Manikaran Sahib: The Sacred Land of Hot Springs and Miracles

Experience The  Mesmerizing Natural Hot Springs At Manikaran Sahib Near Kasol, Himachal Pradesh!

There are many such pilgrimage centres and temples across India, behind which one or the other secret has hidden. Yes, the Manikarn Sahib Gurdwara, situated amidst the plains of Manali, Himachal Pradesh, is no less than a miraculous pilgrimage site. Everyone who goes there gets surprised to know that the Water of this gurudwara keeps on boiling even in the icy cold.

Tourists from all over the nation and abroad come to this gurudwara. Anyone who bathes in the sulphurous hot Water here for a few days gets cured of his disease. Manikaran Sahib is the first place where Guru Nanak Dev Ji meditated and performed great miracles. The height of this gurudwara is 1760 meters from the ground and 45 kilometres from Kullu. You will be surprised to know that about 4000 people can stay in this gurudwara simultaneously.

The Legend Behind Manikaran Sahib

A word like Manikaran suggests that it has derived from Mani. Lord Shiva and his wife, Goddess Parvati, got fascinated by the beauty of the area and stayed there for 1100 years. While he was staying here, Goddess Parvati lost the gem in the stream and was upset about it. Shesha Nag had swallowed the glory, and as a result of this, Lord Shiva got angry and performed Tandava (a form of dance) to get back the gem. Shesh Nag gave birth to boiling Water, and hot springs and jewels resembling Parvati's glory spread all over the Water, after which the place got named Manikaran Sahib.

Another Legend Of Manikaran Sahib

According to Sikhs, Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, and his disciple Bhai Mardana came here in 1574 during the third Udasi. Mardana was hungry, but there was no food. That is why Guru Nanak Ji sent him to collect food for the langar. After this, people donated flour to make chapatis. Despite having the ingredients, they could not cook the food due to the advance. After this, Guru Nanak Ji asked Mardana to lift a stone, and as soon as he did so, a hot spring came out; after this, Mardana put the rotis in the hot spring. After this, at the behest of Guru Nanak, Mardana prayed to God and said that if his bread floated back, he would donate one piece of bread to God. When he prayed, the baked bread floated on the Water. Guru Nanak Ji said that if anyone presents in the name of God, his sinking goods start flowing back.

Also Read: Kamrunag Devta

96-Degree temperature Of Water

The Water here boils at 86 to 96 degrees Celsius. Many devotees drink this Water and take a dip in it to cure their illness. The langar made in the Manikaran Gurudwara is also prepared with this boiling Water. It has believed that you can attain salvation by taking a bath here. It has been said that people with skin diseases or any other problem benefit from bathing in this sulphurous Pool.

Best Time To Visit

Manikaran Sahib town has located in Himachal Pradesh at about 1760 meters above sea level. Due to its high altitude, the weather here is frigid throughout the year, with an average temperature of 10 degrees Celsius. Many tourists prefer to visit during the summer (March– June) to avoid the cold. It is icy in Manikaran  Sahib during the winter season. Many people like to travel during this season as well. Manikaran Sahib  is also famous for its natural hot springs, scattered all around the city, making this area a major tourist destination of Kullu.

Also Read: Parashar Lake

General Belief

Gurudwara Manikaran Sahib is nothing less than a miraculous place. The Water here keeps on boiling even in the cold. It has believed that one who takes a dip here his joint pain gets cured forever.

Nearby Places To Visit In Manikaran  

Manikaran Sahib is a significant religious place located near Kullu. If you want to visit the prominent tourist places near it apart from Manikaran Sahib, read the information below. The significant places near Manikaran are given below.

1. Khirganga

Kheerganga has located about 22 km from the holy town of Manikaran, a tourist destination famous for its hot springs and picturesque views of the Himalayan mountains. The area of Kheerganga is exceptional for trekking through dense forests, camping, nature walking and mountain climbing. Tourists can enjoy some landscape photography during their stay at Kheerganga. Experiencing the incredible sunset view and trekking through the lush green forests can prove extremely special.

