Manali, one of nature lovers’ paradise situated 250km from Shimla, features in the top 10 places to visit in India for travel enthusiasts. May and July are the best time to visit Manali, thanks to the pleasant temperature.

Though tourists prefer to visit Manali during winter for witnessing the snowfall, May- July is a recommended time to visit, as it would be an ideal escape from the scorching sun. Featured in the Bollywood Movie “Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani”, here are the top 9 places to visit in Manali to get the best out of Manali.

Summary of Top 8 Places to Visit in Manali:

1. Hadimba temple
2. Solang Valley
3. Rahala Waterfalls
4. Rohtang Pass
5. Vashist Baths
6. Manali’s Tibetan Monastries
7. Shopping at Mall road
8. Great Himalayan National Park
9. Trout Fish Farm

1. Start your Day with Blessings from Hadimba Temple

Entry Fee: Free

Visiting time: 8 am to 6 pm

Built in 1553, Hadimba temple is dedicated to one of Pandava brother’s Bhīma’s wife, this temple is in the heart of pine and deodar forest. The temple is built with the combination of Indian and Japanese architectural style. The striking feature of Hadimba temple is that the people worship the footprints of Goddess Hadimba.

Every year from May 14-16, a fair is organized to commemorate the birthday of Raja Bahadur Singh, the architect of Hadimba temple. Just near to Hadimba temple, you can visit the temple of Ghatotkacha, the son of Bhīma and Hadimba, who in turn ended up becoming the hero of Mahabharata war.

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2. Get Involved in Adventurous Activities at Solang Valley

Entry fee: Free, but for adventurous activities, the price starts from Rs 500

Visiting time: 10 am to 6 pm

Also known as, the Snow point, Solang valley is the main hub for adventure activities. Since Solang Valley can be visited on all 365 days, it is recommended to visit in summer for its pleasant climate and then become a witness of snow-capped mountains.

If you still feel cold after wearing woolen jackets, do not worry, you can rent woolen clothes in the nearby shops. During summer, one can indulge in an adventurous activity like River rafting, paragliding, and zorbing.  Lastly, do not forget to bring your camera for taking shots in and around Solang Valley.

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3. Taste the Fresh Water from Rahala Waterfalls

If you are on your way to Rohtang pass, do not forget to witness the scenic waterfalls. A Photographer’s paradise, Rahala waterfalls are formed from the melting glacier from the Himalayas, thereby making the water cold.

These waterfalls are situated in the middle of the dense forest, where you can see the lush green trees and breathe in the fresh air. Rahala waterfalls are mostly visited during the summer seasons as the water goes to liquid state from Ice state.

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4. Challenge Yourself a Trek at Rohtang Pass

Entry Fee: 500 for a permit

Not for the faint-hearted travelers, reaching the Rohtang pass will reward you with the mesmerizing beauty of nature. Rohtang pass is opened to the public in summer and many tourists from India and abroad give it a big thump up for this trek. Don’t forget to try the Piping Hot Delicious Maggi over here.

Since this pass is open to the public on May – July, Rothang pass becomes an ideal summer vacation to beat the heat. However, you need to get approval from the Indian army situated there. So, do carry your ID Proof for the checkpoint.

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5. Get rejuvenated from Vashist Baths

Visiting Time: 7 am to 10 pm

Get dipped with Vashist’s ashram’s hot spring bath to get a relaxing effect for your mind and soul. Named after the sage Vashist, who was the sole teacher of Lord Ram, The Vashist bath is believed to be blessed with medicinal values that protect your skin from diseases.

Vashisst’s hot bath springs are situated inside the Vashist temple, which is believed to be over 4000 years old. Legend says that Sage Vashist was given a second life by the river goddess when he tried to commit suicide for seeing his children killed.

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6. Witness the Life of Monks in Tibetan Monasteries

Gadhan Thekchoking Gompa and Himalayan Nyingamapa Gompa are the famous Tibetan monastery in Manali, Built by Tibetan refugees, these monasteries preserve the Tibetan arts and culture by selling and promoting beautiful carpets and handicrafts.

Do not forget to take a moment to meditate and witness the moment of monks meditating.

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7. Go Shopping Spree at Mall Road

Located in the heart of Manali, the Mail road is a 1-stop destination for winter apparels. Right from Kashmiri shawls to artificial jewelry, you can get all the items at Bargainable price.

In addition, Mall road is the ideal destinations for booking a place to stay, as it is accessible to the other tourist spots. If you are a foodie, one cannot miss the delicious bakery food at German bakeries.

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8. The Great Himalayan National Park – An UNESCO World Heritage

Entry fee: Rs 10

Another reason why Manali is a paradise for nature lovers. The Great Himalayan national park was awarded as a UNESCO World heritage for its conservation of snow species. Exploring deep down the park, one can take a sneak peek of snow leopards, brown bear, and Musk deer.

Taking the conservation of wildlife in the mind, this national park allows visitors by permit. You can take a permit at Shairopa and Ropa’s head office. The greater Himalayan national park is a worth the effort for its picturesque snow-capped mountains and lush green valleys. Post permit, the entry fee costs a minimum of Rs 50.

Additional charges for bringing Video Camera.

