Ultimate guide to Manali
Duration : 3 Days
Cost Per Person : Rs. 7000 (excluding flights from Mumbai)
Day 1 : Old Manali – Hidamba Temple – Vashisht Temple – Vashisht Hot Water Springs – Jogini Falls
Day 2 : Old Manali – Solang Valley – Rohtang Pass
Day 3 : Old Manali – Naggar Castle -Jana Falls – Mall Road Shopping
Manali, a haven for backpackers, known for its laid back hippie vibes is a popular hill station situated at a height of 2050m (6398 ft) in the northern end of Kullu Valley in Himachal Pradesh. Situated on the Beas river, this beautiful place is divided into two parts, New Manali and Old Manali. New Manali is quite cramped up and touristy, whereas Old Manali is less crowded and a perfect place to stay. It’s quite relaxing and serene surrounded by nature and only 3 km from New Manali. Old Manali is what we would recommend if you want to experience the real Manali.
Manali is an all-season destination where the temperatures are between 15-20°C however winters in Dec, Jan and Feb tend to get quite chilly being the coldest months and the temperatures dropping to – 2 °C.
You can reach Manali from major hubs like Delhi, Chandigarh, Shimla, Leh, Kullu and Dharamshala via bus, train or flight however Buses are the easiest and an economical way to reach Manali.
There are many options when it comes to staying in Manali, be it luxury or budget resorts, hostels and homestays. After a lot of searching in New and Old Manali, we ended up getting the best deal at Treebo Celebriti in Old Manali for just Rs. 700 per night including breakfast. This hotel had the best views of Manali overlooking the lush pine and deodar trees along with the sounds of the mighty gushing Beas river.
Few of the go to hostels in Manali are:
Well, we would suggest going in for Treebo Celebriti as it offers the best views without making a big hole in your pockets.
Renting a bike is the best option for you since it is economical as compared to booking any private taxi. Bikes will cost you between Rs. 600 to 1500 per day depending on the type of bikes. You can also rent a private taxi which costs between Rs. 1500 – 2500 per day OR around Rs. 400 for a one-way trip from Old Manali to New Manali (approximately 2 to 3 km). You can also opt for a shared rickshaw or local buses however the frequency is quite limited.
There are many places to visit in Manali. We wanted to have a relaxing time at Manali hence didn’t do quite a lot of sightseeing but definitely visited around 3-4 spots. Apart from the places we visited, we have also listed a few other places which you can visit if you have a lot of time to spare.
Also referred to as Jogni Falls, this beautiful waterfall is located around 7.5 km from Manali bus stand and around 4 km from Vashisht Temple. One can trek from Vashisht temple till the waterfall which will take around 1.5 hours one way. The entire trek is quite scenic giving you the best views of Manali town.
There are no entry charges to this waterfall.
Located around 5 km from Old Manali, this 4000-year-old ancient temple is dedicated to the ancient Indian sage Vashisht who was the Guru of Ram and Lakshman. This temple is known for its hot water springs which are considered sacred and believed to have skin healing properties. There are separate Turkish styled bathing enclosures for men and women. You will have to deposit your sandals/shoes at the entrance of the temple which will cost you around Rs. 5 per sandal/shoes.
Entry to the temple and hot water springs: Free of cost.
Vashisht Temple Timings: 7 am to 9 pm, Vashisht baths: 7 am to 1 pm, and 2 pm to 9 pm on all days.
Do not miss to visit the Beas river viewpoint area which is located around 3 km from Old Manali and capture some memorable pictures of this river originating from the Himalayas.
No entry charges for this viewpoint.
This ancient cave temple built in 1553 is located around 3 km from Old Manali in Dhungiri Forest covered with cedar trees. It is dedicated to Hidimbi Devi, the wife of Bhima who was a character in the Indian epic, Mahābhārata.
There is no entrance fee to this temple and the visiting hours are from 8 am to 6 pm daily.
