Manali

01.  Mall road –The perfect place for shopaholics visiting Manali, The Mall Road generally open at 9:00 a.m. and one can stroll the market place till 8:00 in the evening. The road has abundant shopping outlets and restaurants, a cool place to just hang out.

02.  Rohtang pass – Located at an elevation of 13,058 ft, The Rohtang Pass is one of the high passes connecting the massive Kullu Valley to Lahaul and Spiti Valley. The pass generally opens in May through November subject to the melting of the snow. A special permit is required to visit and cross the pass in case you are touring towards Leh or Spiti. Adventure sports such as snow scooters, skiing and mountain biking are common activities planned in the area for tourists.

03.  Atal tunnel – Atal tunnel is an engineering marvel craved out in the eastern PirPanjal range to connect the distant valleys of Leh, Ladakh and Spiti to the mainland via Manali. The length of the tunnel is 9.02 km and is equipped with ventilation systems and evacuation procedures in case of emergencies.

04.  Hadimba temple – Hadimba temple, also known locally as Dhungari temple is an ancient cave temple dedicated to Hidimb Devi, wife of Bhim and mother of Ghatothkach. The temple is a cone shaped structure with wooden doors and is surrounded cedar forests, making it very distinct from the other hindu temples.

05.  Vashisht Village – A small village located across the beas river, it is famous for hot sulphurous springs and Vashisht temple. The temple itself is open from morning to evening every day. The hot springs attract tourists and a bath in these springs has been known to cure skin diseases as the water is believed to possess medicinal properties.

06.  Solang Valley – Solang valley is a side valley on top of Kullu valley, 14 km from Manali on the way to Rohtang Pass. The place is famous amongst tourists for its unsurpassed natural beauty and the adventure activities that it offers. The solang valley offers activities such as gondola ride, parachuting, paragliding, skating, skiing, zorbing, horse riding and ATV rides.

07.   Jogini waterfall – A small trek of 2 km to Jogini waterfall starts at the Vashisht temple and takes about 3 hrs to complete. The trek takes adventure lovers through enchanting small streams and pine forests and orchards. Take care not to visit the place in monsoons, as the streams are high on water.

08.   Sethan Valley – A hidden gem in the Kullu valley, Sethan village about 12km from bustling town of Manali. The Sethan valley / Sethan village houses very small population and is abundant in peace amidst sun kissed snow capped Himalayan peaks. Well connected by road, Sethan offers you ultimate tranquility, as it is a perfect combination of adventure activities such as snow-boarding, skiing and trekking at the same time providing a perfect getaway from city life.

09.  Sissu – Located around 40 km from Manali, Sissu is a small village lying in Lahaul district. It is situated at the North end of the Rohtang / Atal tunnel, it draws tourists towards itself. It has limited no. of hotels and home stays are more popular.

10.  Manu Temple – Manu temple, dedicated to Rishi Manu is the only existing temple dedicated to the sage, who, according to Hindu mythology is the divine creator of mankind. Located in the heart of the city, it is just 3km from the main market. Despite being in a crowded plae, the abundance of Beas River soaks you in tranquility and calmness.

11.  Van Vihar – A fun picnic spot for locals and tourists alike, the Van Vihar is a municipal park located just about 750 m from the main bus stand, on the Mall Road. You can relax and rejuvenate in the middle of the woods, boating in the manmade lake, which is the star attraction of Van Vihar. Take note of the timings as it varies with the season. Generally the park remains open from 8 am – 7 pm in summers and 8 am to 5 pm in winters. Entry fees and boating ticket may also vary.

12.  Naggar – Naggar is the former capital of Kullu kingdom, well connected by road, air and rail. The quaint place hosts the Naggar Castle, Himalayan Folk Art Museum and Dagpo Monastery for its visitors. A small trip to Naggar allows you to loose yourself in the enchanted waters of the Beas River amidst the backdrop of lush green forests.

13.  Arjun Gufa – A nautral cave, Arjungufa is said to be the meditating place of Arjun, the third Pandava. This cave is located 21 km from Manali, near to Prini village, on the Manali – Kullu – Naggar road. The tourists have to take a small trek of around 20 min to reach the cave entrance. The cave itself is a thrilling place, as it has a lot to explore. The cave is devoid of light after a certain point and the trekkers have to use flash lights beyond this point. The entire cave exploration is a mind blowing adventure which takes around 45 min.

14.  Kullu – Administrative headquarters of the Kullu Valley, Kullu is a sprawling town situated on the banks of River Beas. It has arch line of pine and deodar forests and vast areas covered with apple orchards. The valley is famous for many local festivals full of fervor and colour such as The KulluDussehra, Vasantotasava, ShamshiVirshu and MelaBhuntar. Nearby attractions include Tirthan valley, Hampta and Jalori Pass, Manikaran, Great Himalayan National Park, Bijli Mahadev Temple etc.

15.  Malana – A small tribal village nestled in the shadow of Chanderkhani  andDeoTibba peaks, Malana has preserved its long Aryan heritage and culture. The village is far from the impacts of globalization. The tribals, following their culture, have unique clothing, living style and home architecture, are welcoming to tourists and share their unique heritage.

