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| Hill
Stations > Manali |
| Location
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Manali |
| State
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Himachal
Pradesh |
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Once
called the "end of the habitable world,"
Manali is an important hill station of
northern India and is the destination of thousands of tourists
every year. Its cool atmosphere provides a perfect haven
for the ones afflicted by the hot Indian summers.
Besides offering quite a few places for sightseeing, Manali
is also famous for adventure sports like skiing, hiking,
mountaineering, paragliding, rafting, trekking, kayaking,
and mountain biking. In brief, Manali-the veritable "valley
of the Gods"-is an ideal place for the ones in search
of both adventure and comfort. The Kulluis in brightly patterned
puttoos, Tibetan women wearing ankle-length rainbow-striped
pinafores, Nepali porters, Buddhist monks, and even the
odd party of Zanskaris, swathed in fusty woolen gonchas,
muddled together with souvenir-hunting Indian and Western
tourists-all add up to the welcoming hubbub of Manali.
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| Situated
in the central parts of the northern state of Himachal
Pradesh, Manali is at the head of the Kullu
valley, 280 km north of the state capital
Shimla and 108 km from Mandi. Manali is perched at
an altitude of 2050 meters above sea level and is
spread along the banks of the river Beas.
In winters, the temperature can
drop below freezing point when heavy woolens are required.
Summer temperatures are mild and light woolens/cottons
are recommended. In Manali, one can find high mountains
shrouded by silent snows and deep boulder strewn gorges.
There are thick forests, filled with cool breezes
and bird song. There are fields of wild flowers, small
picturesque hamlets and fruit-laden orchards, especially
apples. |
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Manali has a pre-historic legend behind its name.
Vaivasvata, the seventh incarnation of Manu, the first
creation according to Hindu mythology, found a tiny
fish in his bathing water.The fish told him to look
after it with devotion, for one day it would do him
a great service.
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The seventh Manu cared for the fish until it grew
so huge that he released it into the sea. Before departing,
the fish warned Manu of an impending deluge when the
entire world would be submerged and bade him to build
a seaworthy ark. When the flood came, Matsya (fish),
the first avatar of Lord Vishnu, towed Vaivasvata
and the Seven Sages to safety. As the waters subsided,
the seventh Manu's ark came to rest on a hillside
and the place was named Manali after him.
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