Manikaran Sahib

• Don't come by car if you can. Park your car wherever you are staying and walk to Manikaran. There are Volvo buses that ferry around here which create massive jams.
• Come prepared for the holy dip in the hot spring water below the Gurudwara. Food served at the gurudwara is tasty and healthy. Dont miss that.
• The scenic view of Manikaran is best visible from high ground. Try to find one. The holy town bisected by a sizeable river is beauty to behold.

We drove and drove and drove and reached Manikaran exactly in 30 hours. This included a comfy stay at a resort near Mandi overnight. Hence we were fresh and full on energy when we hit the holy city. The first glance of Manikaran gives an impression of a bowl with a liquid flowing through it. Surrounded by high hills and dissected by Parvati river, the city automatically brings the spiritual in you to fore.

Manikaran Sahib

There was ample parking on one side of the river. We parked at the end and crossed the bridge. First comes the Sri Ram temple, huge and with an open ground facing it. Then we entered the market navigating through cul-de-sac. At one point of time we were lost and had to ask for directions, the maze of gullies was confusing. Finally we reached an opening at top of which it was written in big letter 'Way to Manikaran Sahib'.

Sriram Temple, Manikaran

We entered and immediately found a warmth that was not there in open. Coming to the other side we found that hot spring that was the source of heat. It was suggested to take the dip in the hot holy waters. We took half dip and settled for a langar food. Simply prepared and served by dedicated sevaks, gurudwara langar food is something we don't miss.

Shiva Temple, Manikaran

Having delicious halwa as prasad and collecting our shoes back, we came out of the same opening and decided to visit the adjacent Shiva temple. Here also hot spring water was visible although for a different use - devotees were boiling rice in it to serve the gods and to eat later as holy food. The gushing Parvati river behind the river was an amazing sight from the temple.

Parvati River, Manikaran 

We decided to come back through the same complex gullies to our parking lot although we had figured another bridge right across Manikaran Sahib. We bought couple of bananas and dry fruits from the market and came back to our vehicle. It was time to settle down in Kasol for couple days.