When to go?
*Our stay at Manali was from 18th Sept'09 to 23rd Sept'09. As per the information that I gathered from locals, the peak season is May to June. Tourists also visit Manali during Dec-Feb to enjoy snowfall. However, I may add that the period during which I had visited, was also quite pleasant and we were also able to find snow at the Rohtang Pass.
*How to go there?
*Manali is not easily approachable by rail. The nearest stations are at Chandigarh (315 km), Pathankot (325 km ) and Kalka, near Shimla (310 km). Thus it may be seen that in any case one has to take a taxi from aforesaid locations.
The nearest airport is at Bhuntar which is about 50 km from Manali. Currently, Kingfisher Red & MDLR Airlines provide daily nonstop services from Delhi, Air India provides twice a week nonstop services. Of-course, this can be a bit expensive.
For middle class families, there is another option of buses. The advantages are two fold : direct connectivity and also budget suitability. I had taken Volvo bus from Delhi (Kashmiri Gate) directly upto Manali. I had booked bus online from Himachal Tourism website.
The details are as follows:
- Starting Time From Delhi: 8:30 PM, Reaching Time at Manali: 10:30 AM
- Starting Time From Manali: 4:00 PM, Reaching Time at Delhi: 6:30 AM
Note that apart from Himachal tourism, there are a number of other Volvo service providers and time etc might vary.
How many days should one stay?
I am specifying the minimum. This is the plan that we had followed:
First day: Arrival at Manali: Stroll at Mall Road, keeping it easy.
Second Day: Visit to Rohtang Pass. (One full day is reqd)
Local sight seeing of Manali : Requires half day. (Again keeping it easy as visit to Rohtang Pass was hectic)
Visit to Manikaran, Kullu, River Rafting etc.
Visit to Naggar Fort, Roerich's art gallery. Departure from Manali.
Local Transport?
A number of taxis, autos are available and so local movement is no problem. Also one can get motorcycle on hire. I had hired one, and it gave me great flexibility. Rate: Rs. 500.00 per day.
Note that unlike Mount Abu or Goa, one does not get Honda Activa etc (i.e. Gear-less Scooters) here. Only motorcycles are available.
*Food & stay??
*Don't think about it. Veg, non-veg, Chinese/Tibetan, south Indian, continental you name it, you can have it. Since I was a veggie, and I survived pretty well. For veggies I would like to recommend 'Satyam'' a nice pure veg joint. Try out their pan-cakes.
Also Sa-Ba Restaurant (reminder: Veg + Non-Veg) was also ok. Try out sizzlers. Also Baskin Robbins has a joint just adjacent to this restaurant, so we frequented t his place a lot.
A number of restaurants catering to specific requirements were also there i.e. serving Bengali cuisine, Andhra Bhojnalayas or Gujarati Thali etc.
Rates are quite reasonable.
There were two joints which I couldn't visit but saw a lot of firangi junta frequenting: One was Johnson's Cafe & Bar. Other was IL Forno Pizzeria. Try out if you have time.
*Any language problem??
*None whatsoever. Hindi / English anything would do.
Places to visit??
1. Rohtang Pass:Not to be missed. It is 51 Kms from Manali. Manali is at 6400 Ft. and Rohtang Pass is at 13000 Ft. So obviously this 51 km drive by road is an experience by itself.
Take care of the following:
- Drive take 3.5 to 4 hrs from Manali.
- Fare: Rs. 1400.00 for Alto car from Manali for full day.
- First check whether there is snow at Rohtang pass. Also if there is any road -bloackade / traffic-jam etc.
- You will have to hire Dangris (boiler suit type overalls) for Rohtang pass. Also gumboots will be required. These cost us Rs. 500.00 for three persons. These are necessary as you will be moving around in / playing in snow. We also hired skeing equipment and a guide which cost us Rs. 2000.00 more. We also had to purchase goggles for Rs. 100.00 each covering entire eyes. My advice would be to purchase them at Manali itself as these are a must for countering the glare of snow at Rohtang Pass.
- Note that closer you reach to Rohtang pass, above items will get expensive and therefore it is advisable that these are hired early.
- At Rohtang Pass we found it very difficult to walk in the snow, and finally had to hire ponies. My advice would be to hire them at the outset. Rate of ponies was Rs. 400.00 per pony. Food (Maggi / Omelette/ biscuits etc are available at Rohtang Pass also, but it is advisable to take a light meal in any of the Dhabas in the way.
- Local sight seeing at Manali:
- Hidimba Devi Mandir: Excellent. May keep it at last.
- Manu Mandir: So So.
- Vashisht Mandir: Worth visiting.
- Buddhist Monastery: Can Visit.
- Club House: Do not miss experience of River Crossing here. Children may enjoy here as a number of indoor and outdoor games are there. Taxi (Alto car) took Rs. 500.00 for above, for half a day.
- Visit to Manikaran:
- Manikaran Sahib Gurudwara: Worth visiting. Hot Spring at manikaran is not to be missed.
- River Rafting: Absolute Must. Price Rs. 450/- per head for 3 km stretch on Beas River. On the way to Kullu.
- Vaishno Devi Mandir.
- Visit to Kullu Shawl factories & Rabbit farm for Angora wool: Do Visit but don't get fleeced.
- Taxi (Alto car) took Rs. 1400.00 for above, for full day.
- We took our lunch at Sanjha Chulha Restaurant, while returning from Manikaran Sahib, it was an excellent restaurant. Alternately one can take meal at the Langar at Manikaran Sahib Gurudwara.
- Visit to Naggar Castle etc.:
Naggar Castle Visit: Nice place.
Roerich Art Gallery: I found the area around this place extremely serene , calm and spent some time there.
Jagat Sukh Temple: Worth visiting.
To conclude, Manali visit was one of the best Hill Stations I have ever visited. I look forward to visit it again.
