Manali Travel Guide

Manali hill station tourism is popular among the visitors for the amazing experience that the waterfalls, valleys, orchards and everything around treat the tourists. Manali is at the confluence of the Beas and Manalsu rivers in the northern kullu Valley, 6,726 ft above sea level, 274 km North of Shimla and 565 km North of Delhi

You will find the long drive from Delhi was well worth the time the moment you cross Mandi and start the run-up alongside the Beas to Manali. The first sight of the hills cradling this pictureque town seems to inviting that the foot on the accelerator gets a shade firmer. Drive up to the center of Manali and into the marketplace. Starryeyed honeymooners hang around lost to the world. Every now and then an Israeli roars past on a dusty Bullet wearing a Juley T-shirt, telling the world he’s survived the Leh-Manali Road. Nepali porters scurry up and down the street with ropes swathed across their torsos. Move over to the bridge across the mightly Beas, the look up the sight of the majestic Pir Panjal and Bara Bhangal ranges cradling the town is mesmerizing.

Manali is the first choice of many people who want to see and touch snow for the first time. But there’s far more to this happening Himachal town than just now and ice. Manali has it all for the young the old the energetic and the plain lazy.

First time trippers to Manali will invariably want to suss out old favourities such as the 16th century Hadimba Temple the hot springs at Vashisht and even speculate about the life and times of Old Manali the hippy enclave. But the lure of the playing fields of the Solang Valley the river runs and forest trails is as strong as ever.

The formidable 51km climb up to the pass 13,060 ft above sea level, along a rough bridle path used to send the adrenaline levels of early explorers shooting up. But onece on top the stunning panoramas of peaks and glaciers and the desolate Lahaul Valley would banish all fears.

Many happy picnickers today probably don’t even know that Rohtang means pile of corpses in Tibetan. Many of these corpses belonged to the hapless residents of Lahaul and Spiti at the far north of Himachal which the Rohtang Pass connects to Manali and the rest of India for a few months of the year at least.

As you get into a four-wheel drive and join the crowd’s headling for this wind swept strip of land 10km into your journey you’ll pass Palchan the turn off point for Solang Nallah. Prepare for the steep climb from here and if you don’t have a head for hairpin bends, try not to look pas the precipices on one side of the road. The drive can be dizzying, especially for children. But if the road is clear of now you will be rewarded with a spellbinding view.

En route stop off at Snow Point not a static point as it shifts with the snow. Interestingly the local taxi and tour operators christen the closest point to Manali with ample snow for tourists snow Point. Bury yourself here with the stuff if you haven’t ever seen snow before. Build your snowman pound your friends with snowballs, climb around in snow shoes when it snows here, which can be any time between November and April.

Don’t the chaos of the traffic jams further up on the Rohtang Road get to you. Instead, bargain hard for the coast, show boots and gloves rented out (Rs 50-75 per set and more as the season picks up) by enterprising locals who know how the temperature drops near Rohtang the thing mountain air can be bone-chilling. The only problem is the musty sme of them come in fetching colours. Don’t bother asking if they’re on sale they’re not.

En route stop by at the Village of Kothi 15 km a cold, windy and beautiful spot amidst alpine meadows where you get to enjoy possibly one of the most phenomenal views ever to be had of the Beas, as the rive comes roaring down hrough a deep gorge. The next highlight on your drive is the cascadling Rahalla Falls 27 km, at a height of 8500 ft. Marhi at 39 km is a happening place with a number of hotels, dhabas and teashops doing brisk business. This is also the place to join the crowds laughing at tourists enjoying a ski for the first time, chiefly be wearing skis coaxed along the ground by the hands of a guide.

Drive carefully on this steep and twisted road, savouring the endless vistas of alpine beauty as you approach the summit to enuoy this world famous pass at its best get there at break of day to watch the earth and sky play out the overture of a Himalayan dawn. Look to the north for dazzling views of the Sonapani Glacier and down below he Lahaul Velley.

Beyond stretches the road to your next holiday west for Ladakh or east for Tabo. It’s best to plan your trip to Manali around the time when the pass is open (july-August usually) if Rohtang is opened up in phases by the Army with controls the traffic across the pass. Unless you are an excellent hill driver hire a four-wheel drive with an experienced driver.

The excellent combination of wooded forests snow-covered slopes, green open valleys and the fast-flowing Beas make Manali an dideal destination for mountain adventure sports. Heavy spells of snowfall open the season for the ultimate mountain sport, Skiing which can begin as early as November and last till as late as June. At Solang Nallah 13 km away, beginners can start off on a 100-m ski run. As snow begins to melt on the lower reaches, the scene of action moves up along Rohtange road to Gulaba Camp 22 km away, Marhi and eventually Rohtange pass itself following the snow line.
You can make a day trip to these hotspots by bus, taxi or car from Manali. Several adventures sports agencies organize skiing day-trips (approx Rs 300-350 for 1-2 hrs of skiing to Rs 900 a day pay another package includes the services of an instructor equipment and lunch.

Valley run by about 80 local pilots who chage Rs500 a ride from a height of 1000 ft and Marhi. High Adventure Travels. The mall organizes longer rides Rs 1,500 near Naggar Castle at Halan Village. Taking off at 5000 ft for a 15 to 30 minute glide you land at Hamirpur 12 km away.

Route from Delhi: NH1 to Ambala NH21 from Chandigarth to Manali via Bilasput, Mandi, Pandoh Anut, Bhuntar and Kullu.

The Beas is Wild River and rafting on it requires strong nerves and stamina. The 3 month rafting season lasts from mid April to Mid-July. The trip starts at Mohal 42 km away and ends after a 16 km lurch and toss ride at Jhirhi. Prices vary from Rs500-1,000. Rafters have to pay for their won transport from Manali to Mohal Rs 1,200 by taxi.