Manikaran lies at about 1,760 m in a tight bend of the Parvati gorge, 4 km beyond Kasol. Hot springs burst out of the rock at the river’s edge — hot enough to cook rice — and around them a pilgrimage town has grown, sacred to Sikhs and Hindus alike.
Sikh tradition holds that Guru Nanak came here with his companion Bhai Mardana and that the hot spring appeared so food could be cooked for the hungry. Hindu tradition tells how the goddess Parvati lost a jewelled earring (mani) in the water here; when the serpent Shesh Nag was forced to give it back, he hissed, and the springs have boiled ever since. The gurdwara and the temples stand side by side, and pilgrims visit both.
Top things to do in Manikaran
Gurdwara Manikaran Sahib
Cross the footbridge over the roaring river to the gurdwara complex. Everyone is welcome: cover your head (scarves are provided), remove your shoes and wash your hands and feet at the entrance. Sit quietly in the prayer hall, then join the langar.
Eat langar
The free community kitchen serves a simple vegetarian meal to all visitors, seated in rows on the floor. Rice and dal for the langar are traditionally cooked in pots lowered into the hot spring. Take only what you will eat, and consider leaving a donation or helping to serve.
Bathe in the hot springs
The gurdwara has separate bathing pools for men and women fed by the spring, cooled to a bearable temperature, and there are more baths by the temples and in some guesthouses. The water is very hot at source — test before you step in, and keep visits short.
The Shiva and Ram temples
Beside the gurdwara, a Shiva temple stands over the springs, where pilgrims boil rice in cloth bags. The Ram temple in the old bazaar is linked by tradition to the Kullu ruler Raja Jagat Singh in the 17th century. Walk the lane between them through the old wooden town.
The old bazaar
The narrow lane behind the temples sells prasad, religious souvenirs, woollens and hot jalebis. Steam vents from drains underfoot. It is at its most atmospheric early in the morning, before the day-trip crowds.
How to get to Manikaran
- From Kasol: 4 km. Buses towards Manikaran and Barshaini pass regularly; shared taxis wait in the market; or walk the road in about an hour.
- From Bhuntar: direct local buses run to Manikaran (about 35 km, roughly 1.5–2 hours).
- From Manali: the simplest way is a private day trip covering Kasol and Manikaran.
- Parking: vehicles stop at a parking area before the bridge; the last stretch is on foot. Traffic jams are common on weekends and festival days.
Insider tips
- Dress modestly, cover your head inside the gurdwara and do not bring tobacco or alcohol into the complex.
- Photography is fine outside; inside the prayer hall, ask or refrain.
- The springs are scalding at the source and people have been badly burned. Never put a hand or foot in an unmarked pool.
- Pilgrim numbers peak in summer and on Sikh and Hindu festival days; come early in the morning.
- The gurdwara offers basic pilgrim accommodation, but most travellers stay in Kasol.
Tours that include Manikaran
These guided trips cover Manikaran or combine easily with a visit:
Private day trip Kasol and Manikaran Full-Day Sightseeing Tour from Manali
If you are staying in Manali and only have a day, this private car-and-driver trip covers the two essential stops of the Parvati Valley: the pilgrimage town of Manikaran with its boiling springs, and Kasol’s riverside cafés. Pickup is available and the pace is yours to set.
- The drive down the Kullu valley and up the Parvati gorge
- Gurdwara Manikaran Sahib, its langar and the hot springs
- Free time for lunch and a river walk in Kasol
Private package Delhi: 3-Day Kasol Tour with Private Transfers
The comfortable way to do Kasol from Delhi: private transfers instead of an overnight bus, a hotel booked for you and a visit to Manikaran Sahib built in. Three days is short for the distance, so expect long drives on the first and last day.
- Private car all the way from Delhi and back
- Hotel stay in Kasol included
- A visit to Manikaran Sahib
Private multi-day tour From Kullu: 4-Day Private Manali and Rohtang Pass Tour
A private four-day circuit that begins in Kullu — handy if you fly into Bhuntar or have just come down from Kasol — and takes in Manikaran, the temples of Manali and an excursion towards Rohtang Pass. The pass is open only in season and needs a permit; confirm what is included when you book.
- Starts in Kullu, close to Bhuntar airport
- Includes a visit to Manikaran
- Manali’s temples and an excursion to Rohtang Pass
