Believed to be the place where Manu (Hindu version of Noah) landed after the Great Flood, Manali is a kaleidoscope of foreign tourists and settlers, Indian culture, and Nature's blessings. With a number of Israelis, Germans, Nepalis and Tibetans all over Manali, the city win over hearts with its astounding hillocks, ancient heritage temples, quaint villages and stunning glacial streams. The high quality of cannabis that grows in the region attracted several hippies to Old Manali. Besides European delectables available on the street-side cafes and restaurants, Manali is also a mesmerizing destination for adventure lovers offering excellent opportunities for trekking in Pir Panjal and Bara Bhangal ranges, as well as paragliding and river rafting.
Places to See
Manali is a popular base camp for trekking and mountaineering expeditions into Solang Valley, and Lahaul & Spiti Valley; and trans-Himalayan journey to the frozen landscape of Ladakh. At Manali, you must see:
- Gadhan Thekchhokling Gompa
- Hadimba Devi Temple
- Manu Temple
- Vashisht Baths
- Malana
- Naggar
- Roerich Art Gallery
- Uruswati Himalayan Folk Art Museum
- Rohtang Pass
- Manikaran Gurudwara
Shopping
Besides woolens, you can buy Himachali fruit jams, chutneys, and pickles at Manali. Dried apples and apricots, rare apple pickle and thangka paintings are some of the most coveted items for tourists.
Where to Stay
Despite a dizzying array of hotels - ranging from budget accommodations to elegant luxury hotels, rooms at Manali are almost always booked all the year round. We recommend:
- Royal Park Resorts
- Ambassador Resorts
- Apple Country Resort
- Manali Resorts
- Mapple The River Crescent Resort
- Holiday Inn
- Honeymoon Inn
- Banon Resorts
- Hotel Snow Line
- Snow Valley Resorts
- Span Resorts
- The Orchard Green
- Shingar Regency
How to Reach Manali
Situated at the northern edge of the Kullu Valley, Manali is best reached by road.
By Road: A popular hill resort of Himachal Pradesh, Manali is well connected to nearby cities by a network of roads that are in excellent condition. Regular bus services connect Manali to Delhi (611 km away), Chandigarh (272 km away), and Shimla (240 km away).
By Rail: The nearest railway station to Manali is Chandigarh that is well linked to major Indian cities such as Delhi and Mumbai by train.
By Air: The nearest airport to Manali is at Bhuntar, 50 km from the town. However, it a very small airport and only an 18-seater Donier aircraft can land here. Flight schedules get even more unpredictable during monsoons due to weather conditions. Hence, flights to Manali are not recommended.
