Manali is a resort town, near Kullu town in Kullu district in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It is situated in the northern end of the Kullu Valley, formed by the Beas River. The town is located in the Kullu district, approximately 270 km north of the state capital of Shimla and 544 km northeast of the national capital of New Delhi. With a population of 8,096 people recorded in the 2011 Indian census Manali is the beginning of an ancient trade route through Lahaul (H.P.) and Ladakh, over the Karakoram Pass and onto Yarkand and Hotan in the Tarim Basin of China. Manali is a popular tourist destination in India and serves as the gateway to the Lahaul and Spiti district as well as the city of Leh in Ladakh.

Mythology

Manali is named after Manu, the progenitor of humanity in Hinduism. The name Manali is regarded as the derivative of Manu-Alaya. In Hindu cosmology, Manu is believed to have stepped off his ark in Manali to recreate human life after a great flood had deluged the world at the end of an cyclic age. The Kullu Valley in which Manali is situated is often referred to as the "Valley of the Gods". An old village in the town has an ancient temple dedicated to the sage Manu.

Geography

Manali is located at 32.2396 N, 77.1887 E, about 547 km north of New Delhi.

Climate

Manali features a subtropical highland climate (Cfb) with warm summers, relatively cold winters, and a high diurnal temperature variation. The temperatures range from -7 C to 30 C over the year with the hottest day crossing 30 C and the coldest day going below -7 C. The average temperature during summer is between 10 C to 30 C, and between -7 C to 15 C in the winter. Monthly precipitation varies between 31 mm in November and 217 mm in July. On average, some 45 mm of precipitation is received during winter and spring months, increasing to some 115 mm in summer as the monsoon approaches. The average total annual precipitation is 1363 mm. Manali experiences snowfall predominantly between December and the beginning of March.

Demographics

Manali has grown from a trading village to a small town. As of the 2011 census of India, its population was 8,096. In 2001, Manali had an official population of 6,265. Males constituted 64% of the population and females 36%. Manali had an average literacy rate of 74%, male literacy was 80%, and female literacy was 63.9%. 9.5% of the population was under six years of age.

Transport

Air

The nearest airport Kullu–Manali Airport (IATA code KUU) is at Bhuntar town in Kullu. The airport is also known as Kullu-Manali airport and has more than a kilometer-long runway. Air India has regular flights to the airport from New Delhi.

Helicopter taxi service

Pawan Hans, the Government charter agency, provides helicopter-taxi service connecting Shimla to Chandigarh, Kullu, Kangra and Dharamshala.

Road

Manali can be reached from Delhi by national highway NH 1 up to Ambala and from there NH 22 to Chandigarh and from there by national highway NH21 that passes through Bilaspur, Sundernagar, Mandi and Kullu towns. The road distance from Chandigarh to Manali is 310 km, and the total distance from Delhi to Manali is 570 km. Bus services are available from HRTC (Himachal Road Transport Corporation), HPTDC (Himachal Tourism Development Corporation), and private operators.

Railway

There is no close railhead available close to Manali. The nearest broad gauge railheads are at Una 250 km away, Kiratpur Sahib 268 km, Kalka (275 km), Chandigarh (310 km), and Pathankot (325 km). The nearest narrow gauge railhead is at Joginder Nagar (147 km). The Kalka–Shimla Railway is a nostalgic narrow-gauge route culminating at the state capital of Shimla wherefrom one has to travel by road to Manali.

Environmental concerns

Manali has witnessed a flurry of activity related to hydroelectric power and tourism. Unplanned and rampant construction has led to severe depletion of forests and pollution of river bodies, along with garbage being disposed of on the side of the mountains. There has been a loss of habitat to various species of fauna, not limited to the Himalayan monal, incidentally the state bird of Uttarakhand.