45 kms from Kullu, Manikaran is famous for its hot springs that are hot enough to boil rice and apparently cure anything from rheumatism to bronchitis. Manikaran means jewel from the ear in Sanskrit. According to a local legend, a giant snake took away earrings from goddess Parvati while she was bathing and then snorted them through its nose to create spaces where the Hot Springs spewed out. The town is split into two and almost all guesthouses, places to eat and temples are on the northern side where no vehicles are allowed. The first bridge you approach from Bhuntar is a walkway that leads to the Hot Springs under the massive Sikh Gurudwara. The second bridge at the end of the road leads to the taxi and bus stand.