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9. Give Your Taste Buds a New Treat at Trout Fish Farm

Trout Fish Farm has recently become popular for tourists. Located in the Beas River, these trout fishes can be found in freshwater lakes. Not only it is the place to watch trout fishes, but these trout fishes are also good for our health having antioxidant properties. So if you are a non-veg foodie, do not miss out trying trout fish.

Have you visited Manali before, share your experience with us?

Manali FAQ’s

Manali, one of the best destinations to visit in all seasons gives you a great ambiance, friendly people and interesting natural attractions.

In 1980’s Manali became one of the alternate destinations for Kashmir in North India. The interesting thing about Manali is that the British Raj has set up India’s first apple orchards during their rule.

With Manali being the center of natural attraction, adventure tourism has been flourished due to its pleasant weather. Hidimba temple, Rohtang Pass, Van Vihar, Monastries, Mall Road, Solang valley, etc. are few of the places that showcase the beauty and culture of Manali.

Most Frequently Asked Questions about Manali, Himachal Pradesh include:

Where is Manali Located?

Himachal Pradesh, North India

How is Manali Weather?

Manali just as any other hill station possesses a Mildly Cool Climate in Summer and a Very Cool Climate up to -7 degrees in Winter

What is the Best time to Visit Manali?

Manali is best visited from October to January to witness snowfall. But it will be expensive to visit Manali during the winter season. If you want to visit Manali on a shoestring budget, then March to July is the ideal time to visit.

Which is the Nearest Railway Station?

Jogindernagar Railway Station (3-4 hours to Manali)

Which is the Nearest Airport?

Kullu Manali Airport, Bhunter. 50 kms from Manali.

How to Reach Manali from other Cities?

1. Kalka to Manali

(Named after the goddess Kali, Kalka is famous for its UNESCO World heritage train to Shimla. Kalka, which is situated in Haryana – Himachal Pradesh Border is the last broad gauge train from Delhi- Kalka circuit.)

Here is how you can go from Kalka to Manali?

Kalka to Manali: Manali doesn’t have a railway station thereby making to reach Manali from Kalka is difficult. The best route to reach Manali from Kalka is to get down at Chandigarh Railway station. There are private and government buses available from Chandigarh to Manali.

2. Chandigarh to Manali

(Chandigarh is proud to be India’s first smoke-free city. Built by Le Corbusier, Chandigarh is the first planned city in India. With a lot of gardens in the city’s sector roads, Chandigarh is known as the City beautiful.)

Here is how you can go from Chandigarh to Manali:

Chandigarh to Manali: As mentioned above, reaching Manali from Chandigarh via Bus or Taxi is the best route as it takes 8 hours to complete the journey. There is no train connection to Manali from Chandigarh. However, Chandigarh airport is well connected to Kullu Manali Airport, but it is not recommended to travel via air due to weather conditions.

3. New Delhi to Manali

(The seat of the government, Delhi is home of many historical monuments like Qutub Minar, Lotus temple Red Fort, India Gate, and Parliamentary House. From Delhi, one can easily visit the tourist places in North India, thanks for its transport facilities.)

Here is how you can go from New Delhi to Manali:

New Delhi to Manali: Manali can be reached from Delhi by Buses as there is no train connectivity to Manali. It takes a minimum of 12 hours to reach Manali. It is again not recommended to travel by air due to weather conditions.

4. Shimla to Manali

(It was the former summer capital of British India, the queen of the hill station, was planned in gothic and British style. Shimla, just like Manali offers lush green valley and snow-capped mountains. It is one of the perfect hill stations to experience snowfall.)

Here is how you can go from Shimla to Manali:

Shimla to Manali: Reaching Manali from Shimla via bus is recommended as there is no connectivity via train and air. It takes 6-7 hours to reach Manali from Shimla.

5. Manali to Leh

(The biker’s paradise, the way to Leh is covered with brown mountains and silent roads. Leh was featured in the ending scene of 3 idiots, thereby becoming a fan favorite destination for today’s youth.)

Here is how you can go from Manali to Leh:

Manali to Leh: These two cities are the flag bearers of tourism in Northern India. However, there is no proper connectivity between Manali to Leh as the only option to reach Manali is by hiring a car or a bike for Rs 3500/ per day and for bike costing 1500/ per day. It is still worth spend money on Leh trip as it offers beautiful landscapes that you can take back your memories home.

6. Manali to Rohtang Pass

(A beautiful but a challenging trail, is situated 52kms from Manali. The Rohtang pass is famous for its snowy roads and snow-capped mountains. To get past Rohtang pass, tourists should apply for permits online from https://rohtangpermits.nic.in/ and pay around Rs 500 – 600 for the permit.

Rohtang pass is open for tourists from May to November. Since it is 52 km from Manali, we recommend you to start your journey early, so that you don’t get stuck in the traffic on the way to Rohtang Pass.)

How to reach Rohtang Pass? – Manali to Rohtang Pass

Rohtang pass can be reached via buses and private cabs. It is however preferred to use private cabs due to the sloppy roads on the way to Rohtang pass. It takes 2 hours to reach Rothang pass from Manali. There are no train or air options available to reach Rohtang pass.

Until then!

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