Top things to see and do in Manali
Hadimba Devi Temple (Dhungri). Manali's signature monument and its spiritual anchor, this striking four-tiered wooden pagoda stands in a grove of towering deodar cedars on the edge of town. Built in 1553 by Maharaja Bahadur Singh, it is dedicated to Hadimba (Hidimba) Devi, the demon-queen who, in the Mahabharata, married the Pandava prince Bhima and is worshipped here as a local goddess. The temple is famous for its intricately carved doorway and the natural rock over which it was raised. It is a working shrine, busiest during the Dhungri fair in May; entry is free, though there may be small charges for parking and cameras. Dress modestly and remove shoes at the sanctum. Nearby stands a smaller shrine to Ghatotkacha, Hadimba and Bhima's son.
Old Manali. Across the Manalsu stream from the main town, Old Manali is the original village that grew into a counter-culture haven. Apple orchards, slate-roofed old houses, guesthouses and a celebrated strip of cafes make it the town's most atmospheric quarter — a place to wander slowly, drink coffee by the river, and feel the legacy of the 1960s–70s hippie trail that still colours its music and menus. It is walkable from the Mall and comes especially alive from spring through autumn; parts of it wind down in deep winter.
Manu Temple. Tucked into Old Manali about three kilometres from Hadimba, this temple is dedicated to the sage Manu, the mythological progenitor of humankind and lawgiver from whom the town takes its name — reputedly the only temple to him in India. It is a modest stone-and-wood shrine reached through the old village lanes, quiet and atmospheric, and worth the short uphill walk as much for the village atmosphere as for the temple itself. Entry is free; dress and behave respectfully as at any active shrine.
Vashisht village, temple and hot springs. About three kilometres from Manali on the opposite bank of the Beas, the old village of Vashisht is named after the sage Vashisht, one of the seven great rishis of Hindu tradition. Its ancient temple sits beside natural sulphur hot springs whose waters are long believed to have healing, skin-curing properties; there are separate bathing tanks for men and women, and bathing is traditionally free. The village has become a low-key traveller hangout in its own right, with cafes and a fine view up the valley. Come early to bathe before the crowds, and treat the springs as the place of pilgrimage they are.
Solang Valley. About 12–14 kilometres northwest of Manali, Solang (Solang Nala) is the valley's adventure playground, set beneath the glaciers of the Pir Panjal. In the green months it is a hub for paragliding, zorbing (rolling downhill inside a giant inflatable ball), horse riding and ATV rides; in winter it becomes a skiing and snowboarding centre with instructors and hire shops, and a ropeway/gondola carries visitors up for the views and the snow. It is hugely popular, so it gets busy and can feel commercialised in peak season. Activity prices vary by operator and by the length of a paragliding flight or ropeway ride; agree the rate and what it includes before you commit, and verify current fees before visiting.
Rohtang Pass. The historic high gateway north of Manali, Rohtang sits at 3,978 metres (about 13,050 feet), roughly 51 kilometres up a dramatic mountain road, and for most visitors it is the snow-and-glacier experience. It typically opens from around mid/late May to October, once the BRO clears the winter snow, and stays closed through the snowbound months; it is also closed every Tuesday for maintenance. Crucially, access is restricted and requires a permit — the number of vehicles is capped daily, permits are issued online through the official district portal, and there is a fee (see day-trips for the mechanics). Note that many "Rohtang" tours now actually stop short of the pass at snow points like Marhi, and that with the Atal Tunnel open you no longer need Rohtang to reach Lahaul. Go for the pass itself, the alpine scenery and the snow — but plan around the permit, the Tuesday closure and the season.
Atal Tunnel and the gateway to Lahaul. One of Manali's newest and most remarkable attractions is a piece of engineering. The Atal Tunnel, inaugurated on 3 October 2020 and built by the Border Roads Organisation, runs 9.02 kilometres beneath the Rohtang massif and is billed as the longest highway tunnel above 10,000 feet in the world. Its south portal is about 25 kilometres from Manali; the north portal emerges near Sissu in the Lahaul Valley, a stark, high, cold-desert landscape that was cut off by snow for roughly six months a year before the tunnel existed. Now you can drive through in minutes and spend a day in Lahaul year-round — visiting Sissu with its waterfall and lake, or continuing to Keylong. There is no toll to drive through, but obey the posted speed limit and the no-stopping rule inside the tunnel. It has become a popular half-day or full-day outing in its own right.
Jogini Falls. A rewarding short hike from Vashisht, this multi-tiered waterfall is reached by a gentle trek of a couple of kilometres through apple orchards and pine forest, following the stream up the hillside. It is a favourite easy walk — a taste of the valley's trekking without commitment — ending at a cascade considered sacred locally. Wear proper shoes, as the path can be slippery near the top, and go in daylight.
Naggar Castle. About 21 kilometres down the valley toward Kullu, Naggar was the old capital of the Kullu kingdom, and its medieval castle — built around 1460 by Raja Sidh Singh — perches on the hillside above the Beas at roughly 1,850 metres. A fine example of Himachali wood-and-stone hill architecture, it is today run as a heritage property by HPTDC and can be visited for its courtyards, carved shrine and sweeping valley views. Naggar is also home to the Nicholas Roerich Art Gallery, the hilltop home of the Russian painter and mystic who settled here, now a museum. A small entry fee applies at these sites; verify before visiting.
Tibetan monasteries and the town's crafts. Manali has a settled Tibetan community, and its gompas (Buddhist monasteries) near the bazaar — with their bright prayer halls, murals and a Tibetan carpet-weaving and handicraft centre — are worth a quiet half-hour. Together with the Tibetan market on the Mall, they are a good place to understand the trans-Himalayan cultures that meet in this valley, and to shop for carpets, thangkas, woollens and curios (bargaining expected).
Nehru Kund and the Beas walks. On the road toward Rohtang, Nehru Kund is a cold, clear natural spring; simpler pleasures closer to town include riverside walks along the Beas, the club house and hot-spring baths, and the forest paths above Old Manali. These low-effort options fill the gaps between the big-ticket excursions and are ideal on an easy day.