Manali
An Elysian dream
Manali Tourism
Nestled between Pir Panjal and the Dhauladhar mountain ranges, the beautiful town of Manali is India’s most popular Hill station. Located at an altitude of 2050 m in the Beas River valley, Manali is situated at distance of 270 kms to North of Shimla, the state capital.
The lush green terrain with dense deodar – cedar trees and alpine vegetation, the stupendous meadows running up and till the horizon, the fragrance of fresh pine and deodar lingering in the air, with jaw-dropping views and breath-taking views – Manali is a perpetual beauty. Blessed with magnificent snow-capped mountains, glaciers and fierce rivers forming and dividing the valleys, Manali is a scenic beauty that leaves us enchanted throughout the year.
The unique architectural style of temples and museums, the rustle of pines against dense eucalyptus trees, the sound of the water against the rocks, the little hippie villages to the bustling streets, river rafting against the fierce course, skiing in the snowclad slopes, paragliding along the snow-capped mountains, to trekking along difficult trails and camping under the Milky way, Manali has every reason to attract tourists all year round.
Top things do in Manali
1. Naggar
14 kilometres from city centre2. Manikaran
28 kilometres from city centre3. Solang Valley
9 kilometres from city centre4. Kullu
5. Old Manali
2 kilometres from city centre6. Van Vihar
1 kilometres from city centre7. Rohtang Pass
16 kilometres from city centre8. Beas Kund Trek
14 kilometres from city centre9. Hadimba Temple
1 kilometres from city centre10. Manu Temple
2 kilometres from city centre11. The Great Himalayan National Park
69 kilometres from city centre12. Nehru Kund
5 kilometres from city centre13. Malana
27 kilometres from city centre14. Manali Sanctuary
1 kilometres from city centre15. Chandrakhani Pass and the Parvati Valley
3 kilometres from city centre16. Bhunter
41 kilometres from city centre17. Gayatri temple
5 kilometres from city centre19. Vashisht Baths
3 kilometres from city centre
How to reach
Manali is well connected by road to different parts of the state and Kalka Railway Station that connects different parts of the country.
How to Reach by Flight
The nearest airport is at Bhuntar, located approximately 50 kilometres away from Manali. Domestic flights connect Bhuntar with Delhi and Chandigarh.
If you are sorting out for cheaper flights, you can take flights to chandigarh and then drive
How to Reach by Train
The approximate drive from Jogindernagar to Manali is 3-4 hours en route Mandi and Bhuntar. Well, the Kalka Railway Station, which is a terminal in the foot of Himachal heights, circuitously connects Manali to New Delhi, Amritsar, Jammu, Jaipur, etc.
How to Reach by Bus
The bus journey from Delhi to Manali is 550 kilometres.
How to Reach by Road
One can drive from Kalka to Manali, which is approximately 285kms and if you are planning your trip from Delhi to Manali, then en route Chandigarh, drive to Manali is approximately 550kms and it takes approximately half a day to cover the distance by road. The State Highway 4 that connects the National Highway 21, en route Ambala and Chandigarh is the most reliable route. The distance from Chandigarh to Manali is approximately 310kms.
How to travel within
1. If you are planning to use the local transport, then make sure you carry cash in small denominations. HRTC buses run locally.
2. If you are planning to hire a taxi to travel, there is a taxi association under which all taxi's ply which has a rate list that is predecided.
The must-visit spots in Manali includes the Rohtang Pass - famous for adventure enthusiasts, photographers and nature lovers, Naggar - located amongst the beautiful pine forests against the backdrop of mighty mountains where you witness a perfect blend of Himalayan and European architecture, Solang valley - a place where all your adrenaline rush is put on point and the Great Himalayan National Park - where you get a gist of varied flora and fauna of beautiful Himachal.
Manali Itinerary
Day 1:
- Reaching Manali - settling in.
- A stroll through the mall road.
- Hadimba Temple.
- Manu Temple.
- Manali Wild life sanctuary
- Old Manali (You could always keep this for next day - if you wish to shop and walk around and spent some time in cafes)
Day 2:
- Rohtang Pass/ Gulaba - either spent the day or
- Solang Valley - Zorbing, Skiing, Paragliding.
Day 3:
Kullu and Naggar
If you have more days in your itienary and you enjoy trekking, you can always go for one the treks mentioned down here. (Always remember too much of anything can drain you out, so instead of trekking up and finishing up all the destinations mentioned out here, always save something for your next time. Its recommended to do one trek (difficulty: medium to hard) in one trip.)