| With steam rising from the enormous temple beside | | | | The best rooms face the river. |
| the Parvati River, Manikaran is famous for its hot | | | | Padha Family Guesthouse - In the bazaar just before |
| springs and is an important place of pilgrimage for | | | | the gurdwara, this recommended budget place has a |
| Sikhs and Hindus. The name means ' Jewel from the | | | | range of simple rooms with shared and attached |
| Ear' - according to local legend, a giant snake stole | | | | bathrooms, a good restaurant and a square plunge |
| earrings from Parvati while she was bathing, then | | | | pool full of spring water at ground level. |
| snorted them out into the ground. This released the hot | | | | Fateh Paying Guesthouse - Signposted down a rather |
| springs that bubble beneath. The water emerging from | | | | dirty alley in the old part of the village, this big green |
| the ground is hot enough to boil rice (as high as 94 | | | | house has nice rooms, welcoming owners and a cool |
| degree centigrade) and it has to be cooled with river | | | | vibe. |
| water for bathing. Locals claim it can cure everything | | | | Country Charm - On the south side of the river near |
| from rheumatism to bronchitis. | | | | the bus stand, Country Charm has good views across |
| There are baths with separate facilities for men and | | | | the village and gurdwara, and decent rooms. The |
| women in the gurdwara and the village, with water | | | | upstairs balconies practically hang out over the river. |
| diluted to a bearable temperature. The village also has | | | | Eating |
| several temples, including the stone hut-style | | | | There are several restaurants in the bazaar, but |
| Raghunath Mandir, and the ornate wooden Naini Devi | | | | alcohol is banned on the gurdwara side of the river. |
| Temple. Keep an eye out for pots of rice and bags of | | | | Holy Palace Restaurant - Travellers and pilgrims are |
| potatoes boiling in the vents, fumaroles and springs | | | | lured here by the cosy surroundings, pop sound track, |
| around the village and gurdwara. | | | | and a broad menu of Indian, Chinese and continental |
| Sleeping | | | | veg and non veg food. |
| Manikaran is much less traveller-oriented than Kasol, | | | | GETTING THERE & AWAY |
| but there are several budget guesthouses near the | | | | Buses run regularly between Manikaran and Bhuntar, |
| gurdwara. Most hotels are on the north side of the | | | | via Kasol. For Manali, change in Kullu or Bhuntar. Day |
| river in the main village, reached by suspension bridge | | | | trips by taxi can be arranged in Manali, Kullu or Bhuntar. |
| from the bus stand. | | | | From Manikaran, taxis charge Rs100 to Kasol, Rs750 |
| Moon Guesthouse - Close to the Padha Family | | | | to Bhuntar, Rs950 to Kullu and Rs1500 to Manali. |
| Guesthouse, Moon offers a bright, inviting bathing pool. | | | | |