The topography of Manali is rugged and highly varied. The municipal town itself sits on a relatively narrow shelf of land along the banks of the Beas River, but the terrain immediately climbs into steep hillsides and sheer mountain faces.
The lowest points are found along the riverbed, while the immediate hills surrounding the town rise quickly to elevations exceeding 3,000 meters. Just 51 kilometers to the north lies the Rohtang Pass, situated at a formidable altitude of 3,978 meters (13,050 feet). The valley is marked by deep gorges, cascading waterfalls (such as Jogini Falls), and hot sulfur springs in the nearby village of Vashisht. Because of its location in a young, active mountain range, the local topography is subject to natural erosion, landslides, and seasonal shifting.
