MANALI
Manali, situated in Himachal Pradesh, India is one of the most popular destinations among tourists. Located in the Kullu district, it also connects the citizens to Ladakh and acts as a gateway to Lahaul and Spiti. December, January and February are the coldest months in the region, with sights of heavy snowfall. The nearest airport is Bhuntar Airport, about 50km south of the town. The following airport is also known as Kullu-Manali Airport. No railway station is close enough to the village making the best way to reach Manali via road, for the journey provides one with beautiful sights and a calm atmosphere.
The legend says Manali is called after the sage Manu, the one responsible for the conception of the Human race when the world dried after being submerged. The Hidimba temple in Manali is said to be associated with the Pandavas. The tale narrates that Bhimsen killed a cruel demon Hidimba and married his sister. Another Mahabharata association is at Vyas Kund, along the Rohtang pass in Manali, where Rishi Vyasa is believed to have performed tapa. Manali is also said to be home to the Saptarishis (seven celestial sages). This place holds a spiritual vibe to itself but at the same time offers you adventure and much more.
MANIKARAN
A town in Parvati Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India is located 45kms from Kullu. It is one of the busiest sights in Himachal Pradesh, because of the Gurudwara that stands tall validating the various Sikhs and Hindu beliefs. The Sikhs hold for themselves that during the third Udasi, Guru Nanak the founder of Sikhism visited this place with one of his disciples. He asked Mardana, his disciple to collect food for Langar from those who resided nearby and they did donate. However, Guru Nanak and Mardana soon realized that there was no fire to cook the food. Following the orders of Nanak, Mardana then lifted a stone, making way for a hot spring. But while trying to cook food, it kept sinking and so Nanak asked his disciple to offer prayers to God and their astonishment, the food started floating and was then easily cooked. Guru Nanak Sahib Ji said that anyone who donates his life in the name of God, All his (or her) drowned items will float.
Sikhs to this day use those hot springs, which exist close to flowing cold water independent of any scientific explanations, for cooking food to serving langar. One can also see huge bags of rice and dal in those hot water springs left for cooking. These hot springs are also called curing water for they are believed to cure skin diseases and swelling pain.
The Hindu belief tells a tale of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati spending eleven hundred years in a lush green area where Goddess Parvati lost her precious stones in a stream. Unable to locate it anywhere, she requested Lord Shiva to find those and he opened his third eye. An inauspicious event for the world for it faced a lot of disturbance. Due to which to pacify Shiva, Sheshnaag gave rise to the boiling water, making Goddess Parvati find her stones as well as pacifying Lord Shiva. Accordingly, the water is still there, hot and extremely auspicious.
Close to the Gurudwara are Tibetan Markets selling innumerable holy books and symbols of Sikhism. A close walk from the same leads to one of the many Hindu temples in the area.
Manikaran is a Holy place that holds for Sikhs and Hindus and sees a lot of devotees every year. The common ones to visit the place arrive from Manali, by crossing Kasol, another town that lays between Manali and Manikaran gurudwara.
Source: http://www.discoversikhism.com/sikh_gurdwaras/gurdwara_manikaran_sahib.html