16.  Kasol - Kasol is a small town situated in the Kullu Valley, lying in between Bhuntar and Manikaran. Being situated on the banks of Parvati River, Kasol lures trekkers to Parvati Valley. Having pleasant weather almost the year round and experiencing fair amount of snowfall during the winters, Kasol is a heaven for backpackers.

17.  Kothi Village – An ideal destination for nature lovers and backpackers, Kothi village makes way to explore the breath taking views of Rohtang valley on foot. Located at an elevation of 2500 m and approx. 12 km from Manali, the scenic beauty of this village attracts movie makers, poets, painters and the like.

18.  Manikaran – Manikaran Sahib is located just 4 km ahead of Kasol, at an elevation of 1760 m. It is a pilgrimage place for both Hindus and Sikhs alike and is famous for hot springs known for curing skin diseases.

19.  Gulaba – Located 25 km from Rohtang Pass, Gulaba is one of the villages built and maintained on the guidelines of National Green Tribunal Act. Camping, hiking, trekking and paragliding are the major adventure activities attracting nature lovers and makes it a cool picnic spot amongst locals and tourists.

20.  Rahala Falls – Located on the Manali – Leh highway, about 16 km from Manali, Rahala Falls lures tourists photographers more than anyone else. Surrounded by lush greenery of deodar and silver birch, with birds chirping around, the falls offer more than just one frame.

21.  Jana waterfall – Located up in the hills and pretty hidden from the outside, Jana falls is a fall for easy trekkers from Naggar. Surrounded by apple orchards, pine and deodar forests, Jana falls is a romantic getaway from the city shor.

22.  Siyali Mahadev Temple - Incredibly famous for its architectural beauty,SiyaliMahadev Temple is one of the oldest temples in Manali dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Shivalinga is believed to be present here from ancient times, spreading divinity all around. The temple has unique himachali architecture with carved wooden roofs, doors and flooring. The immense beauty, serene backdrop and calmness of the temple is worth ticking.

TREKKING DESTINATIONS FROM MANALI

Tour packages for adventure seekers and trekkers are easily available. There are a number of trekking packages that start and culminate in Manali. The most common ones are:

01.  Beas Kund Trek: Best taken up during the months of May to October, this is an easy to moderate 3 day trek taking you to the source of the Beas River. The total distance of this tre is 47 km and en-route it gives a soul refreshing view of the coniferous forests, rivulets and panoramic view of the DeoTibba, Hanuman Tibba, Dhundhi, Indrasen Peak and the mighty PirPanjal Range of the Himalayas. At the summit of this trek, is located, the Beas Kund Lake which is supposed to be the place from where sage Beas wrote the epic Mahabharata.

02.  Bhrigu Lake Trek: This 25 km trek to the Bhrigulake takes 3 days time and traverses through beautiful Alpine forests, meadows and campsites, and the picturesque view of Hanuman Tibba and Seven Sisters. Bhrigulake, situated at the height of 14,000 feet, remains frozen for almost the complete year and is the main attraction of this trek, which attracts beginners and seasoned trekkers, alike.

03.  Hampta Pass Trek: Paving the most convenient way from Mid June to Mid October, this trek is a 5 day adventurous journey taking you to an altitude of 14,010 feet. The easy to moderate difficulty trek, is a contrasting getaway trek from the more green pastured and grasslands of Kullu Valley to the barren cold deserted land of LahaulSpiti Valley. Due to this dramatic transformation across a distance of 28 km, this trek is more popular as the most dramatic crossover trek of the mighty PirPanjal Range. One can witness grasslands, waterfalls, hanging glaciers, vertical rock walls and exciting campsites during these 5 days of trekking. The main attraction of this trek is the Chandra Taal Lake, giving a divine peace to trekkers.

04. Pin Parvati Trek: This imposing trek 112 km is competed in 11 days and is mostly taken up from July to September end. The trek is famous amongst seasoned and experienced trekkers and takes them to an altitude of 17,457 feet, where uncertain weather conditions and completely frozen mountains make the terrain very difficult to traverse. Once on the apex, the pass links the two great valleys of Kullu and Spiti. The pass connects the Parvati Valley of Kullu, which is lush grassland to the cold barren Pin Valley of Spiti. The transformation of the trekking route gives you a glimpse of the cultural shift from Kullu to the Buddhist culture of Spiti. One witnesses the ShrikhandMahadev, KinnerKailash, Bara Shrigiri, Parbati Goat Head Peak, Fluted Peak, and Kulu Makalu along the trek.

05.  Chanderkhani Trek: Another low altitude trek, having moderate difficulty level, this trek is famous among all types of trekkers and is generally done in the Mid May to September. This 21km trek is covered in 3 days and gives you a mesmerizing view of the mammoth Barabangal, PirPanjal and Parvati ranges of the Himalayan range. This trek gives one of the best views of the DeoTibba and Hanuman Tibba peaks. On the way one passes through the mountain villages of Naggar, Rumsu and Chandrakhani Pass which also serves as the star attraction of this trek.

