Kullu Manali: An Emerging Eco-Tourism Destination

What appears in your mind whenever you think about a hill station? Greenery, lofty landscapes, snow, and waterfalls for sure. Mountains are the epitome of heaven and those who plan to explore them expect the panorama to be surreal and serene. It’s the beauty of nature and environment that entices people from across the world to visit peaks like those dwelling in the great Himalayan range. After all, destinations like Kullu and Manali have remarkably pleasant and healthy weather and are renowned for rich biological resources, which is exactly what tourists seek to unveil. Even the government has proposed scientific disposal of garbage, accessibility to eco-biodegradable and electronic toilets, solar lights, and dustbins to keep the best honeymoon destination of India clean and hygienic, strengthening eco-tourism infrastructure.

Situated at the northern end of the state of Himachal Pradesh, Kullu and Manali are two different hill stations in India but generally construed as one becomes of their closely aligned geographical location. Magnificent peaks cover snow-laden and wooden slopes of the panoramas in a magical way that also allures people to dispel the mysteries of nature. Besides Beas river gushing down the rocky treks and fairy-tale forests lining the orchards and deodars, Manali Wildlife Sanctuary and The Great Himalayan National Park are the places that beautify the towns immensely.

The salubrious terrain, climate, and height of Kullu Manali escalate the scope of vegetation, wild animals, and birds in vast variety and at different places and levels. You wouldn’t be able to take your eyes off the pristine forests of deodar, Sal, rhododendron, oak, fir, birch, and pines that offer a marvelous walk. Some of the rare species found here encompass musk deer, ibex, thar, Himalayan brown bear, and snow leopard, constituting the pride of Kullu Manali. Not just that, aquatic encounters are tremendously popular more than ever and offer ideal fishing grounds for trout and mahseer in Beas river. To protect these endangered gems and pearls, the government has declared certain regions of the towns reserved, giving birth to the following eco-tourism spots.

Manali Wildlife Sanctuary

Perched about 2Km away from Manali, the sanctuary is a catchment of Manalsu Khad and spreads over 31.8 square kilometers. The terrain was reserved in 1954 under the Punjab Birds and Wild Animal Protection Act, 1933. Once you will enter the landscape, a picturesque cascade will welcome you, calling for you to embrace the wildlife from the core of its heart. There is a path that directs through dense forests of deodar, maple, kail, horse chestnuts, and walnuts, leading you to Manali log huts and Dhungri temple. Drove of Ibex, migrating in the glaciers beyond thatch beckons the tourists in the summer. It is also a great place for camping and trekking and gives a celestial pleasure to adventure enthusiasts who love to admire gushing streams, fascinating alpine pastures, and gigantic snow-laden peaks.

The Great Himalayan National Park

Kullu region abodes this spellbound park in its laps like a gem and blends a wide variety of nature-based and adventure activities. Established in 1984, the park elevates at an altitude of 1500-6000m and spreads over an area of 1,171 square kilometers. It houses a plethora of flora and more than 375 fauna species and protects them under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. There’s a lot that you can do here, including sightseeing, camping, rock climbing, trout fishing, and trekking. Conserving the diversity of nature, the government strictly prohibits the act of hunting and poaching here and levies a hefty penalty along with imprisonment on those who breach the law. Be it honeymoon escape, family tour, solo expedition, or even eco-tourism, there’s nothing that Kullu Manali can’t offer you. It just takes the right choice and impeccable taste to plan a tour to paradises like these. Not to mention, in the world full of pollution and waste, these towns give the true taste of eco-bound tours.