One of the most popular events of Himachal Pradesh, the Himachal Winter carnival is apt for those who love the sight of snow-clad mountains and roads. The beauty of this place increases by leaps and bounds during this do wherein you can witness the happiness of people who visit Manali, especially for this reason.
In addition to enjoying the scenic beauty, the tourists also take part in various winter sports organized at the snow-capped Rohtang range and the ski slopes of Solang Valley. Among all these activities, one of the contests which is also the major highlight of the carnival is the Winter Queen contest. For the uninitiated, this contest is a beauty pageant and this year, over 50 women from across India took part in it.
The fest came into being in 1977 and currently, it holds the status of being a state-level festival. On an annual basis, a large number of teams from many youth-clubs, colleges, and universities participate in this carnival.
What is even more interesting to know is that as a consequence of this festival, Himachal is witnessing a spike in tourism activities happening locally. So, whether you are a culture explorer, tour freak, or sports enthusiast, the carnival has something for one and all.
History of Himachal Winter Carnival
First organized in 1977, the Winter Carnival of Manali was essentially the brainchild of Harnam Singh who is also the founder of the Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports.
Initially, the main motto of the carnival was to promote skiing as an adventure sport and also to popularize the local cultural events. However, slowly, with the passage of time, it became extremely popular among the locals and many new layers were added to it.
Major Attractions of Himachal Winter Carnival
1. Various Fun Elements
The winter carnival attracts a lot of attention from both domestic and international tourists. This event has everything it takes to make a do a fun-filled joyride. The most prominent attractions of this place include crafts bazaar (a place where you can find shawls, hand-woven caps), Himachali food, folk dances, local dance competitions, and street plays.
2. The Carnival Parade
The Winter Carnival Festival is inaugurated with a lovely parade. Decked up in their traditional attires, boys and girls, both take part in this parade. This makes up for a beautiful beginning of the carnival with a blend of traditions and competitive spirit.
How to Reach Manali
Manali is known as one of the topmost tourist destinations of Himachal and attracts huge footfall on an annual basis. This festival is undeniably one of the primary crowd-pullers. If you want to be a part of the Himachal Winter Carnival then reaching Manali for the event would not be much of a task.
By Air
Planning your trip to Manali via flight is perhaps the best option. The nearest airport is the Kullu Manali Airport of Bhuntar which is located at a distance of nearly 50 kilometers from Manali. Vistara, Air India, Jet Airways operate fairly well to Kullu at affordable prices. This airport is well connected with other Indian cities. You can also take connecting flights from Chandigarh and Delhi.
After you deboard your flight, you will have to further hire a bus or a taxi to reach your destination effortlessly. Public transportation options like buses are quite cheap, making it easy for tourists to explore the city on a budget.
By Rail
Manali doesn’t have a railway station of its own. The best option to reach Manali via train is the Joginder Nagar railway station. This station is located at an approximate distance of 144 km from Manali and lies under the Firozpur railway division of the Northern Railway Zone.
As from Delhi, there are no direct trains to Joginder Nagar station, so, first, you will need to take a Kalka Shatabdi Express from New Delhi to Chandigarh then a cab or some means of public transportation like a bus from Chandigarh to reach Manali.
By Road
Depending upon your geographical location, planning a trip to Manali is a great option. Traversing the roads while seeing the natural vistas is altogether a charming experience for anyone. Manali is fairly well connected with other Indian cities via well-maintained road networks.
From Delhi, you will need to cover a distance of around 537 km via NH 44 and from Chandigarh, you will need to cover about 288 km via NH3. Apart from travelling by your own vehicle, you can also opt for travelling via interstate buses to reach Manali from various Indian cities. Both these options are quite comfortable, inexpensive, and advisable.
You can plan your trip and create your own route to the city with Adotrip’s technically driven circuit planner. Click here
