Manikaran

Location :	45 kms from Kullu, Himachal Pradesh
Famous For :	Sikh Pilgrimage, Hot Springs
Houses :	Gurudwara & Springs

Perched on the right bank of the roaring Parvati River, Manikaran is situated at an altitude of 1760 m and is located at a distance of about 45 kms, from Kullu, via Bhuntar, in Kullu District of Himachal Pradesh. Manikaran, a place of pilgrimage for Hindus and Sikhs, has many temples and a gurudwara. It epitomize historic temples of Lord Rama, Krishna, Vishnu (Raghunath) and goddess Bhagwati. Ram Temple was built in pyramidal style by Raja Jagat Singh in the 17th century when the idol of Lord Rama was brought from Ayodhya. The idol was later shifted to Kullu. The temple was renovated by Raja Dilip Singh in 1889 AD. A trust is looking after the temple since 1981. The temple complex has three halls and forty rooms for the devotees to stay. A 'Lungar' (free communal food) is also served here.

Mythology
The mountain - locked area, the lush green patches and the forests of Mani Karan charmed Lord Siva and Goddess Parvati and they decided to stay there for sometime. For long eleven hundred years they remained at this place. At one time, when the Lord was relaxing with the Goddess, in the beautiful waters of a stream running by the side, the 'Mani' (Jewel) in an ear-ring of the goddess dropped somewhere. Parvati was much distressed and there was a thorough search but efforts to find out the jewel failed. Lord Siva got enraged, as a result of which his third eye opened. With the opening of the third eye of the Lord Siva, a very ominous event, there was a great commotion, all over the universe. In order to subside the anger of Lord Shiva, Shesh Nag hissed and hissed, as a result, there was a flow of boiling water continuously, which passed over the area and out came a large number of the precious stones.