Full of adventure and excitement, skiing attracts many a tourist to Himachal Pradesh. If you are inclined towards skiing, head to Kufri, which is the best place to enjoy this sport. Mahasu ridge (a little above Kufri) is also visited by skiing buffs. The famous skiing destinations near Manali are the Solang Nallah, Patalsu, Kothi, Marhi and Rohtang slopes. Narkanda(64 km from Shimla) is another fantastic skiing destination.
Heli Skiing, a fascinating adventure sport, can also be enjoyed at Himachal Pradesh at Hanuman Tibba, Rohtang Pass, Deo Tibba and Chanderkhani Pass.
Manali may have a breathtaking beauty of boast off, its juicy apple orchards may draw thousands of tourists, but its biggest asset, is its nearness to snow covered peaks of the Himalayas. And where there is snow, how can such adventure spots as skiing an snowboarding be missing from the menu. Skiing trips are arranged at Solang Valley from January and February, and at other picturesque locations like Dhundi, Rohtang, Gulaba and Marhi from March to the mid of June depending upon the thickness and condition of snow. During the winters the thick snowfall turns the peaks into a haven for skiers. Sail down the white peaks, or try your hand at the coolest new winter sport – snowboarding. There are helicopters at your service that will take you to the highest, most seductive peaks in a jiffy – and from there you can glide down – either in skies or in snowboards, to the ride of your life.
Manali is situated on the national highway leading to Leh and is approximately 40 kms., from Kullu. The picture postcard beauty of Manali, has every thing that a nature lover craves to etch in the canvas of his heart. Quaint fruit orchards are scattered all here and there, and the crystal clear waters of the Beas cut through the town. There are thick woods of Deodar and Pine, which make excellent picnic spots. Manali without a shadow of a doubt is the place to visit if you are a trekking enthusiast, as it s from here that the roads literally open up Leh Spiti Kinnaur Lahaul and Zanskar regions of the kashmir valley.
Manali is also the place to visit if you have an eye for warm woolens and authentic handicrafts of Tibetan origin. City dwellers will forget the plush malls of their cities once they walk through the famous Manali mall road. Shop for charming little trinkets or luxurious Pashmina Shawls in closely clustered markets, nothing will seem too expensive, once the bargaining starts. Don’t miss the Tibetan carpets, famous intricate craftsmanship and surely you won’t be able to resist yourself from digging into a plateful of steaming noodles or tucking into spicy momos sold in almost all corners of Manali.
There are interesting routes, into the surrounding valleys, which are ideal for trekkers, who can find shelter in the tourist huts and rest houses, which have been especially constructed, for them.
The Solang region, which is 10 kms. away from Manali is famous for its annual Skiing tournament. And here (Manali) one can master the art of Skiing at the Directorate of Mountaineering and Allied Sports, one of the foremost institutions for skiing in India. It offers courses in skiing for both amateurs and professionals and also advises on how and where to go for skiing. The skiing season in the Himalayan region is from January to March. Electric lifts and supported lifts have been recently constructed on seeing the growing enthusiasm in winter sports. Most of the skiing is done in here in Solang
