Manu Temple, Manali

Manu temple isn’t for the weak-hearted. Reaching the structure, following a narrow road, in itself is a thrilling experience for most. However, for the adventurous ones, it’s a perfect blend of exploration and comfort. Constructed in pagoda style, the temple was built after King Manu who is known worldwide as the initiator of human race. The temple is located in Beas river valley in Kullu district and is surrounded by beauty of the most alluring kind. As soon as you step into the porch, the fresh and calming air takes over your senses and transfers you another world of religion and spiritualism. Manu temple brings you closer to the nature, reminding you there is more to life than just money and fame.

History Manu Temple-
Sage Vaivasvata Manu is believed to be the first king to rule the earth after saving mankind from the great flood. He was warned of the great flood by the Matsya Avatar of Hindu lord Vishnu as well as advised to construct a gigantic boat. As narrated in the Matsya Purana, Lord Vishnu’s Matsya Avatar initially appeared as a small carp to King Manu while he was washing his hands in the river. The small carp requested King Manu to save him. Honoring the carp’s request, King Manu placed it in a water jar. Soon the carp grew too big to fit into the jar and King Manu shifted it into a bigger bowl. The carp kept growing bigger, and King Manu had to shift it from the bowl to a well and then into a reservoir.

The carp now a fish kept growing bigger and bigger, King Manu had to shift the fish back into the river.Very soon even the river seemed insufficient for the fish as it had grown to gigantic proportions and King Manu had to shift the fish into the ocean. That is when the huge fish transformed into Lord Vishnu and informed King Manu of an all-destructive deluge that will soon flood the entire world. King Manu built a boat big enough to house his family, 9 kinds of seeds and animals and birds to repopulate the earth once the deluge was over. It is believed that post the deluge, King Manu stepped on the earth and meditated at the very spot where Manu Temple is situated. King Manu later on came to be known as Sage Manu who is also ascribed to the Manusmriti (Laws of Manu).

The Laws of Manu forms the basis of Hinduism. The Manusmiriti text presents itself as a converse given by the Sage Manu to an assembly of Rishis who beseeched him to guide them in how to face natural calamities and establish peace and discipline in the society. The dialog between Sage Manu and other Rishis was captured and preserved and came to be known as Manusmriti.

Location
It is important to know that the temple is about 3 km from the town and 11 km from the Solang valley. But you can easily make use of the cab services available in the town as well as near the temple to travel to and forth. Also, there are a lot of shops lined near the temple selling small and big commodities to tourists, which explains that tourism indeed is bringing good employment to the little town. If you are going by road, make sure you leave early as there is a lot of traffic in the route and you might get stuck for hours, wasting precious time that you could have used visiting some other place. What makes the place spellbinding is its backdrop where the lush green of the Himalayan Mountains meet the frothy white of the Beas River. Any visit to Manali is incomplete without visiting the Manu temple. ​