The fabled musk deer searches the world over for the source of the scent, which comes from itself.
In the same way hoards of tourists visit Manali every year but very few go beyond visiting the uber popular tourist spots.
For me, Manali is not any other hill station. It is home for me. In spite of visiting it quite often, I have found hidden gems here. The joy of the exploring the unexplored paths is unparalleled. And I often bypass the touristy spots to tread on unknown paths that lead to hidden treasures. My plans are mostly fluid and depend on local knowledge of local people and Google baba - my 24x7 Travel Guru.
Snowscapes in Manali
Here are 8 hidden places to visit near Manali and most of them are best explored on foot.
1. Goshal:
A 2 kms scenic trek through apple orchards and pine trees from Manu Temple leads you to Goshal village. It is a trek mostly frequented by foreigners. Not many Indians explore this gorgeous route near Manali. Don't be surprised if you get invited for a cup of tea and biscuits at any local's house. And if you are lucky, you might get to taste freshly brewed chang. Some of the houses in this ancient village are as old as 600-700 years. The Beas stream separates the Goshal village from Bhang. When you visit Bhang, don't forget to have the finger-licking tasty sarson ka saag and makki di roti from "Ludhiyana Ki Rasoi" dhaba.
Scenic view of the Goshal village near Manali
2. Shanag and Burua:
Away from the hustle bustle of Manali lie the picturesque villages of Shanag and Burua. The driveway through apple orchards is something that dreams are made up of. This a place near Manali where most of the high-end luxury cottages are coming up and in the next 5-10 years this will be the most sought after place in Manali. Near Burua village is the famous Nehru kund from where Pandit Jawahar Lal used to drink water. The sturdy suspension bridge over the river Beas at Burua is a picturesque spot that offers the majestic view of Rohtang Range and nearby flowing river Beas.
The road to Burua from Manali
3. Gulaba:
As the name suggests, Gulaba is famous for Himachali Flora and Fauna and is often referred to as valley of flowers. It is a good picnic, photography and paragliding spot. The trek for Bhrigu Lake starts here. In winters, this is the last point up to which vehicles are permitted to go. In winters, from November to May, when Rohtang is inaccessible due to snowfall the skiing and winter sports are held at Gulaba.
Gulaba: A photographer's delight
4. Vashisht:
Around 3km from Manali, across the Beas River, is Vashist. A small village famous for natural Sulphur Springs. The Vaishisht Sulphar Springs have amazing medicinal and healing properties, curing all kind of internal and external pains. The Vashisht temple here is believed to be more than 4000 years old and is significantly popular amongst the locals for giving a bath to their local Devta (deity) before any big or small puja. When visiting Vashisht, do check out the World Peace Cafe, a rooftop cafe in Hotel Surbhi, that offers amazing Mountain View along with Italian, Mexican and Israeli food. And if you like walking in wilderness, then be amazed to find two beautiful waterfalls in the vicinity. By trekking for 2 kms from Vashisht Temple you can reach Jogini Falls and if you trek straight for 2kms you can reach the Vashisht waterfalls.
Festivities in the Vashisht Temple Courtyard, Manali
5. Jagatsukh:
Located on the left bank of the Beas, Jagatsukh is one of the largest villages in Kullu district. A road from Naggar to Manali runs through the village. It is 12km from Naggar and 6km from Manali and is famous for its 5000 years old ancient temples like Jagatsukh Siva Temple and Saraswati Gayatri Mata Temple.
Jagatsukh Shiva Temple
6. Naggar:
A historic place near Manali glorifying the past through the stunning Naggar Castle, Roerich Art Gallery and various antique temples like Gauri Shankar Temple, Tripura Sundari Temple, Vishnu Temple and Jagtipath Temple, which is located in the castle premise itself. Nestled on the left bank of Beas, Naggar is slowly becoming a preferred Place to visit near Manali for travellers who want to spend some quality time in the lap of nature. The Naggar Castle offers the most splendid Kullu Valley view. Watching the sunset while sipping your evening tea or having a dinner under a blue star-studded sky is something that you should not miss.
A view from the Naggar Castle
7. Rumsu:
If you walk 4 kms ahead of Naggar you reach Rumsu, a 1000 years old ancient village, which has still not lost its unique old world charm. Like Malana, Rumsu village too worships Jamlu devta. It is a base camp for the Chandrakhani Pass trek that leads you to Malana.
Temple dedicated to Jamlu Devta at Rumsu, Manali
8. Pangan Monastary:
This was a serendipitous discovery for me. Not even locals knew much about it. It is close to Patlikuhl, 30kms south from Manali. The Kullu Valley view that you get from the Pangan Gompa is completely out of the world. The Pangan Monastery houses 80 nuns and monks. In the second week of November, a weeklong death anniversary celebration of its founder Khenchen happens every year. I was fortunate enough to enjoy the festivities there.
Serenity at Pangan Monastery
So next time when you plan a Manali trip, go beyond the obvious. Explore the unexplored places near Manali and evolve from being a tourist to a traveller.
Explore. Experience. Evolve.
This entry has been shortlisted for Holidify's Travelogue Writing Contest in association with Linger. The content and pictures may not be used without prior permission of the author.
Submitted by: Archana Singh
The original post can be found here.