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{{Short description|Hot springs town in Himachal Pradesh, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date= February 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2017}}

'''Manikaran''' is a town located in the [[Parvati Valley]] on river [[Parvati River (Himachal Pradesh)|Parvati]], northeast of [[Bhuntar]] in the [[Kullu District]] of [[Himachal Pradesh]], India. It is at an altitude of 1760 m and is located 4 km from [[Kasol]], about 45 km from [[Kullu]] and about 35 km from [[Bhunter|Bhuntar]]. The small town is known for its [[Manikaran hot springs|hot springs]] and pilgrim centres of [[Manali, Himachal Pradesh|Manali]] and [[Kullu]]. An experimental [[geothermal energy]] plant has also been set up here.

[[File:Gurdwara at Manikarn.jpg|thumb|Gurudwara at Manikarn]]
[[File:Manikaran.jpg|thumb|right|Manikaran]]
[[File:Outer view of the temple's hot water well and the parvati river flowing by it.jpg|thumb|Outer view of the Manikaran temple and Manikaran Sahib [[gurudwara]] located at Manikaran featuring the hot water well and the Parvati river flowing past.]]

==Religious centre==
Manikaran is a pilgrimage centre for [[Hindus]] and [[Sikhs]]. The Hindus believe that [[Manu (Hinduism)|Manu]] recreated human life in Manikaran after the flood, making it a sacred area. It has many temples and a [[gurdwara]].<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.world66.com/asia/southasia/india/himachalpradesh/manikaran
|title=Manikaran Travel Guide
|publisher=
|accessdate=2006-09-23
}}</ref>
There are temples of the Hindu deities [[Rama]], [[Krishna]], and [[Vishnu]].<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.himachalpradesh.us/gods/shiva.php
|title=Lord Shiva, the principle deity of Himachal Pradesh
|publisher=
|accessdate=2006-09-23
}}</ref> The area is well known for its hot springs<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.himachalpradesh.us/geography/himachal_hot_springs.php
|title=Hot Springs in Himachal Pradesh
|publisher=
|accessdate=2006-09-23
}}</ref> and its beautiful landscape.

According to legend, when the Hindu gods [[Shiva]] and [[Parvati]] were walking in the valley, Parvati dropped one of her earrings. The jewel was seized by [[Shesha]], the serpent deity, who then disappeared into the earth with it. Shesha only surrendered the jewel when Shiva performed the cosmic dance, the [[Tandava]], and shot the jewel up through the water. Apparently, jewels continued to be thrown up in the waters at Manikaran until the [[1905 Kangra earthquake]].<ref>Minakshi Chaudhry, Destination Himachal, p. 208. Rupa and Co. Publ. (2006) {{ISBN|81-291-0715-5}}</ref>

==Sikh belief==
[[File:ManikaranGurdwara.JPG|thumb|Manikaran gurdwara]]
{{Unreferenced section|date=October 2024}}
According to the [[Sikhs]], during [[Udasis|third Udasi]], the founder of Sikhism, [[Guru Nanak]], came to this place in 15 Asu 1574 Bikrami with his disciple [[Bhai Mardana]]. Mardana felt hungry and they had no food. Guru Nanak sent Mardana to collect food for the [[langar (Sikhism)|langar]] (the community kitchen). Many people donated ''[[Atta flour|atta]]'' (flour) to make ''[[roti]]'' (bread). The one problem was that there was no fire to cook the food. Guru Nanak asked Mardana to lift a stone and he complied and a hot spring appeared. As directed by Guru Nanak, Mardana put the rolled [[chapatis]] in the spring, but to his despair, the chapatis sank. Guru Nanak then told him to pray to God saying that if his chapatis float back then he would donate one chapati in His name. When he prayed all the chapatis started floating up duly baked. Guru Nanak said that when anyone who donates in the name of God, his drowned items float back.

==Hindu belief==
{{Unreferenced section|date=October 2024}}
The [[legend]] of Manikaran says that while walking around, Shiva and Parvati once chanced upon a lush green place surrounded by mountains. Enamoured by the beauty of the place, they decided to spend some time there. It is believed that they actually spent eleven hundred years here.

During their stay, Parvati lost her earring in the waters of a stream. Upset over the loss, she asked Shiva to retrieve it. Shiva commanded his attendant to find the earring for Parvati. However, when they failed, he was extremely angry. He opened his third eye, a tremendously inauspicious event which led to disturbances in the universe. An appeal was made before the serpent god, [[Shesha]], to pacify Shiva. Sheshnag hissed, thereby giving rise to a flow of boiling water. The water spread over the entire area, resulting in the emergence of precious stones of the type Parvati had lost, and Shiva and Parvati were happy.

==Hindu temples at Manikaran==

===Lord Ram Chandra Ji Temple===
'''History'''
The temple was constructed by [[Raja Jagat Singh]] in the 15th century.
It is at an altitude of 1756 m and is located about 35 km from Kullu.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Google Maps elevation for a route |url=https://www.doogal.co.uk/RouteElevation.php |access-date=2017-09-19 |website=www.doogal.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>

It is claimed that even before 1905, these hot water springs, sprang with full force, making an 11 to 14 feet high fountain. The temperature of different springs at Manikaran is 64 to 80 °C . There is no sulphur in these springs.
Food is cooked in these springs. Bathing here is considered a balm for arthritis.

===Temple of Shiva===
However, an earthquake in 1905 caused damage to the temple and it was slightly tilted. The importance of Manikaran is also judged from the fact that [[deva (Hinduism)|devas]] of Kullu valley pay regular visit to this place on specified dates.<ref>[http://www.gurudwarasahibmanikaran.org/index.php Official Website of Gurudwara Sahib Manikaran] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203212404/http://www.gurudwarasahibmanikaran.org/index.php |date=3 February 2014 }}</ref>

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
Manikaran Gurdwara, a Holy place for Shikhs at Manikaran 01.jpg|Bridge of Manikaran Gurdwara
Upstream view of Parwati river from Manikaran.jpg|Upstream view of Parwati river from Manikaran
Diners at Manikaran Gurdwara.jpg|Traditional feeding (Langar) of visitors at Manikaran
Hot springs at Manikaran,Himachal Pradesh.jpg|Tourists and pilgrims having a bath in a hot spring
Manikaran view from Shiva Temple.jpg|Manikaran viewed from Shiva temple
Manikaran Vashnu temple.JPG|[[Shiv Parvati]] Temple at Manikaran
Manikaran Gurdwara, a Holy place for Shikhs at Manikaran 16.jpg|Outer view of Manikaran Gurdwara
</gallery>

==References==
<references />

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.kasol.net/p/manikaran.html MANIKARAN] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171226182325/https://www.kasol.net/p/manikaran.html |date=26 December 2017 }}
* [https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g297618-d1590585-Reviews-Manikaran_Gurudwara-Manali_Manali_Tehsil_Kullu_District_Himachal_Pradesh.html Manikaran Gurudwara] at [[TripAdvisor]]

[[Category:Hindu temples in Himachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:Kullu]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Kullu district]]
[[Category:Hot springs of India]]
[[Category:Villages in Kullu district]]

Manikaran - Revision history

Effossy at 08:53, 5 December 2025