Manikaran

If you are looking for a place that offers natural beauty, spiritual significance and adventure, then Manikaran Kullu in Himachal Pradesh is the perfect destination for you. Manikaran is a small town located in the Parvati Valley on the banks of river Parvati, about 45 km from Kullu and 4 km from Kasol. It is famous for its hot springs, temples and Gurudwara which attract tourists and pilgrims from all over the world.
Manikaran has a rich history and mythology associated with it. According to Hindu legend, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati spent some time here and Parvati lost her earring in the river. The earring was seized by Shesha, the serpent god, who refused to return it until Shiva performed his cosmic dance and shot it up through the water. The hot springs are believed to be formed by the jewels that came out of the water along with Parvati's earrings.
According to Sikh legend, Guru Nanak Dev Ji visited this place with his disciple Bhai Mardana during his third Udasi (travel). Mardana was hungry and asked for food from the locals who gave him some flour. Guru Nanak asked him to cook rotis (bread) in the hot spring but they sank to the bottom. Guru Nanak then told him to pray to God and promise to donate one roti in His name if they float back. When he did so, all the rotis came back baked and floating on the water's surface.

The main attraction of Manikaran is the Gurudwara Manikaran Sahib which was built in 1940 by Sant Baba Narain Hari Ji. The Gurudwara has a beautiful structure with white marble walls and golden domes. It also has a langar (community kitchen) where free food is served to everyone irrespective of religion or caste. The food is cooked using hot spring water which is said to have healing properties due to its high sulfur content.
Another attraction of Manikaran is the Shiv Temple which was built by Raja Jagat Singh in the 17th century. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva who is worshiped as Kulant Pithadhishwar here. It is believed that Lord Shiva himself stayed here for some time and blessed this place with his divine presence. The temple also has an idol of Lord Ram which was brought here from Ayodhya by Lord Ram himself.