Manali at an altitude of 2,050 m in the Beas River Valley is a hill station nestled in the mountains of Himachal Pradesh near the northern end of the Kullu Valley. It is located about 270 km north of the state capital, Shimla. The small town 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. Manali is named after the Hindu lawgiver Manu. The word Manali is regarded as the changed name of "Manu-Alaya" which literally means "the abode of Manu". Legend has it that sage Manu stepped off his ark in Manali to recreate human life after a great flood had deluged the world. Manali is also often referred to as the "Valley of the Gods". The Old Manali village has an ancient temple dedicated to sage Manu. Hidimba Devi temple mostly called as the Dhungiri temple in Manali is one of the most important temples in the region. This Temple of four wooden storeys is located in the middle of a forest called the Dhungiri Van Vihar. The temple derives its name from the forest parkland near the temple. The temple was erected in 1553 and is dedicated to Goddess Halima. Hidimba Devi temple has a 24 m high tower and has three tiers of its square roofs are covered with timber tiles, while the conical roof is clad in metal. The cancellation depicts Hidimba Devi Temple.