Manali & Surroundings

Introduction

Before you hit the high passes, the perfect acclimatisation ride is a gentle loop through the ancient heart of Manali. The 16th-century Hadimba Temple, built around a sacred cave and surrounded by a dense deodar forest, is the spiritual centre of the valley.

From the temple, a short ride or walk takes you up to Old Manali. Separated from the bustling new town by the Manalsu River, Old Manali retains its traditional Kath Kuni architecture, apple orchards, and a thriving backpacker cafe culture.

The Loop

• Dhungri Van Vihar: The ancient deodar (cedar) forest surrounding the temple. Trees here are hundreds of years old.
• Hadimba Devi Temple: A four-tiered pagoda-style wood and stone temple built in 1553. The presiding deity of Kullu Valley.
• Manu Temple: Located higher up in Old Manali village. Dedicated to the sage Manu, the creator of human life in Hindu mythology, after whom Manali is named.
• Old Manali Cafes: Stop for Israeli food, freshly baked bread, or trout while overlooking the river.

Introduction

Just 3 km north of Manali on the eastern bank of the Beas River lies Vashisht. The village is famous for its geothermal sulphur springs, which channel into Turkish-style bathhouses inside a 4,000-year-old stone temple dedicated to the sage Vashishta.

Beyond the temple, a beautiful pine forest trail leads to Jogini Waterfall, a sacred waterfall cascading 160 feet down a sheer rock face. This is one of the most rewarding short treks in the entire valley.

The Trek to Jogini

The trail begins behind the Vashisht temple. It winds through apple orchards, small streams, and dense pine forest. The path is well-marked and relatively flat until the final ascent to the base of the waterfall.

At the base of the falls is a small pool and a shrine to the village goddess Jogini. The water is freezing, but the spray and the energy of the place are incredible. You can climb higher up the side of the waterfall for an even more spectacular view of the Kullu Valley.

Introduction

Bhrigu Lake is not for the faint of heart, but it is one of the most rewarding high-altitude treks accessible from Manali. Named after the sage Maharishi Bhrigu, who is said to have meditated here, the lake sits in a glacial bowl at 4,300 metres.

What makes Bhrigu special is its alpine meadows. While most Himalayan treks require days of walking through tree lines before reaching high meadows, the Bhrigu Lake trek puts you in sweeping, green alpine meadows on the very first day. The lake itself changes colour from emerald green to deep azure depending on the season and sky, and remains frozen for half the year.

Trek Itinerary

What to Expect

• Terrain: Steep forest ascents, wide alpine meadows, rocky moraine near the lake.
• Views: Unobstructed views of the Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar ranges, including Hanuman Tibba and Seven Sister peaks.
• Preparation: This is a high-altitude trek. Proper acclimatisation in Manali for 1-2 days prior is strictly recommended.

Introduction

For millennia, the Beas River has given life to the Kullu Valley. The Beas Kund trek takes you to the river's very source — an emerald glacial lake hidden in a massive amphitheatre of rock, ice, and 5,000-metre peaks including Friendship Peak, Shitidhar, and Hanuman Tibba.

Legend says the great sage Vyas (who wrote the Mahabharata) bathed in this alpine lake, giving the river its original name, Vipasha. It is a visually explosive trek that offers high-mountain glacial scenery with moderate effort.

Trek Overview

The trek starts from Dhundhi (accessed via Solang Valley). The trail follows the young Beas River through forests of oak and fir before opening out into the vast, sweeping meadows of Bakarthach. From the meadows, the trail climbs over the moraine (glacial debris) to reveal the hidden lake.

Introduction

Nestled between Solang village and Beas Kund, Solang Valley is Himachal's premier adventure sports destination. In summer, the valley is a lush green bowl dotted with grazing horses and colourful paragliders spiraling down from the peaks. In winter, it transforms into a snow-covered resort for skiing and snowboarding.

Summer Activities (April - October)

• Paragliding: Two options available. The 'short flight' is a 1-minute hop. The 'high fly' requires taking the gandola to Mt. Phatru (3,200m) for a stunning 15-minute flight down into the valley. Highly recommended.
• Zorbing: Rolling down the steep grassy hills inside a massive transparent PVC ball.
• ATV Rides: Dirt tracks carved into the valley edges for quad biking.
• Solang Ropeway (Cable Car): A state-of-the-art cabin taking you up 500 vertical metres to Mt. Phatru for panoramic views of the Pir Panjal range.