For all the adventure seekers, this is a must visit located around 14 km from Old Manali. This valley is famous for paragliding during summer and skiing during winter. You can also indulge in the cable ropeway (~Rs. 500 per person), snow scooter (~Rs. 500 per person) and zorbing activities (~Rs. 500 per person) if you have enough time. You can reach Solang valley though shared cabs and local buses which leave from Manali bus stand in the mornings and afternoons.
There is no entrance fee however there are specific charges for the activities and visiting hours are from 10 am to 6 pm
Located around 42 km from Solang Valley is the famous Rohtang Pass at an altitude of 3979m (13,050 ft) above sea level and the highest point on the Manali-Keylong road offering breathtaking panoramic views. This is usually the first pass when you go on a road trip from Manali to Ladakh. This pass is closed during winters from December to April. Rohtang Pass is also closed on Tuesdays due to maintenance activity. Please note that you need to apply for permits at least 2 days in advance if you are visiting Rohtang pass from Manali side. Permits are not needed if your returning from Ladakh to Manali. Permits are issued only to the first 800 petrol vehicles and 400 diesel vehicles. If traveling by car, the permit cost is Rs. 750 (Rohtang pass permit: Rs. 500 + Congestion charges : Rs. 50 + Green tax : Rs 200) and Rs. 650 by bikes. You are required to give details such as vehicle number, driver name, contact number, number of passengers, etc. Once you have the pass, vehicles are allowed to go beyond the barrier on Manali – Rohtang Pass road only in two-time slots, one is from 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM and then from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM.
To Book your online permit for Rohtang Pass, visit the official website of Tourism Development Council Manali
Located around 24 km from Old Manali, this castle is an ancient building that was built 500 hundred years ago offering spectacular views of the Kullu Valley. This medieval mansion built of wood and stone is a unique blend of the Himalayan and Western Architecture. It houses an art gallery which comprises of several paintings made by Russian artist Nicholas Roerich. This unique castle served both as a rest house and a tourist attraction.
Timings: 7 am to 10 pm.
Entry cost : ~Rs 15 per person and Camera charges ~Rs. 25.
Located around 13 km from Naggar Castle is this beautiful waterfall located in Jana Village surrounded by pine trees, apple orchards, deodar forest, and snow-capped mountains. There is no entrance fee to visit this waterfall. Don’t miss to try the Himachali food at the Jana Fall River restaurant. Timings: 6 am to 6 pm. You can take the local buses hailing from Manali at 8.30 am or else ride down to Jana Falls.
Manali is a foodies paradise and you can try out the various quirky cafes spread across Old Manali.
Do not miss this cafe when you are in Manali. Situated in Old Manali on the way to Manu temple, this Italian cafe is famous for its pizzas, pasta, and burgers. Try to grab a spot at the area situated by the Beas river and you will thank us later 😉
Opening hours – 12 pm to 11 pm except Wednesdays (7 pm to 11 pm) Cost for 2 : Between Rs. 500 to 800
Situated on the Circuit House Road, this one is the oldest cafe in Manali providing the perfect ambiance with an open green lush lawn and the views of the snow capped mountains. Don’t miss to try the grilled trout fish which is a quite popular dish.
Opening hours : Open 24 hours.
Cost for 2 : Between Rs. 1000 to 1500
This cafe situated around 350 meters from Manu Temple is perfect for brunch if you want to lounge around and have yummy English breakfast with some jazz music playing in the background while viewing the snow-capped mountains.
Opening hours: 9 AM to 11 PM
Cost for 2: Between Rs. 600 to 1000
We brought in Donald’s birthday at this cafe and didn’t regret our decision at all. This is the only cafe which is open till the wee hours and had amazing food and live music situated by the banks of Beas river. Do try their premium alcoholic beverages and desserts.
