Shimla-Manali-Combo
Manali is located at 32.16°N 77.10°E The town ranges in elevation from 1,800 m (5,900 ft) to, in the uppermost "Old Manali" section, 2,000 m (6,600 ft). The name Manali is derived from Manu-Ali i.e. 'Manu's doorway' after the Sage Manu who lived here. In ancient times, the valley was sparsely populated by nomadic hunters known as 'rakshas'. The next arrivals were the shepherds who arrived from the Kangra Valley and settled to take up agriculture. Some of the earliest inhabitants of the region are the 'naur' or 'nar', which is a caste unique to the Kullu valley. Only a few naur families are known to exist now. A naur family in the village Soyal near Haripur on the west bank of Manali was famous for the vast land they owned and their practice of having 'rakshas' as their labourers.
