Manikaran Indian Tourism

MANIKARAN

Manikaran is 45 km. from Kullu and 35 km. from Bhunter. It is situated on the right bank of river Parbati. This place got its name after a myth that goddess Parbati lost her jewel of the ear that was found by Sheshanaga in the other world. He sent the jewel back with a hiss. The venom of the sheshnaga made the water hot. So Manikaran is a place of Pilgrimage too. It is said that Kulant Peeth Puran was written her.


HOT WATER SPRINGS

Hot water springs are found in Manikaran valley in the range of 4 km. i.e. Kasol to Braham Ganga. But the main and the hottest springs are found at Manikaran. Here the hot water aprings gush out from below the rocks. The temperature of water is 88°C to 94°C. According to German scientist, the water is hot due to the presence of radium in the area. The water has a good taste but possesses calcium carbonate that is evident from the crust at the bottom. The regular dip in the water curses gastric trouble and rheumatic pains. The rice can be cooked in the hottest spring in twenty minutes. Pulses are cooked in the closed pails submerged in hot water with weight on it to avoid tilting.





RAMA TEMPLE

The temple is in pyramidal style having a roof also. This temple was built by Raja Jagat Singh in place of two Shiva temples. When idol of Rama was brought from Ayodhya, it was kept here till 1661 AD. Thereafter it was shifted to Kullu. The temple enjoyed the sanction of revenue of 6 villages amounting to Rs.600/- to meet the expenses from the time of Raja Jagat Singh. The temple was repaired by Raja Dilip Singh in 1889 AD. A trust has been looking after the temple since 1981. The complex has three halls and forty rooms where the devotees can stay and a free ‘Langar’ also runs here. Private and Govt. accommodation is also available here, where Turkish hot bath’s facility has been extended. Other temples at Manikaran are Bhagwati temple, Krishna temple of Bairagis and Vishnu temple known as Raghunath temple. It is said that the silver ornaments of Naina Bhagwati have been made out of the siver extracted from the local mine.


SHIVA TEMPLE

It is the main Shiva temple of the place. It is believed that the ear jewel of mother Parvati appeared back again here on earth, when was thrown with a hiss. By Seshnaga. In front of the temple, there are two small tanks of boiling water, where the people cook rice. The shop keepers outside the premises sell small bags containing rice and the visitors love to boil rice and see the miracle of the nature. Underneath the courtyard, the hot water springs flow. As such, the floor slabs become very hot, One cannot stand there bare feet for a few minutes. So some wooden planks have been kept to make it convenient to the visitors to go upto the temple and stand near the tank for some time. An octangular new temple has been built in place of two old temples. Inside it, Shiva Linga has been installed with idols of Shiva and Parvati seated together in the background. A huge ‘Nandi’ bull of brass in a sitting posture is present before them as usual. There is a closed room below the temple. Underneath the floor of which hot water is running. This room is meant for the patients who want to be treated for rheumatic pains. The temperature of the room is high and one gets perspired in a few minutes. The river Parvati with ice cold water flows touching the eastern side of the temple. This is the most sacred place and the people are allowed only bare feet. Many anecdotes relating to the miracles that happened here are talked about. This place is considered most suitable for meditation.


SHRI NARAYAN HARI GURUDWARA

Saint Shri Narayan Hari belonged to Kamalpur (Pakistan). He came to Kullu in 1940 and chose Manikaran for his settlement. The place of Gurudwara was once an isolated place having nothing except certain hot water springs. By and by he worked on the Gurudwara building and the 50 years long service bore fruit in the shape of present Gurudwara. Here now accommodation for 400 people is available with free ‘Langar’ facility.

At a distance from Gurudwara, at a ridge, an artificial cave has been built by the saint where he used to meditate for 40 days or so in a year. He died in 1991. He named the place as Hari- har Ghat or Ichha purni Tirath (a place where all wishes are fulfilled). Now his elder daughter ‘Devaji runs the Gurudwara and his son in law Shri Ram (husband of the second daughter) looks after the management.