Be it a summer or a winter, Manali, a small town situated on the hills of Himachal Pradesh is a must visit place in one's lifetime. The evergreen scenery or the white snow as the case maybe, and cool wind waving around refreshes your mind, body and soul, in the backdrop of the playfully gurgling snow-fed Beas river. The place is a kind of a jewel and if you are looking for fun, adventure or romantic journey it is one of the best. The best time to visit Manali according to me is in December end when the snowfall starts. The sight and feel of snowfall and the snow flakes caressing your face is just beyond description. But if it doesn't suit you, the next best time to go there is between April and June. I assume, you would do snow point, skiing, snow bikes and other ice sports, or para-gliding in summer, Rohtang pass, Hidimba temple etc. on your visit to Manali. But there are things which you would, in all probability, miss out but should not. Here I describe to you the five off beat things to do in Manali.
Though there are many sports and adventure activities that you can choose at reasonable rates, I recommend you to go for either trekking or rock climbing. For those who want to enjoy a lighter version of activity, trekking in the area is something else; you'll be amazed to know that the temptation of taking on the mighty mountains attracts a lot of rock climbing enthusiasts to Manali !
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Visit Tibetan monastery. The architecture of the monastery is the style of Tibetan architecture designed with colorful frescoes. Here, lamas are trained as preachers and performers of religious rites in the monastery. The monastery also runs a Thanka school of arts and a carpet-weaving centre to preserve ancient Tibetan art. You can also buy these articles of handicraft.
Enjoy hot springs in a small village called Vashist named after a sage of the same name. It has a multitude of small temples as well. Vashisht is blessed with an unlimited supply of scalding hot water, and the townsfolk are appropriately grateful. You can bask in the pleasure of bathing in natural sulfur hot springs. There are two individual tanks for both men and women. For more elegant ones, Turkish shower facility is also provided. Again you can have the ease of getting hot water to bathe in the springs located in and around.
Take part in some cooking classes and learn to cook the local delicacies under the guidance of a local lady. There are quite a few of cooking classes happening in Manali, some of which have their websites as well. You can also decide on the menu from the variety of dishes offered. And you can take back all the dishes you cooked and more!
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Shop to your heart's content. The place has rich tradition of handicrafts and handlooms, which make for pleasant shopping in Manali. A variety of utilities and objets d'art made of wood would definitely catch your eyes. Shawls are sold all over Manali. Expect to pay from Rs300 for a lambs wool shawl to more than 10000 for the exquisitely embroidered shawls worn by village women. Tibetan handicrafts can also be bought as antiques, souvenirs or gifts. Relive these moments by staying at the Club Mahindra's luxurious property Snowpeaks at Manali. Each room of this resort has a view of the abundant apple orchards and the majestic, snow-capped mountains, and enough amenities to make sure your stay is comfortable.
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Manali is a town where time stands still, it is where lush greenery, snow capped mountains meet tourists, giving them a wide range of memorable experiences. the Kullu-Manali Valley remain among the best places in the Himalayan region, an escape from the city life and being one with nature. Club Mahindra Snowpeaks resort is nestled amidst beautiful apple orchards and rolling meadows, adding to the beauty of the experience.
