One day Varvasvata, the seventh incarnation of Manu found a tiny fish in his bathing water. The fish told him to look after it with devotion for one day it would do him a great service.

The seventh Manu carded for the fish till day it grew so huge that he released it into the sea. Before departing the fish warned Manu of an impending deluge when the entire world would be submerged and bade him to build a sea worthy ark. When the flood came, Varvasvata and seven sages were towed to safety by Matsya the fish is regarded as first avatara of Lord Visnu. As the water subsided the seventh Manu's ark came to the rest of a hillside and the place was named Manali (2050m) after him.

As the earth slowly dried, here across a place of breath taking natural beauty which was only appropriate for it was at Manali that life began again. Today this legendary cradle of all human kind is a prime holiday destination. There are high mountain surrounded by silent snows and deep boulder strew gorges. There are thick forest full of cool breezes and bird songs. There are fields of wild flowers small picturesque and fruit laden orchards.