:Manali, Himachal Pradesh
{{Short description|Town in India}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Manali
| settlement_type = Town
| image_skyline = {{multiple image
| border = infobox
| total_width = 290
| image_style =
| perrow = 1/2/2/1
|image1= Manali City.jpg
|image2=Mall Road, Manali.jpg
|image3= Dhauladhar view on the way to solang valley.jpg
|image4=Beautiful River valley.jpg
|image5=Mountains, Manali, Himachal Pradesh.jpg
|image6= Manali in winters.png
}}
| image_caption = Clockwise from top: Manali aerial view, Dhauladhar view, Mountains in Manali, Manali after snowfall, River in Manali, Mall road
| subdivision_name2 = Kullu
| established_title =
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for = Manu
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 2050
| population_total = 8096{{Cite web|url=http://www.citypopulation.de/php/india-himachalpradesh.php?cityid=0240401000|title= Manali (Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, India) - population statistics, map, and location|access-date=1 August 2014}}
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_rank = 22 (state)
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = Hindi, Pahadi
| timezone1 = IST
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = PIN
| postal_code = 175131
| area_code_type = Telephone code
| area_code = +911902
| registration_plate = HP-58
| website =
| footnotes =
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| native_name =
| subdivision_type2 = District
| subdivision_name1 = Himachal Pradesh
| subdivision_type1 = State
| pushpin_label = Manali
| subdivision_type = Country
| pushpin_map_alt = Map showing the location of Manali within Himachal Pradesh and India
| pushpin_label_position = right
| coordinates = {{coord|32.243177|N|77.189246|E|display=inline, title}}
| pushpin_map = India Himachal Pradesh#India
| native_name_lang =
}}
Manali ({{ipa|hi|mənaːliː|lang}}) is a resort town, near Kullu town in Kullu district in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh.{{Cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/photos/lifestyle-gallery/express-wanderlust-the-mountains-are-calling-head-over-to-manali-6141029/|title=Wanderlust the mountains are calling head over to Manali, Himachal Pradesh|website=theindianexpress.com}} 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 {{convert|270|km|mi|abbr=}} north of the state capital of Shimla and {{Convert|544|km|mi}} 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.Paper also Presented at the International Seminar on Disasters, Environment and Development, 9–12 December 1994, New Delhi, India –by {{cite book|author=James S. Gardner|title=Tourism and Risk from Natural Hazards: Manali, Himachal Pradesh, India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NtgsAQAAMAAJ|year=1995|publisher=Natural Resources Institute, University of Manitoba}}
Mythology
Manali is named after Manu, the progenitor of humanity in Hinduism. The name Manali is regarded as the derivative of Manu-Alaya ({{Translation|'the abode of Manu'}}).{{Cite web |title=History {{!}} District Kullu {{!}} India |url=https://hpkullu.nic.in/history/ |access-date=2022-11-23 |language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Manali Tourism, Himachal Pradesh |url=https://indiathrills.com/manali/ |access-date=2022-11-26 |website=India Thrills |language=en-US}}
Geography
Manali is located at 32.2396 N, 77.1887 E, about {{convert|547|km|abbr=on}} 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 {{convert|-7|C||abbr=on}} to {{convert|30|C|abbr=on}} over the year with the hottest day crossing {{convert|30|C|abbr=on}} and the coldest day going below {{convert|-7|C||abbr=on}}. The average temperature during summer is between {{convert|10|C|abbr=on}} to {{convert|30|C||abbr=on}}, and between {{convert|-7|C|abbr=on}} to {{convert|15|C|abbr=on}} in the winter.
Monthly precipitation varies between {{convert|31|mm|abbr=on}} in November and {{convert|217|mm|abbr=on}} in July. On average, some {{convert|45|mm|abbr=on}} of precipitation is received during winter and spring months, increasing to some {{convert|115|mm|abbr=on}} in summer as the monsoon approaches. The average total annual precipitation is {{convert|1363|mm|abbr=on}}. Manali experiences snowfall predominantly between December and the beginning of March.
