A breathtakingly beautiful 47 kilometer drive from the Retreat, this pass forms the gateway to the iconic land of Ladakh through the Lahaul - Spiti valley. Apart from being a famous motorway for roadies accessing these areas, the pass is a famous tourist attraction for its scenic beauty, abundance of snow and several.
Open between May and November.
This famous summer and winter sports destination is located only 8 kilometers away from the Retreat. Several agencies facilitate sports such as zorbing, parachuting and paragliding, apart from providing ATVs (All Terrain Vehicles) for snow-biking purposes. Its vast slopes have made Solang valley an extremely conducive spot for skiing and snowboarding, which are rather sought after sports during the winter months. A costlier sport- heli-skiing is arranged by companies such as Himalayan Heli Adventures.
Guarded by the Manalsu River, Old Manali is a quaint and exotic pocket of the hill station. The Old Manali road is lined with Indie and Reggae cafés, eateries and souvenir shops, beyond which, it windingly leads to local habitations and apple orchards. Highly recommended for foodies, backpackers and shopping enthusiasts. Open throughout the year.
Far away from keeping up with the Old Manali charm, downtown Manali has its own story to tell nevertheless. Lined with several eateries, kiosks, souvenir and convenience stores as well as private and government offices, the Mall Road is a stretch of utilities in a nutshell. The Mall Road also boasts of the Mata Temple, famous for its wooden carvings. Open throughout the year.
Just off the NH 21 (the Leh Manali Highway), the Vashisht hot springs, apart from their geographical wonder, are known for their sulphuric healing powers. Swarms of tourists occupy the bathing tanks, while temples dedicated to Vashisht Muni and Lord Ram neighbour this natural wonder.
Hidden between the Dhungri forest, and therefore also known as the Dhungri temple, this is an ancient cave dedicated to Hadimba, a character in the Hindu epic Mahābhārata. Hadimba is known to be a Rakhshasi, who vowed to marry whoever defeated her brother Hadimb, whom she considered invincible. During his exile with his fellow Pandavas, Bhim managed to conquer Hadimb, thereafter marrying Hadimba, whose union produced the famous Ghatotkach, who has been commemorated in a temple neighbouring Hadimba’s. Open throughout the year. Several devotees worship what is believed to be Hadimba’s footprint on a block of stone. Built in circa 1553, the temple has intricate wooden carvings, as is an iconic feature of Devbhumi temples.
Located in Old Manali, this temple is dedicated to the famous Hindu lawgiver Manu. A famous legend narrates Manu having descended from his ark on to Manali to re-instil human life after a tragic flood. The etymology of Manali seems to have stemmed from the same legend. Manali is understood as a union of two words- Manu (referring to the same stage) and Alaya (meaning house), jointly referring to the home of Manu. Open throughout the year.
Nestled between the Beas and Parvati rivers, the small town of Manikaran is situated in the Parvati Valley, around 45 kilometres northeast of Bhuntar, in the Kullu district. A famous pilgrimage spot linked to the legends of Guru Nanak and Sage Manu, Manikaran’s gurudwara and temples attract numerous Sikh and Hindu devotees throughout the year. Apart from its religious significance, this town is known for its natural hot springs and scenic landscape.