Winter Activities (December - March)

When the heavy snows hit, usually by late December, the grass disappears. The valley floor becomes a hub for snowmobiling and tube rides, while the slopes above host skiing and snowboarding courses.

A beautiful ride down the left bank of the Beas River brings you to Naggar, the former capital of the Kullu Kingdom for 1,400 years. The highlight is Naggar Castle, built in 1460 entirely of wood and stone using the traditional earthquake-resistant Kath Kuni architecture style. It offers sweeping views of the entire valley.

Just above the castle is the Roerich Art Gallery. This was the estate of Nicholas Roerich, a legendary Russian artist, philosopher, and explorer who settled in Kullu. The museum houses his mesmerising, vivid paintings of Himalayan peaks that seem to glow with an inner light.

Rohtang translates to "pile of corpses," a grim reminder of how brutal this trading route was before modern roads. Today, it is the most famous mountain pass in India. Even in mid-summer, you will find snow walls here.

The Permit System

To protect the fragile ecology, the NGT limits vehicles to Rohtang Pass. You *must* apply for a Rohtang Pass Permit online beforehand. Permits open at specific times and sell out in minutes during peak season. NH-1 Expeditions assists our riders with this process.

The ride up is 51 km of continuous hairpin bends climbing nearly 2,000 vertical metres from Manali. Views of the glaciers surrounding the Chandra basin from the top are unparalleled.

The Atal Tunnel is an engineering marvel. At 9.02 km long, driven through the Pir Panjal range at an altitude of 3,100 metres, it bypasses the Rohtang Pass entirely and provides year-round connectivity to Lahaul.

You enter the tunnel in the lush green Kullu Valley and emerge 15 minutes later into the stark, arid, wildly dramatic landscapes of Lahaul. A short ride from the north portal brings you to Sissu, featuring a spectacular waterfall visible from the highway and the banks of the Chandra River.

Located atop a ridge high above Kullu, Bijli Mahadev (Temple of Lightning) offers true 360-degree views of the Parvati and Kullu valleys. According to legend, the 60-foot tall staff outside the temple attracts lightning to protect the valley. The lightning strikes the Shiva Lingam inside, shattering it, and the priest puts it back together using butter.

Ride from Manali to Kullu, then take the narrow, steep mountain road up to Chansari village. From there, it's a 3 km uphill trek through pine forests to the summit.

A long day ride (or perfect overnight camping trip) south toward Mandi brings you to a steep, winding road up to Prashar Lake. The lake sits in a high crater, surrounded by rolling green meadows yielding views of the Dhauladhar, Pir Panjal, and Kinnaur mountain ranges.

Inside the deep blue water is a small, perfectly circular island that actually floats and moves around the lake depending on the wind and season. Beside the lake is a stunning three-tiered pagoda temple dedicated to the sage Parashar, built in the 13th century from a single deodar tree.

A UNESCO World Heritage site, GHNP is one of the most pristine forest reserves in the Himalayas. The approach is through the Tirthan Valley, named after the crystal-clear Tirthan River flowing out of the park.

The valley is an eco-tourism hub famous for brown and rainbow trout fishing. Nearby Jibhi and Shoja are exquisite wooden villages set among dense pine and cedar forests. While motorcycles aren't allowed inside the core park area, the ride through the valley and the short hikes to park entrances provide incredible wilderness exposure.

When December arrives, the apple orchards lose their leaves and the peaks turn solid white. First snow in town usually falls around Christmas or early January. The temperature drops below freezing at night, and the valley takes on a quiet, crystaline beauty.

Riding in winter is strictly limited to lower valley roads. The high passes (Rohtang, Baralacha) are sealed shut by 10-foot snow walls. However, the Atal Tunnel often remains open to 4x4 vehicles, and Solang Valley becomes the centre of winter sports. A hot bath in the Vashisht sulphur springs is never better than when it is snowing outside.