Trip to Manali, Himachal pradesh

Manali, the paradise of running streams, fairytale cottages and Postcard views is nestled amongest the Himalayas. Amidst the hilly slopes of fog-covered mountains, Manali was once known as the "end of the inhabitable World". Today, the enchanting town is a perfect blend pf rich cultural heritage and age-old traditions, with a touch of the contemporary. In the hubbub of souvenir hunting tourists, you will come across Tibetan women dressed in colourful pinafores, Buddhist Monks and backpackers looking for their adventure. Situated along the banks of river beas, Manali is an escape for tourists from the scorching heat down the plains.. The proud, watchful mountains doused with the smell of pine trees and maggi, offer everything from a yak ride to the best adventure sports. Along with the culture, Manali will treat your taste buds with the finest traditional cuisines. If you are planning a trip to manali, here is your one-stop guide.

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW MANALI

A delightful tourist retreat, Manali is perched in the mountains of Himachal pradesh at an elevation of 2050 meters above sea level. Some of the himalayan peaks which can be seen surronding Manali are Hanuman Tibba, 7 Sister peaks, Friendship peak, Patalsu peak, Ladakhi peak, Manali peak.

BEST TIME VISIT TO VISIT MANALI

To enjoy the true beauty of Manali, it is best to visit the hill station during the summer between April and June. At the beginning of summer, one can experience the abloom valley dancing to the tune of chriping birds. The parsley green valley scattered with daisies is the perfect description of this shangri-la. Also, don`t miss out on the Basantotsav festival in April that marks the beginning of spring But if you want to witness spectacular views of the snow capped mountains and have a snow fight with your loved ones, then you should visit this heaven in December-January. Worry not festival lovers, you can attend the winter carnival held in December. Visiting Manali in the Monsoons is not advisable as it receives heavy rainfall which can lead to huge landslides and roadblocks.

TOP ATTRACTIONS IN MANALI

Manali caters to every type of tourist, from adventure junkies to honeymooners. With a plethora of choices to explore, here the top places that we recommend.

HIDIMA DEVI TEMPLE:- Cocooned between the snow-caped mountains, Hidima devi temple is a beautifully carved out of wood. The three squared timber tiled roof and the fourth brass cone-shaped roof makes this a unique presentation of architecture. The shrine is a dedication to Hidima devi, Pandava bheem`s wife and mother of Ghatothkach, a mythological character from Mahabharata. This has become a famous tourist attraction after the movie "yeh jawaani hai Deewani"

EXPORE OLD MANALI:- This hamlet is situated just arounf the new town and is the perfect place to relax for buget travellers. Littered with cafes and restaurents, a stroll through the old manali is ethereal. The sound of gushing river Beas is the epitome of tranquility.

VASHIST TEMPLE & WATER SPRINGS:- The vashist temple is believed to be over 400o years old and is dedicated to sage vashist who was the kula guru of Lord Rama across the river Beas. Thousands of tourists flock here to marvel at the architecture and seek his blessings. Another temple for you to visit the temple is the hot water springs that are believed to posses medicinal properties. Take a dip in the water and find the truth yourself.

THE MANALI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY:- From sightings of various mammals, reptiles and birds your visit to Manali is incomplete without a stop at the manali wildlife sanctuary. The place is rich in flora and fauna and surronded by flour white mountains untouched by humanity. Do check out the palm civet and barking deer, which are among the unusual species housed here.

MANALI GOMpA:- If you are looking for a spiritual and religious atmosphere, then you should stop at the manali Gompa to experince the Buddhist culture. It is famous for its pagoda style architecture and the landscape surronding the Gompa is remarkable too.

SOLAN NULLAH:- An open meadow encapsulated in a deodar-rich forest, the solang nullah is one of the most beautiful sports on the outskirts of Manali. There is never a dull day here as it is bustling with tourists regardless of the season. In winter, you can ski on the slopes that are used for national championships and in summer, you can go rock climbing, paragliding, hiking, camping and use the gondola. As uou tear through the air in the gondola, you will be blessed with undisguised views of the mountains. Solang servers as the base camp for mountaineering expeditions to Anjani Mahadev, Hnauman Tibba and Patalsu peak.

HIKE TO BEAS KUND:- If you want to be one with nature, the Beas kund trek should be on your list. The trek gives unparalled views of the Pir Panjal range and after climbing for a while will show you the origins of Beas lake. It is a truly magical experience to witness the glacial lake with melting snow.

SHOPPING ON MALL ROAD:- Like every hill station, the Mall road of Manali is buzzing with vendors and cafes lining up on both sides. The colourful jewellery, bags, Tibetan items and woolen products are a few of the specialties of this place.

ROHTANG PASS:- The Rohtang pass is the ultimate destination for thrill-seekers. It offers a wide range of activities like gondola ride, paragliding, skiing, quad or ATV rides. There is a possibility to camp around the pass to take your indulgence to the next step. If none of this attracts you, you can just drive through the pass for panoramic views. The Rohtang pass opens uo for travellers during summer and to preserve its pristine beauty, a permit is required to cross the pass.

GO TREKKING:- Manali is famous for its adventure sports and its location makes it the ideal place for the starting point of many treks. The popular trekking trails present here include the Deo Tibba base camp, Pin Parvati Pass, Beas kund, Sar pass, Chandarkhani pass, Brachial and Bal Tal lake.

HOW TO REACH MANALI

The nearest airpot to Manalinis situated 50km from the town, in Bhuntar. You can easily find connecting flights through Delhi and Chandigarh. Manali is extensively connected thorugh buses from cities such as Delhi, Shima, kullu, Chandigarh and Leh. By train, Joginder nagar railway station is nearest railway station to Manali and is connected witth several important cities of the country. Ambala and Chandigarh are other possible options to reach Manali by train.

BUDGET FOR MANALI

As Manali caters to every type of traveler, your budget simply depends on you. For travellers looking for budget option, you can get by 2000 INR a day, which includes staying in hostels, foods at local dhabas and transportation within the town. If you want to loose the purse things just a little to enjoy the cafes and stay at mid-range hotels or homestays, the daily budget could be around 3000-35000 INR. For luxury travellers staying in resorts, the budget could be upto 5000 to 6000 INR a day.

HOSTELS IN MANALI

A few go to hostels in Manaliare zostel Manali, Moustache Manali, YOLO backpackers Hostel, the hosteller Manali and Backpacker panda. These are perfect for solo backpackers or group travellers. The common room is filled with music and interesting stories from all around the world. The hostel offers dormitory style rooms or private rooms and you can choose your stay depending on your budget.

HOTLELS IN MANALI

Treebo celebriti, The Himalayan, Himalayan Heights, Hotel mountain Top are some of the mid range hotels that come highly recommended.

LUXURY HOTELS AND RESORTS IN MANALI

Manuallya The resort spa in the Himalayas, The Orchard Greens Resort and spa, Snow valley and The Anantmaya resort are some of the tourist favourites luxury resorts in Manali.

CAFES IN MANALI

From the Pumpkin-based khatta to the Himachali version of empanadas, Siddu. Don`t forget to load up on Patande if you have a sweet tooth and try the fresh trout if yo love fish. Johnson cafe, Cafe 1947, Dylan`s cafe and The lazy Dog are a few favorities amongest tourists and locals.

HOW LONG SHOULD YOUR TRIP BE FOR MANALI