06. Bara Bhangal Trek: This mammoth 11 day trek covering 80 km is best taken up during the months of May to September. Journeying through the pastures, meticulous river crossings, glacial lakes and trails, moraines, this trek takes you to an ambitious height of 16,000 ft and thus, it is definitely not for the faint hearted. The trek gives a beautiful view of the Kalihani and Thamsar Pass, DeoTibba, Indrasen Peak, Hanuman Tibba and the high peaks of Bara Shigri glacier. The Bara Bhangal village is inhabited by locals who believe that they are descendants of Alexander the Great, and becoming a part of their history is another rewarding package of this trek.

07. Deo Tibba  Base camp Trek: Though an easy trek, this is a long walk of 30 kms covered in 6 days touching an altitude of 14,698 ft. The imposing mountains and the dazzling beauty of DeoTibba, Norbu Peak, and Jagatsukh Peak makes this trek a reward in itself for the more adventurous trekkers. The major attraction of this trek is the ultimate beauty of the emerald blue coloured waters of the Chota Chandratal which is located at the foot of the DeoTibba. The mountain peak of DeoTibba translates its name to “Hills of Gods” and the summit is considered to be the seat of Lord Indra.

08. Parashar Lake Trek: This easy to moderate trek is a low lying trek, which can be traversed in virtually any month of the year is a 19km trek covered over a span of 2 days. The stunning Parashar lake, which also dedicates a temple to Sage Parashar on its banks is the star attraction of this trek. The lake itself is surrounded by the Dhauladhar Range and journeys through thick forests and snow laden mountains.

09. Sar Pass Trek: The best time to take up this trek of 49 kms spanning over 6 days, is May to October. The trek has been rated as moderate to difficult and hence is generally taken by more experienced trekkers and is certainly not for beginners. This trek is a wholesome package as it allows you to pass through a range of terrain of varied difficulty levels, srating from the easy green meadows and sparkling villages to the more challenging glacial rivers, silver waterfalls, steep climbs and an amazing slide. The highlight of this trek is its descent that cannot be traversed by trekking given its steep incline. So, almost a km of the slope from the pass has to be covered by sliding through it, before you can reach less stepper slopes and traverse down trekking. The star attraction of this trek is the Sar Lake, which remains frozen for almost the complete year.

10. Kheerganga Trek: An easy, low altitude trek, Kheerganag is very popular among beginners and amateur trekkers. The short trekking distance of 12kms is covered in a 2 day span and takes you to Kheerganga which is the last inhabited village on the trekking route from Pin Valley via Pin Parvati Pass. The trek is a beautiful passage encompassed with lovely apple orchards, gushing waterfalls and beautiful green expanses. The hot water springs and the Shiva Temple are other important attractions of this trek, giving it mythological relevance, as Lord Karthikeyan, son of Lord Shiva is believed to have meditated here. One can even take a dip in the holy hot water springs surrounded by the snow covered mountain peaks.

Q1.  What is an average cost to visit Manali?

For a three night trip to manali, the average cost a person shells out is around Rs. 15000. However, this cost greatly depends upon and changes with the mode of travel, stay options which you pick, the meal plan opted and the local sightseeing inclusions.

Q2. Are there any other destinations which can be covered from Manali?

Yes, if one has time on hand, then Manali can be starting point for road trips to Shimla, Dalhousie, LehLadakh and LahaulSpiti.  One can also visit the Rohtang Pass and Atal tunnel from Manali. 

Q3. How many days are ideal for Manali trip?

Generally, 3-4 days are sufficient to have a leisure trip in Manali. This time, however, will vary in case you are up for fun trekking activities, visit to Rohtang Pass, visiting nearby destinations like Shimla or adventure tourism to Spiti or LehLadakh. 

Q4. What is the local food in Manali and where to experience it ?

Manali, being host to national and international tourists, the mall road is full of multi cuisine restaurants.  You can get anything from a pizzeria to lip smacking north Indian food. However, once in Manali, you should experience the local HImachali platter to get the authentic taste of Himachal food. 

Q5. What is the best time to visit Manali?

Summer season in Manali extends from June – September. The temperature range during these months is a comfortable 25 deg C to 12 deg C and hence makes this season very popular among tourists from the Northern Plains of India which generally experience hot weather window. Bike tour packages to Manali in this season allows you to take a tour to the more famous Rohtang Pass which is a high pass en-route bike tour to LehLadakh and Spiti Valley. You can experience the coolness of snow filled Rohtang Pass. Contrastingly you can also enjoy paragliding in the lower Solang Valley, which is another popular activity, included in Manali tour packages. 

Winter Season in Manali extends from October to February, where there is a gradual change in temperature happening. Before the snow fall sets in, the number of tourists visiting Manali drops a bit. During the months of November – January, tourism in Manali again surges back to life, with people flooding in to witness snowfall. Tour packages to Manali during this season often allow you to go for Skiing and Ice Skating in the Rohtang region and Solang Valley.