2. Bijli Mahadev Temple

Bijli Mahadev Temple is a central Kullu’s temple built in the 'Kash' style. A Shiva Lingam has been installed in this temple. Surrounded by the Parbati, Garsa, Bhuntar and Kullu valleys, this temple, full of miracles and mysteries, is situated atop a hill. There is a small village below the mountain, and it has been named after Bijli Mahadev. The local people here say that every 12 years, lightning falls on the Shivling kept inside this temple, and this Shivling breaks into many pieces. After this, the Shivling of the temple has joined with the help of butter, and this Shivling returns to its old form after some time. The distance from Manikaran  Sahib to Bijli Mahadev Temple is 39 km.

3. Bhrigu Lake 

Bhrigu Lake is a significant tourist place in Manali. Bhrigu Lake is situated east of Rohtang Pass and at a distance of 6 km from Gulaba village. Bhrigu Lake has located at a distance of 92 km from Manikaran Sahib .

4. Chandrakhani Pass

From Manikaran Sahib to Chandrakhani Pass is about 25 km. Chandrakhani Pass is one of the trek routes that tourists can visit in winter and summer. Chandrakhani Pass, situated at 13,500 feet, provides the perfect opportunity to explore the highest trekking destination in the Himalayas. Trekking over the Chandrakhani Pass introduces tourists to the remote, mountainous cultures of Himachal Pradesh. With the Kullu Valley's beauty and the mountain peaks' height, this place is sure to delight every nature lover's heart.

5. Vaishno Devi Temple

Vaishno Devi Temple is a prominent temple in Kullu that gives you a wonderful experience of visiting 'Mini Vaishno Devi'. Though this temple is known as Mahadevi Tirtha, Vaishno Devi Temple in Kullu is situated on the banks of river Beas and about 2 km from Kul on the way to Manali. The temple gives spectacular views with vast forests, apple orchards and majestic hills on its way. The distance from Manikaran Sahib to Vaishno Devi Temple is about 44 km.

6. Parvati Valley trek

Parvati Valley trek is considered the most challenging trek in the Himalayan region. The Parvati Valley trek is perfect for adventure seekers. The Parvati Valley trek is long and quite puzzling but spectacular. The Parvati Valley Trek is one of the most sought-after treks after the Himalayan Pass Trek.

Also Read: Rewalsar Lake

How To Reach   

The central railway station of Manikaran Sahib is at Pathankot, which is 300 km away. One can visit Manikaran Sahib from Kullu or Manali; both are very close. Tourists can use taxis to travel from one city to another. Many tourists visiting Kasol also choose to visit Manikaran.

1. By Air

Tourists can fly to Bhuntar Airport to reach Manikaran Sahib. The distance between this airport to Manikaran Sahib, Himachal Pradesh, is 34.8 km. Bhuntar's Manikaran  Sahib gets with the help of a bus. There are many local buses available from Bhuntar to Manikaran. The nearest major airport is Chandigarh, 8 hours away from Bhuntar.

2. By Road 

Manikaran Sahib is connected to Bhuntar through local state buses. Bhuntar is well connected by road to all major cities nearby, like Shimla, Pathankot, Chandigarh and New Delhi. Also, taxis are readily available from all the surrounding areas.

Shimla to Manikaran Sahib distance 234.2 KM

Chandigarh to Manikaran  Sahib  distance 277.1KM

New Delhi to Manikaran Sahib distance 508.2 KM

Also Read: Kalmadhav Temple

3. By Train

Pathankot Railway Station, Punjab, is the nearest central station, where Jammu Mail, Ravi Express and Dhauladhar Express run to Pathankot. It will take you 8 hours to reach Manikaran Sahib from Pathankot by road with a distance of around 300 km. The best way to get from Pathankot to Manikaran is to book a taxi or take a bus to Bhuntar and then take a local bus.