Manali

Manali takes its name from Manu — the sage who, in Hindu mythology, survived a great flood to become the progenitor of humanity. The Manu Temple in Old Manali, one of the few temples in India dedicated to Manu, marks the spot where he is believed to have meditated after the waters receded. It frames Manali as nothing less than the birthplace of human civilisation.

The Hadimba Temple (1553 CE) is a masterpiece of kath-kuni architecture — alternating layers of stone and deodar timber that flex during earthquakes rather than cracking. It is dedicated to Hadimba Devi, wife of Bhima from the Mahabharata, and the pagoda's four-tiered wooden roof has survived nearly five centuries of Himalayan winters without major repair.

Kullu Valley's recorded history includes periods under the Mandi and Kullu rajas, Sikh governance under Ranjit Singh, and British colonial rule. The British 'discovered' Manali as a hill station in the 1860s, and its population of European-style cottages dates from that era. The apple economy that transformed the valley was introduced by British missionaries in the early 20th century.

Old Manali and Vashisht became backpacker legends in the 1970s when the hippie trail passed through. Today they retain a slower, more bohemian character than Mall Road — stone lanes, riverside cafés, and a community that includes long-term residents from across India, Israel, Japan, and Europe.