A Cheapskate's guide to explore Manikaran, Kasol, Manali and Solang Valley

1. Most basic expenditures that can't be escaped are those of transportation and lodging. Travel in public transport.Do not travel AC.Period.And traveling overnight saves you a day's expenses of a hotel room.

3. There are a lot of good rooms available free of cost at gurdwara at Manikaran Sahib and all the while you can have free food at langar too.So DO NOT stay at Kasol. It is just 4 kilometers from Manikaran. You can walk or take a local bus or a taxi to Kasol.

4. While roaming around in Kasol,Instead of eating at expensive restaurants like THE EVERGREEN, have Chocolate muffin or tasty coconut cookies at GERMAN BAKERY,however I am myself guilty of sipping two lemon teas while gazing at fine snowy mountains at THE EVERGREEN.

5. After exploring Kasol, we can now move over to Manali.Stay at the gurdwara at Manali which is at the walking distance from the bus stand and Mall Road ,Manali. That too at very low cost of Rs 300 per room per night with attached bathroom with running hot water.How awesome is that.

6. Again shunning all the expensive Tangri Kebab and Tandoori Chicken restaurants go for local dishes like Jhumma(fried goat intestines filled with flour and blood,basically a sausage).