At the northern end of the Kullu valley, on the banks of the Beas River, is the ancient city of Manali, an important mountain resort, which is called by the locals the "Queen of Hills". Surrounded by peaks of a magisterial height, the city is located below the limit of snow, at 1950 m altitude. The word Manali means "house of Manu". Manu is a personage of mythology, who descended from his Ark to Manali, and survived after the world had sunk during the deluge. According to legend, Manu recreated human life and helped it spread, for this reason, Hindus consider the whole area sacred.
All the local temples are famous places of pilgrimage. The temple of the goddess Devi Hidimba, also called the Dhungri Temple, which is located above the city, in the midst of a thousand year old cedar forest, is an important place of worship for honeymooners. The four-storey pagoda-shaped complex was built in 1553 and seduced with its magnificent sculptures. Local attractions include the many Tibetan Buddhist temples and monasteries in the area. In economic terms, Manali is a fruit-growing center. The landscape is characterized by traditional clay and stone houses and orchards of apple, pear and plum trees. Rohtang Pass, Solang Valley, Mall Road etc are other prime tourist destinations in Manali.
Due to its mild climate in summer, Manali is a popular hill station & resort and one of the main places for mountaineers in Asia. The city is located at the beginning of an old trade route leading to Ladakh, and continues through the Karakoram pass. A beautiful landscape invites visitors to countless trekking, climbing and adventure sports. Hiking, mountain biking, paragliding, kayaking and skiing and snowboarding holidays are offered.