in inferno-like heat." | | | | slopes and in the summer months one can ski at some |
| All this and much more encompass the magic of this | | | | locations in Narkanda. |
| small quaint Himalayan town, which till a few decades | | | | Heliskiing: One of the most hair-raising sport literally!!! |
| back was almost invisible on the tourist map of India. | | | | The helicopter drops the skier on top of a snow |
| But with the rising insurgency in Kashmir, people | | | | capped peak and then the person has to come down |
| started directing their attention towards this place. | | | | the mountain crisscrossing his/her way through |
| Manali is located at an altitude of 1,950 meters in the | | | | unknown ridges and routes. It is a test of the risk taking |
| Beas River Valley and is situated at the northern end | | | | capacity of the sportsperson. The best places to |
| of the Kullu Valley. It is the administrative part of the | | | | explore this sport are Hanuman Tibba, Deo Tibba, |
| Kullu district. It has been a trade route since ancient | | | | Rohtang Pass and Chandrakhani Pass in the Manali |
| times and leads to Ladakh, over to the Karakoram | | | | region. |
| Pass on to Yarkand and Khotan in Tarim Basin. | | | | Winter Carnival: This is one of the two winter fairs |
| The town is named after the ancient and revered | | | | organized in the state, with the other being in the state |
| Brahmin lawgiver Manu. The word Manali literally | | | | capital, Shimla. This carnival is organized in February |
| translates into the "Abode of Manu." There is also an | | | | when there is plenty of snow and tourists can engage |
| ancient temple in this town which is dedicated to this | | | | themselves in the winter sports organized at |
| sage. The town and the surrounding area is of great | | | | snow-capped Rohtang Pass and the ski slopes of |
| significance to the Indian culture and heritage as it is | | | | Solang Valley. |
| described as the "Home of the Saptarshi" or the | | | | So any person who can dare to face the harsh cold |
| Seven Sages. | | | | winter months of the Himalayas must surely visit this |
| The climate in Manali is freezing in the winters and is | | | | Valley of Gods and experience the sports activity in its |
| moderately cool during the summers. It makes for a | | | | full glory. Manali Hails You!!! |
| pleasant contrast from the summers of the plains of | | | | |