Last summer I reached Manali with several apprehensions and all of them turned out to be true. The room rates were three times the normal rates, all roads were clogged with traffic and the Mall Road reminded me of Lajpat Nagar Central Market (just like Kasol reminds me of Hauz Khas Village nowadays). There is a reason why I avoid the old school hill stations of India but sometimes I am forced to spend a night due to unavoidable circumstances. Nevertheless, the purpose of this post is not to trash the place but to explore the ways to salvage the situation. I have been to Manali two more times after that, again due to compulsion rather than by choice but now I feel that I am better equipped to survive the same.
Last January I came to Manali in the thick of winter. I had an assignment and all my costs were being taken care of. So, I could just lazily walk around without bothering about my nonexistent bank balance. Manali was still crowded. I expected it to be lower considering the weather but actually it almost had the similar level of crowd, all looking to experience snowfall. The hot spring in Vashist was also in the middle of a stampede, not that I wanted to get into that anyway. However, despite all this, I felt that there is a certain beauty in the snow clad Manali that remains unbesmirched. What I particularly liked were the sight of denuded apple trees barely withstanding the snowstorm and the orange cover of fallen conifer leaves over the pristine white snow.
Cut to this month, I returned again. Again, I had no plan to do so but I had to wait for a few days before the next adventure. I was determined to not get fleeced by the Mall Road hotels and also to find out if there is actually a way to salvage the experience by finding some unusual things to do in Manali. I decided to explore the hostel culture in Manali, something I was always aware of but not sure if it was also as overrated as the rest of the place. I booked Nomad’s Den, which seemed to be the cheapest option of all with its six-bed dormitory.
Eventually it turned out to be a good place, located a bit far from the crowd by yet not too hard to find or reach. At a slight elevation, it overlooks the Manali town and the surrounding forests. I met a Chilean couple who are planning to start their travel blog, some Spanish girls volunteering at the kitchen, and a few young British lads serious about their cricket, serious enough even to watch an entire India-Sri Lanka match. Facilities were just about right for a coworking space, without going overboard and keeping the prices low. The weather looked threatening at times but then again it cleared to reward us with great views of the peaks and occasionally the moon. The best was the evening when a double rainbow showed up. To be honest, i don’t think I had ever seen one before. Also, it looked so close from the terrace that it almost looked like a real thing rather than an optical illusion. It made everyone delirious, I rushed for the camera and the hostel owner burst into a seductive hula hoop session, reminding the Leboswky fan of Husucker Proxy.
So, after multiple deliberate as well as forced experiences, I feel that there are still ways to have a decent time in Manali. So, here are a few offbeat experiences in Manali that can help genuine, cash-starved backpackers. Do note that this is by no means comprehensive and these are just my personal preferences. (And no, Old Manali and Vashist are NOT offbeat, save yourself from such misleading cliches).
Explore the Hostel Culture:
The one I stayed is located near the Hadimba Temple. There are many others, mostly in Old Manali. Don’t just go for the big hostel chains that are coming up nowadays. There are many individual ones offering better deals. Just do some research before booking. These are also the best places to mingle with people from other nationalities, do some work, or just read a book sitting amidst apple orchards. They should normally have free Wi-Fi so they are perfect fro digital nomads looking for offbeat places to stay in Manali.
Budget life… Surviving in #Manali at 250 per day for the bed during peak season @instahimachal #_soi #Indiahikes #himalayas #bns_nature @beautifulhimachal @himachalpictures @shimlalife #travelingram @himachal_calling @incredible_himalya @incrediblemanali #natgeotravellerindia #ngtindia #lonelyplanetindia #discoverindia #incredibleindia #himalayanbible @himachalofficial @himalayan_odyssey @australianhimalayanfoundation #theindianroute @himalayan_canvas @himparadiseofficial #desitravellersclub @himalayangeographic #budgettravel @pepsiindia
Bookworm Bookstore
I think I have sufficiently explained my hatred for the Manali Mall Road already. But if there is one place there to return every time, that is the bookstore called Bookworm. It is not on the main road but inside one of the inner alleys. I once just stumbled on it but I return every time I come to Manali (But it may be closed down during winters). I like it because it stores some of the best travel literature and some very rare guide books and other gems regarding various Himalayan regions, people, religion, and culture. You will never find some of these books in the stores of your respective cities.
Small Day Treks from Manali
Even the better know treks from Manali seem to have become very popular. Besides, not every body wants to do the long, multi-day treks such as Hampta Pass or Bhrigu Lake. But there are many small treks that one can consider. I tried the Lambadug Trek as the trail started near my hostel. I did not complete it because I started half-heatedly and started very late. But the views of Manali from an elevation was great and there was no other trekker barring a couple of girls from my hostel dorm. Apparently the views are better if you do manage to reach the alpine meadow at the top. Another option I noticed is the one that starts from the Manu Temple in Old Manali and goes to Goshal Village and then further to Solang Valley. I have never met anyone who trekked from Manali to Solang. Maybe you can try.
Visit the Glorious Past
This region is a part of the ancient Kingdom of Kullu. Although the new touristy avatar has buried most of those treasures, you can always find a few if you look for. Last winter I made it to Jagatsukh, now a small settlement between Naggar and Manali. But it used to be the capital of the kingdom at one point and now there are a few temples remaining. The women from the family of priests showed me around. They also seem to have started a homestay near the temple now. There are some other temples.
Stay at Naggar
I have already said enough about Naggar, The Roerichs, and Devika Rani. The nearby village of Rumsu is the base for Chanderkhani Pass Trek to Malana and one can also hike to the Jana Falls. More importantly, if you want a peaceful place near Manali to spend a few days, Naggar has many options. There are some expensive cottages but there are also many affordable homestays offering authentic experiences with homemade food. Right now I am typing this from Chander Lok Guest House that has a sitting space in the garden covered with kiwi vines. It also has an ancient temple that was apparently dug out during construction. I am still paying in mid three digits.
Finally a Homestay the stocks right books… #Naggar #instahimachal #kullu #manali In case it's not visible, on the right is a book by #roerich which is enough to guess the location…
Don’t Forget Kullu
Kullu has become the less glamorous cousin of Manali. But it is also cheaper and more importantly, all Kaza and Keylong bound buses generally start from here and so it is easier to get seats here. There are some interesting locations in the Kullu-Manali stretch too including a Buddhist Monastery and river rafting is a popular activity here although I have no interest in it. What interests me is the trek to Bijli Mahadev, another one of the ancient shrines in this region. I will do it in a day or two.
Go further to Parvati Valley and GHNP
Again, the main attractions in the Kasol-Parvati Valley region is no longer offbeat. I have practically seen every major point in that valley and no longer a fan of it. It is still possible to find good places though. You can just go through my Parvati Valley Guide. Similarly the Great Himalayan National Park should work as a good detour as both Tirthan and Sainj valleys have enough treks and trails to offer. Wait a few days for my GHNP guide.
This post first appeared on Backpacking, Travel And Photography In The Indian, please read the originial post: here
