When heading to Manali for a vacation, two absolutely essential destinations in the itinerary are Rohtang and Solang. 14 kilometers on the north west of the main town of Manali, Solang is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Himachal Pradesh. Situated on the way to Rohtang from Manali, every year the valley welcomes tourists in huge numbers. A favorite for adventure enthusiasts, Parachuting to paragliding, horse riding to driving mini open jeeps specially available for tourists of all age groups, Solang has it all. During winters, as the valley is covered with snow, skiing is a popular sport here, with training institutes and trainers located in the valley to supervise skiers and train beginners. As the snow melts, skiing is taken over by zorbing. Another popular attraction of the valley, taking advantage of the slopes of the valley, you are likely to spot a huge transparent ball with mostly two people inside it rolling down the slope during summers, it is as much fun as it looks like. One of the most vibrant and enjoyable places in Manali, there is no way one can possibly miss this valley, while here.

Located at a distance of just 51 kilometers from the main town, Rohtang Pass can be reached only by road. The way up the hills is a treat to the eyes. As the vehicle climbs higher on the Manali- Keylong road, the beauty of the landscape around will leave you awestruck. To just curl up on your seat in the car as it begins to chill with every increasing metre on the altitude scale and gaze outside at the mesmerizing beauty of nature is absolute bliss. The pass is an experience of nature in one of its rawest forms possible, amongst mountain peaks covered with snow, breathtaking view and magnificent and sprawling landscapes and views.

Hadimba temple, away from the hustle and bustle of city life, is a peaceful place surrounded by towering deodar trees. The temple is dedicated to Hidimba, the wife of Bhima, one of the five Pandava prince from the great Indian epic Mahabharata. The main attraction of the temple is the three day Hidimba Devi Festival, which attracts devotees from all over the world and features colourful folk dance performances. Also known as the Dhoongri Temple for being located inside the Dhoongri forest, The temple is built over a huge rock jutting out of the ground. The temple has a four-tiered, Pagoda shaped roof and its doorway is engraved with legendary figures and symbols. Inside the temple, there is a 3 inch tall brass image representing goddess Hadimba Devi. There's also a shrine which is dedicated to Ghatotkacha, the son of Bhima and Hadimba, located about 70 metres from the temple. One can buy some beautiful, warm Himachali shawls from the nearby market. Also, the temple is located mere 2.5 kms away from Manali, a beautiful hill station.

This sister town to Manali too, is a hill station of dreamy landscapes and sceneries, a hub of adventure activities as well as home to a number of sacred temples and shrines. A trip to Kullu is almost synonymous to a visit to Manali, and both are almost always covered by tourists in a single trip.  From some of the most festive temples such as the Raghunath temple to ancient temples with legends around them, such as the Bijli Mahadev Temple, the temples in Kullu are both significant centers of religion and spirituality as well as are located amongst some of the best sceneries and hills of the town.  Another popular attraction here is the Pandoh Dam which offers quite a spectacular view to it visitors. Other than this, just like Manali, one can enjoy a number of activities in Kullu. These include trekking, river rafting, mountaineering,. river rafting, trekking, mountaineering and even trout fishing. Kullu is also used as the base town to reach Manikaran, Malana, Bhunter and Rohtang Pass.

Situated 7 km away from Manali, the Gayatri temple houses an idol of Goddess Gayatri, made of marble. This temple has some splendid architecture styles, is constructed with a stunning artistic finesse and with some of the most intricate woodwork. There are a few more temples around the area, such as a Shikara style Shiva temple, that one can visit.

Nehru Kund gets its name from the first Prime minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru who is said to have had water from the natural spring, when he used to stay in Manali. One still finds here some cold and pristine water running here and a breath-taking scenery of mountains and valleys all around.

Van Vihar is a simple favorite of both tourists as well as locals. This is a municipal garden located on the Mall Road and has a pond for boating surrounded by tall deodar trees watching over. Visit for some relaxed and enjoyable time amongst awe-inspiring Deodar trees and boating around the simple pond.

A wildlife sanctuary in the state of Himachal Pradesh, it has a path from Manali log huts and Dhungri temple passes through dense Deodar, Kail, Horse chestnut, Walnut and Maple forests. Musk deer, Monal and Brown bear, Leopard and Snow leopard are some of the common animals seen here. It is an uncommon tourist attraction in Manali. Especially for people who go there to enjoy the beautiful weather. But trust me, The wildlife sanctuary is going to be a good relief for you if you are visiting Manali. It is easily one of the most beautiful sanctuaries.Birds are the biggest attraction for visitors. The sanctuary is home to Monal, Tree Creepers, Chakor, Kokla, Kingfisher, Snow Pigeon, etc. It plays home to several species of migratory birds during summer.