Manikaran Sahib is one of the famous pilgrimage places in India. It is situated deep within the Parvati Valley of Himachal Pradesh and located at an impressive altitude of 1760 m. Since its proximity is to the nearby Manali valley in the summer month, it attracts thousands of tourists every year.
It is considered a holy place for both Hindu and Sikh communities. Visiting this religious place in Himachal Pradesh offers a different experience that varies from sightseeing in Shimla and Manali.
History of Manikaran Sahib
Manikaran Sahib is among the oldest temples and heritage of India as the place depicts the bible story of King Manu, the first human on the Earth who created life and saved the place from the flood. Many stories revolve around this region and also around the Hindu deities like Shiva, Parvati, and Vishnu.
Apart from it, the Manikaran Sahib Gurudwara is close to all Sikh’s hearts. It is believed that Guru Nanak used to travel to this place as he was an ardent traveler. Once he reached a small village of Manikaran and gave raw grains and vegetables to all villagers. After that, he started a kitchen to feed locals, and his community was also involved in this work.
The raw food had to be cooked by lighting a fire which seemed extremely challenging in the cold valley with limited resources. Despite the difficulty, he lights up the fire on a mysterious stone to cook the food. That’s how Guru Nanak started distributing Langer to everyone.
The Hindu Mythology of Manikaran
Lord Shiva and Parvati were exploring the hilly surroundings and serene forests of Manikaran. Lord Shiva reached this place and decided to meditate while Parvati went to take a bath under the den. She forgot her jewelry here and a serpent in the river stole it. Although the snake found the gem, it didn’t return the same. Aggressively, Shiva warned the snake to return it to Parvati and he started doing Tandav violently. The serpent gladly offered the jewelry to the Lord and apologized for not giving it back earlier.
Places to Visit in Manikaran Sahib
1. The Medicinal Hot Springs of Manikaran
This place of Manikaran was mentioned in the twelfth Khalsa, written by Giani Ghaint Singh. A tunnel-like corridor inside the Gurudwara leads to a room called the Garam Kothi. It is one of the hottest places throughout the year. The temperature may be high but once you get comfortable, you won’t feel the heat.
The hot springs include Sulphur and Uranium which have healing properties. If you love hot spring weather then you can come here and have fun experimenting with hot spring waters. The heat is usually utilized by the Gurudwara management to cook food for devotees who visit the place to consume Langar as well as Prasad. A fabulous mixture of cold and hot water is seen in the Parvati River, producing steam that blends exquisitely with the white surroundings.
2. Parvati River and Harinder Mountains
This mountain is full of adventures and it’s a heaven for those travelers who can’t live without adventures. The mountain is covered with snow and a huge deciduous forest which is an excellent location for trekking and hiking. From here, you can enjoy the view of the Parvati River where Goddess Parvati took a bath. It’s a great place for photography as well.
3. Lord Ramchandra and Lord Shiva Temple
Lord Ramchandra Temple was constructed by Raja Jagat Singh in the 17th century. The temple is considered miraculous as it is believed that Lord Rama fulfills all wishes of his visitors. Apart from this beautiful temple, you can also visit Kulant Pith which is near the temple.
Lord Shiva Temple displays an iconic Shiva sculpture that has been carved out of stone. It is said that in ancient times Lord Rama used to travel to Manikaran Sahib only to worship Lord Shiva. That’s why the temple is highly valuable among Hindus. It is perched at an altitude of 2650 meters above sea level. This fact makes it more mesmerizing and worth visiting.
4. Best Time to Visit Manikaran Sahib
Although Manikaran Sahib looks beautiful throughout the year, summer is the ideal season is to visit it. This is because the temperature drops drastically during winter. You will face problems if you are not prepared according to the season.