File:Mountains, Manali, Himachal Pradesh.jpg
File:1 Mountain Vista scenic view from Drifter's Inn Manali Himachal Pradesh India 2016.jpg
{{Weather box
| location = Manali, Himachal Pradesh (1991–2020, extremes 1968–2020)
| metric first = Yes
| single line = Yes
| Jan record high C = 19.5
| Feb record high C = 23.5
| Mar record high C = 27.0
| Apr record high C = 30.0
| May record high C = 35.0
| Jun record high C = 33.2
| Jul record high C = 32.6
| Aug record high C = 30.6
| Sep record high C = 29.2
| Oct record high C = 30.0
| Nov record high C = 25.6
| Dec record high C = 21.5
| year record high C =
| Jan high C = 10.5
| Feb high C = 12.0
| Mar high C = 17.1
| Apr high C = 21.4
| May high C = 24.9
| Jun high C = 26.4
| Jul high C = 25.7
| Aug high C = 25.3
| Sep high C = 24.2
| Oct high C = 21.6
| Nov high C = 17.3
| Dec high C = 13.5
| year high C = 20.2
| Jan low C = -1.1
| Feb low C = 0.3
| Mar low C = 3.3
| Apr low C = 6.4
| May low C = 9.3
| Jun low C = 13.0
| Jul low C = 16.0
| Aug low C = 16.1
| Sep low C = 12.2
| Oct low C = 6.3
| Nov low C = 2.6
| Dec low C = 0.3
| year low C = 7.2
| Jan record low C = -11.6
| Feb record low C = -11.0
| Mar record low C = -6.0
| Apr record low C = -1.0
| May record low C = 1.0
| Jun record low C = 4.4
| Jul record low C = 7.4
| Aug record low C = 7.0
| Sep record low C = 3.0
| Oct record low C = -1.5
| Nov record low C = -5.0
| Dec record low C = -10.0
| year record low C =
| rain colour = green
| Jan rain mm = 90.0
| Feb rain mm = 113.7
| Mar rain mm = 154.9
| Apr rain mm = 87.7
| May rain mm = 66.4
| Jun rain mm = 89.9
| Jul rain mm = 201.5
| Aug rain mm = 217.0
| Sep rain mm = 123.4
| Oct rain mm = 24.8
| Nov rain mm = 31.3
| Dec rain mm = 38.7
| year rain mm = 1239.3
| Jan rain days = 5.6
| Feb rain days = 6.7
| Mar rain days = 8.4
| Apr rain days = 6.0
| May rain days = 6.2
| Jun rain days = 7.9
| Jul rain days = 12.9
| Aug rain days = 14.9
| Sep rain days = 8.1
| Oct rain days = 1.9
| Nov rain days = 1.8
| Dec rain days = 2.2
| year rain days = 82.6
|time day = 17:30 IST
| Jan humidity = 62
| Feb humidity = 60
| Mar humidity = 52
| Apr humidity = 58
| May humidity = 63
| Jun humidity = 66
| Jul humidity = 75
| Aug humidity = 76
| Sep humidity = 76
| Oct humidity = 69
| Nov humidity = 63
| Dec humidity = 62
|year humidity = 65
|source 1 = India Meteorological Department{{cite web
| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/Climatological%20Tables%201991-2020.pdf
| title = Climatological Tables of Observatories in India 1991-2020
| publisher = India Meteorological Department
| access-date = April 8, 2024
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205040301/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf
| archive-date = 5 February 2020
| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf
| title = Station: Manali Climatological Table 1981–2010
| work = Climatological Normals 1981–2010
| publisher = India Meteorological Department
| date = January 2015
| pages = 469–470
| access-date = 15 February 2020}}
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205042509/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf
| archive-date = 5 February 2020
| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf
| title = Extremes of Temperature & Rainfall for Indian Stations (Up to 2012)
| publisher = India Meteorological Department
| date = December 2016
| page = M69
| access-date = 15 February 2020}}
}}
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.{{Cite web|title=Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages, and towns (Provisional)|url=http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archive-date=16 June 2004|access-date=1 November 2008|publisher=Census Commission of India}}
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.{{Cite web|date=19 March 2019|title=Shimla-Chandigarh helicopter service now operating six days a week|url=https://himachaltourism.gov.in/shimla-chandigarh-helicopter-service-now-operating-six-days-a-week/|access-date=21 November 2019|website=Himachal Tourism Official Website}}
= Road =
File:Solang Valley, Road, India.jpg
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 {{convert|282|km|abbr=on}}, and the total distance from Delhi to Manali is {{convert|550|km|abbr=on}}. 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 {{convert|250|km|0|abbr=on}} away, Kiratpur Sahib {{convert|268|km|0|abbr=on}}, Kalka ({{convert|275|km|0|abbr=on}}), Chandigarh ({{convert|310|km|0|abbr=on}}), and Pathankot ({{convert|325|km|0|abbr=on}}). The nearest narrow gauge railhead is at Joginder Nagar ({{convert|147|km}}). The Kalka–Shimla Railway is a nostalgic narrow-gauge route culminating at the state capital 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.{{cite news |last1=Azad |first1=Shivani |title=Uttarakhand’s state bird monal to be conserved with help from Himachal |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/ukhands-state-bird-monal-to-be-conserved-with-help-from-himachal/articleshow/72099088.cms |access-date=1 March 2021 |work=The Times of India |date=18 November 2019 |language=en}}
See also
Further reading
- Verma, V. 1996. Gadd of Dhauladhar: A Transhumant Tribe of the Himalayas. Indus Publishing Co., New Delhi.
- Handa, O. C. 1996. Buddhist Monasteries in Himachal Pradesh. {{ISBN|978-8185182032}}.
- Penelope Chetwode 1972, 1989 "Kulu: The End of the Habitable World" ({{ISBN|9788185113203}}) Time Books International
References
{{reflist}}
- {{Cite web |title=Holiday Packages, Online Visa, Honeymoon & Tour Packages {{!}} Dreams Travel And Tour |url=https://www.dtt.tours/ |access-date=2024-08-22 |website=www.dtt.tours}}
- {{Cite web |title=Rishikesh Taxi, Rishikesh Taxi Car Rental Service |url=https://www.cabbookingrishikesh.in/ |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=www.cabbookingrishikesh.in}}
External links
{{commons category|Manali}}
- [https://himachaltourism.gov.in/destination/manali/ Himachal Tourism Official Govt Website]
- https://hpkullu.nic.in/
- https://www.explorerishikesh.in/ Explore Rishikesh, Retrieved 02 / November 2025
- https://www.cabbookingrishikesh.in/ Official Website . 19 December 2024 . Retrieved 21 November 2019 ( Contact Cab Booking Rishikesh )
{{Leh-Manali Highway}}
{{Kullu Manali Circuit}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Tourism in Himachal Pradesh
Category:Hill stations in Himachal Pradesh
Category:Ski areas and resorts in India