The Renowned Vashisht Hot Water Springs and Temples in Manali

Vashisht is a pristine village located at a distance of about 6 km from the main town of Manali, in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. The major attraction of Vashisht is the hot water springs
that are found in abundance at this place. The village is also known for providing a charming view of Beas River meandering through the hills. Tourists from all over India and even international tourists come to this village to enjoy a dip in the hot water springs of this place. Vashisht is also known among the visitors for its peaceful and serene surroundings which allow the visitors to practice meditation and relax. 

 

This renowned village of Manali is placed at the foot of a rocky hill, which lies on the left bank of the Beas River. The deodar trees and the pine trees dotting along the village adds to the scenic ambiance of this region. The ponds or the water kunds, as the local inhabitants popularly call them, is situated at the heart of this village. The area surrounding these hot water springs are very much alluring with the existence of lush green vegetation. 

Large numbers of tourists, who are on a trip to Manali, make it a point to visit Vashisht in order to take a dip in the hot water springs of this place. A special tank has also been structured at this place for the local women to enjoy the springs.  These hot water springs that flow out of the granitic deposits cover a large area of the Himalayan region of this place. The temperature in the hot water springs found in this area generally range from 110 degree Fahrenheit to 123 degree Fahrenheit.

The popularity of these hot water springs is not just limited to the domestic tourists of India, but is also renowned among the tourists from different parts of the world. The reason behind the immense popularity of the hot water springs of this region is its medicinal properties. In order to provide a comfortable environment to enjoy the medicinal properties of these springs for the visiting tourists, modern bathhouses with Turkish style showers have been built at this place. The hot water of the springs is piped into these showers to enjoy the bath.  

Another main attraction of this village is a pair of ancient stone temples. These primitive stone temples are located opposite to each other above the main square. These temples are dedicated to Lord Rama and sage Vashisht and the village has been named actually after him. According to the legends it is said that the sage had narrated an ancient scripture, Yoga Vashista to Lord Rama.

The smaller of the two primitive stone temples is dedicated to the great sage Vashisht. The temple opens to a partly roofed courtyard including an attractive shrine that has acquired a shiny black color due to the many years of smoke of lighted oil lamp and incense.  The elaborate courtyard of the temple serves as a resting place for the wanderers and especially the devotees where they can enjoy a glass of tea or smoke chillums. 

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit the place is during the summer season between the months of March to October. The place can also be visited during the winter season in order to take a dip in the hot water springs of the place but the weather is quite freezing during this time of the year. 

How to Reach

By Road: Manali has a very good road establishment that connects the place with many other major cities like Leh, Shimla, Kullu, Dharamshala and New Delhi. Regular state as well as private buses are available from these cities to Manali. The village is located at a distance of just 6 km from the main town of Manali.

By Air: The nearest airport to this village is Bhuntar Airport which is also known as Kullu Manali Airport, located at a distance of about 50 km from Manali.

By Rail: The nearest railway stations to Manali are Chandigarh (350 km) and Ambala (360 km). Bus and taxi services are available from these train stations to Manali.