Manali is a Valley nestled in the mountains of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh near the northern end of the Kullu Valley, at an altitude of 2, 050 m(6, 726 ft) in the Beas River Valley. It is located in the Kullu district, about 270 km(168 mi) north of the state capital, Shimla. The small town, with a population of 8, 096, [1] is the beginning of an ancient trade route to Ladakh and from there over the Karakoram Pass on to Yarkand and Khotan in the Tarim Basin. It is a popular tourist destination and serves as the gateway to Lahaul & Spiti district as well as Leh.