Bored enough at home and cannot visit places from your bucket list? Well, start planning now.
Below you will find every detail you need to know before travel to the best holiday place to visit- Manali. Manali gives the most magnificent views of the Pur Panjal and the Dhauladhar, it stands as one of the most popular hill stations in India. This eye-catching town is situated in the Kullu district which is 270 kilometers from the north of the state capital of Shimla and 544 kilometers northeast from the national capital of India. This town carries 8,096 people and counting.
Distance from some popular places-
· Distance from Delhi to Manali- 12hours 49minutes by car
· Distance from Shimla to Manali- 7hours 24minutes by car
· Distance from Lucknow to Manali- 20hours 17minutes
· Distance from Dharamshala to Manali- 6hours 41minutes
· Distance from Chandigarh to Manali- 8hours 18minutes
Other ways to reach Manali are-
By flight– The nearest airport to Manali is Kullu Manali Airport, Bhuntar which is located approximately 50 kilometers away from Manali town. Domestic flights are connected directly to Bhuntar with Delhi and Chandigarh. You can easily get taxis outside the airport which will take you to Manali town. The Chandigarh International Airport is also available as one of the nearest airports to Manali, it will take 6 to 9 hours from the airport to Manali town via taxi.
By bus– Manali is one of the most famous places visited by the tourist therefore, it is well- connected to other famous visiting places like Delhi, Shimla, Kullu by many state-run and privately owned buses. It is suggested to choose Volvo buses over ordinary buses for a comfortable ride as the journey will be long.
By train– Nearest railway station to Manali is Joginder Nagar Railway Station, from there you can take a taxi to reach your further destination. Another railway station to Manali is Kalka Railway Station, a terminal at the foot of Himachal Heights which connects to major cities like New Delhi, Jammu, Amritsar, Kolkata, Guwahati, Jaipur, Bhopal, Indore, Patna, Kanpur, Mumbai Bangalore, Hyderabad, Lucknow, and Chennai.
Best time to visit Manali
It is a pleasure to visit the White Heaven, Manali whenever you can but to have a memorable experience then the best time to visit Manali will be-
Peak Season ( March to June )– During this season the temperature of Manali ranges from 10 degrees to 25 degrees. If you want to enjoy doing some sightseeing and adventure like paragliding and trekking then this is the best timing for you. Many festivals are also conducted during these months. The weather is comfortably warm.
Shoulder Season ( October to February )– This season is for people who enjoy chill weather and want to play with the snow. The air temperature during this season of winter drops down below 0 degrees. This season of Manali is exceedingly cold as snow covers all its mountains. Playing in the snow s always a delight, make a snowman or throw a snowball and enjoy the beautiful view of the mountains covered with snow. This season is the best time to visit Manali for snowfall.
Best places to visit in Manali
Solang Valley– This magnificent valley is only 13km away from Manali and you can easily get appropriate vehicles to reach the destination. Solang valley is additionally referred to as the ‘Snow Valley’. This valley is famous for its hosting of winter adventures like skiing, parachuting, trekking, and mountaineering. This eye-catching valley has the most picturesque sights in Manali.
Hadimba Devi Temple– With just a distance of 2.5km, you will reach the Hadimba Devi Temple in only 10 minutes. Devotees believe that this temple is where the Hindu deity Hadimba used to meditate. The temple is located near a heavily dense forest. This temple is open 7 days a week from 8 am to 6 pm.
Beas River– With its clear blue waters, the Beas river is one of the beauties which enhance the eye-catching beauty of Manali. Here you can have a picnic with your friends and family and enjoy the view of the river. No entry fee is required to enter the area and visiting time is before sunset.
Manikaran Gurudwara– Manikaran is at an altitude of 1829mt. and 40kms from Kullu and is famous for its hot springs. The hot water in the spring comes deep from the earth’s core which carries away a lot of minerals mainly sulfur. The hot water is so hot that you can boil rice and potato in it and eat it in seconds. It is a sacred place and attracts many pilgrimages.
Jogini Waterfall– The distance of Jogini Waterfall from Manali is 7.5kms. and you have to trek 4km from Vashisht Temple. This fall is formed by a stream that is merged into the Beas River downstream.
Bhrigu Lake– This high-altitude alpine lake is just three days hike from Manali. During the trek, you will trail through virgin forests and lush green meadows which open into the gorgeous campsite of Rola Khuli, on the way you’ll be able to see Hanuman Tibba and Seven Sisters peaks. The distance of Bhrigu Lake from Manali is approximately 19km.
Nehru Kund– This kund is located on Rohtang Pass Highway and is a natural spring. One of the best places to visit in Manali during the summer season. The kund is named after India’s first Prime Minister, Jawahar Lal Nehru.
Rohtang Pass– This pass is one of the must view places in Manali, dedicate a day in your tour to Manali to visit Rohtang Pass and you will not regret and in fact you will have an amazing day. The distance of Rohtang Pass from Manali is approximately 51kms. This high mountain pass on the Pir Panjal Range is 4000 meters above sea level. You have to take part in various adventures available on this pass like biking and skiing. Jab We Met, a well-known movie has featured the view of this breathless pass.
Best places to visit in Manali at night
Khyber– This is a popular restaurant and a bar on Mall Road. You find some delicious tandoori food, trout dishes, delectable snacks, and many mouth-watering beverages. You will get everything best here at Khyber, this place is open until midnight.
Chelsea Club– If you are in the mood to show your dance moves then this is the best place for you in Manali, apart from a well-stocked bar this place has a DJ who plays popular party songs that will keep you moving on the dance floor all night.
Camping overnight at Solang Valley– Camping out in the wilderness with bright stars above you, can the night be any more amazing? It will be colder than you expect but it is also once in a lifetime experience. The distance of Solang Valley from Manali is approximately 14km and you will get many tour operators in Manali town who will guide and organize such camping trips for you. Do check the temperature before going camping because the nights are extremely cold, carry the warmest clothes to keep you warm and comfortable.
The total cost required to travel to Manali– You can easily travel to Manali within 10,000 per person for 3 days. This price range is for people who want to live at the best luxury hotels, you can simply deduct some amount by choosing any 2-4 star hotels if you wish. The cost of the hotel per night and person ranges from Rs 1000-2000. Food will take around Rs 700-1000 per day. Rest depends on what type of transportation you will be using. If you wish to go by bus then the charges can defer from Rs 1600-2000.
Best Hotels to stay in Manali
1.Montana Blues Resort ( 4 stars )–
· 5 km from Hadimba Temple
· Has a restaurant
· Free private parking
2.Hotel Mountain Top ( 3 starts )
· Free WiFi
· 200metres from Hadimba Temple
3.Honeymoon Inn ( 4 stars )
· 13kms from Solang valley
· 3kms from Vashist Bath
· Has a library
4.Le Grand ( 3 stars )
· Located behind the Beas rive
· Has a restaurant
· Provides room with a flat-screen TV
· Free WiFi
5.Hotel Hadimba Way ( 3 stars )
· Just a few steps from Hadimba temple
· Has a garden
· Free WiFi