Located not far from the tourists places of Kullu and Manali in the state of Himachal Pradesh, the town of Manikaran is well-known for its hot springs and is considered sacred by the followers of Hinduism and Sikhism.
Manikaran is situated in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. Kullu is located at a distance of 45 km and Manali is located at an approximate distance of 85 km from Manikaran.
Those visiting Kullu and Manali make it a point to visit Manikaran and pay their obeisances at the gurudwara and the Hindu temple along with a dip in the hot springs found here.
At an altitude of 5,700 ft above sea level, the place lies close to the Parvati River. The river gets its name from mythological stories, which is connected to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi.
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The place is known for its natural hot springs, which are said to possess curative powers. Many pilgrims take a dip in these waters as away to wash their sins and few others for its medicinal properties.
Places To Visit
1. Gurudwara Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji
Also known as Gurudwara Manikaran Sahib, the Gurudwara was constructed to commemorate the visit Guru Nanak Dev. The serene location and the hot springs here, made this place a pilgrimage destination a very long time ago.
The Gurudwara is considered as one of the most holiest shrines amongst the followers of Sikhism and attracts visitors from parts of the country.
Like all Gurudwaras, Langar is offered here to the visitors irrespective of their religious beliefs. An interesting factor is that the pulses and rice are cooked in the hot springs found in the premises.
2. Ramachandra Temple
There are large number of temples in the town of Manikaran. One of the most important amongst them is the Ramachandra Temple. The priest here, claim that the idol of Rama was brought from Ayodhya and was installed here by the Raja of Kulu.
It is also said that there was an idol of Lakshman, which has now disappeared. The temple is said to be a very old one, one can find writings related to the history of the temple on its walls which are not legible.
How To Reach
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By Air: The nearest airport to Manikaran is the Bhuntar Airport, which is located at a distance of 35 km. There are regular flights operating to Delhi, Chandigarh and few other cities. The nearest major airport is the Chandigarh Airport which is located at a distance of 160 km from here.
By Train: Manikaran unfortunately does not gave a railway station. The nearest major railway station is the Pathankot Station in Punjab, which receives major trains from major towns and cities across the state and country. Pathankot is located at a distance of 300 km from here and one can hire a taxi and reach Manikaran. Joginder Nagar is yet another railway station which is located at a distance of 149 km from here.
By Road: One of the best ways to reach Manikaran is by road. The place is well-connected to all major towns and cities in the state and has quite a number of buses which operate on a regular basis from Shimla, Pathankot, Chandigarh, New Delhi etc.