Opening hours: 11 AM – 1 AM
Cost for 2: Between Rs. 1000 to 1500
If your a coffee and cookie lover, you have to visit Dylan’s. As it is a small sit-out area, be ready to wait for your order however the breakfast menu is scrumptious. We tried their coffee and also packed the chocolate and milk cookies for home. They were indeed mouthwatering and the best we had tasted so far.
Opening Hours: 9 AM – 11 PM
Cost for 2: Between Rs. 300 to 500
When you are in Manali, don’t miss to visit the popular Mall road where you can shop for souvenirs, woolen jackets, sweaters, pullovers, shawls, blankets, gloves, caps, etc. If you are looking for original Pashmina shawls, then this is the right place. We ended up buying souvenirs and woolen mufflers to take back home. Try out Adarsh Restaurant when your here for its yummy Punjabi non-veg cuisines especially trout fish and the 6 flavored ice-cream.
Hope you had a good read.
Do reach out to us in case you have any other queries for planning your trip.
Until then HAPPY TRAVELLING.
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View Comments
Superrb Diana, awesome blog.... supeeerrrbly put up each details from the travel to stay to all the internal travel n tourist spots....perfect .... fabulous read...and it's really helpful for any one planning a Manali trip....
Thanks Roger. Happy you found it useful. Our intention is to share all the possible minute details to our readers.
Forgot to mention amazing clicks Donnie ....
Thanks Roger after all he is the man behind all the clicks ;)
Such a comprehensive guide! Loved how you were able to fit in most of the popular spots within the 3 days! Manali is truly a beautiful place with lots to see and do, especially with its tiny villages around.
Yeah so true..but 3 days is definitely not enough to explore this beautiful village.
Wow! Looking at the budget details, this does look very inviting. Hopefully, we can put it to use after this lockdown eases! For the longest time now, we've been so fascinated with Manali and in particular the Hidimba temple - it looks so different :)
Awesome guys. Hidimba temple is absolutely beautiful especially the story behind it.
Such a comprehensive write up guys. Manali is a great place to recoup yourself before coming to our crowded cities after you visited upper slope Himalayas. The view from the castle and the one from your stay are our favourite and the foods are looking really amazing !!
Thanks guys. Manali definitely gives you the retro hippie vibes especially Old Manali
wow, guys! this is indeed a detailed guide. Did you go to old Manali also? That is one of my favorite parts of Manali. I loved your stay as well. Noted for my next visit.
Yeah in fact we stayed in Old Manali only and loved the vibes there especially the cafe-hopping series
Hi! Great info friends. Wanted to know that u have mentioned abt the *Bhuntar*airport .more detail please....
Hi Jigna, you can take a flight from Delhi or Mumbai to Buntar which is close by to Manali however that would turn out to be tad bit on the expensive side. Suggest you take a flight till Delhi or Chandigarh and then go via road till Manali which turns out to be the best option taking into consideration all covid 19 precautions and rules.
Good post! You use a very beautiful images, all images is so attractive. I really appreciate the work you have done, you explained everything in such an amazing and simple way.Thanks for sharing this amazing post.
Thanks for appreciating our blog. We'll you could check our Instagram page as well for other pictures from India too.
This will guide me for my upcoming trip to Manali. Thanx for the simple detailed info.
Thanks Esther. Glad you found it useful. If you have any further questions, you can surely DM us directly on Instagram. We are quite active there.
What kind of clothes and what all clothes will be required in the mid December time.? please suggest
Hi Prashant, we suggest carrying atleast 3 layers of clothing during December considering it may snow. So don't forget it take your thermal, a light fleece jacket and a sweater, also don't forget your woollen socks and gloves.
Hey hi awesome blog. We are planning to visit manali by end of march 2021. Will there be snow at tgat time? Also which is the best place to rent the bike in manali??
Hi Alok, thanks for appreciating our efforts. Well we visited Manali end of August and the weather was pleasant, a little chilly during the nights however the end of March, you may expect snow. Also with regards to bike rentals, there are many dealers located in Old Manali where you could rent the bike.