Parvati Valley : Manikaran

Walking down the streets of Manikaran

Manikaran, this small town was our introduction to Parvati Valley. It's perched right on the banks of the beautiful Parvati River. People call it the holy hot spring town. The Manikaran Sahib Gurudwara here is said to have reverence with Guru Gobind Singh and is mentioned in the 'Twelfth Guru Khalsa

A busy little pilgrim town with small clustered houses scattered all over and little shops adorned on each side of the narrow lanes.

During the 80s, it used to be the Hippie Den. A title which was later taken over by Kasol, Chalal and other nearby places.

There are also quite a few Hindu temples like the tilted Shiva Temple, Shri Rama Temple, Kulant Pith etc, all of which date back to the 17th century.

The hot springs around the Gurudwara have curative properties. People not only take bathe in them, they also cook food by wrapping up the food in a piece of cloth, tying it up with a string and dipping it in the water. Much like a tea bag.

The Manikaran Sahib Gurudwara here is said to have reverence with Guru Gobind Singh and is mentioned in the 'Twelfth Guru Khalsa' by Giani Gian Singh. The hot springs around the Gurudwara have curative properties.

For me, the beautiful company that I had, the serenity of this quaint little town, eating at the langar, strolling down the market lanes, the enchanting temples, taking in and gawking at the smoke coming out of the springs like some mystical element released from earth,

every bit of it made the trip worthwhile and unforgettable. The wanderess in me was quite charmed. Anyway, when in the valley make sure to visit this sacred town. A day's trip from Kasol is enough to enjoy this place.