I have been to quite a few hot springs in my region but this one is like no other. Located in the Parvati Valley, Himachal Pradesh, Manikaran is one of the most elegant hot water springs I have ever visited. The springs are 100% natural and are surrounded by the beautiful Himalayan Mountain Range. It is located at an altitude of 1,756 meters. The place is located 35 km away from the main Kullu town and 4 km ahead to Kasol town.
( Statue of Lord Shiva )
Hello friends!! Hope you all are doing great! Today I will be taking you on a virtual journey to one of the most famous tourist attractions in Himachal Pradesh- the natural hot water springs in Manikaran. Manikaran is well known for its beautiful landscape and hot springs.
This beautiful place is located in the foothills of the Himalayas and is covered in snow throughout the year. This place also has great religious importance for the people of the Sikh religion. Along with the hot water streams, this place also hosts a Gurudwara and various Hindu temples. The place also has a rich heritage and it witnessed significant events in the due course of history.
(The Gurudwara)
I visited this place with my whole family and my friends from Kerala- a South Indian state. They were new to the area so we planned to show them around the region. We visited the place during the daytime when the area is generally busy. There were tourists and devotees all around and the place was flooded with people. There are also some other reasons for the tourists here. The region is notorious for cannabis use and drugs. The infamous Kasol region is a hub for drug abuse but that's another story.
The place is unique in its own way as the surrounding area is covered by snow but this area has some natural hot water springs flowing through it. Manikaran is a wonder of nature and truly defines the beauty of the Himalayas. The temple in the foreground was constructed by Raja Jagat Singh in the 17th century.
It is believed that these springs rose to 12-15 feet high during the 20th century but not they have decreased significantly. Now I will narrate the legend behind the place. It is believed that when the Hindu god Shiva and his wife Parvati were praying at this place, Parvati's jewel fell into the river and was taken into custody by the serpent god-Sheshnag. Parvati asked Shiva to retrieve the jewel and he became angry to know about the capturing of the jewel by Sheshnag. He opened his Third Eye and performed Tandav, which was believed to create havoc in the whole universe. All the other gods gathered and convinced Sheshnag to return the jewel, to which he agreed. The serpent gods hissed and thereby gave rise to a stream of boiling water which we now know as the Manikaran Hot Springs.
The water of this place is believed to have medicinal powers and cures arthritis. The temperature of the springs varies from 65°C to 85°C. The springs are completely sulfur-free.
If you are planning a vacation in the Himalayas, then this place is a must-visit for everyone. The beauty of the place is mesmerizing and it feels like a different world down here.
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Hope you enjoyed today's blog. Thank You.
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Love from the Himalayas! ❤️🔥