Manali travel guide
A mountain town at the head of the Kullu valley, gateway to the high Himalaya.
Manali sits at about 2,000 metres in the Kullu valley of Himachal Pradesh, beside the Beas river and surrounded by forests of deodar and apple orchards. Snow-capped peaks rise above the town for much of the year.
It is two places in one: a busy holiday town popular with Indian families and honeymooners, and a base for adventure in the mountains beyond, from paragliding and skiing at Solang to the road through the Atal Tunnel to the high desert valleys of Lahaul.
Why visit Manali
Manali offers mountain scenery that is hard to reach elsewhere in North India: snow for much of the year, valleys for walking, wooden temples in the forest and the traditional villages of Old Manali and Vashisht. It suits travellers who want fresh air and activity at the end of a heritage-focused trip.
What to see in Manali
Hadimba Devi Temple
A wooden temple with a tiered pagoda roof, built in 1553 in a grove of deodar trees and dedicated to the goddess Hadimba.
Old Manali
The original village above the modern town, with old wooden houses, the Manu Temple, guesthouses and cafés.
Vashisht
A village across the river with hot springs and a stone temple dedicated to the sage Vashisht.
Solang Valley
About 14 km from Manali: meadows used for paragliding and zorbing in summer and for skiing and snow play in winter, with a ropeway up the slopes.
Atal Tunnel
A road tunnel of about 9 km under the Rohtang Pass, opened in 2020, which makes day trips to Sissu and the Lahaul valley possible for much of the year.
Naggar Castle
About 20 km down the valley: a stone-and-timber castle of the former rulers of Kullu, now a heritage hotel, near the Nicholas Roerich Art Gallery.
Suggested itinerary for Manali
Day 1
Arrive and rest. Visit the Hadimba Devi Temple and walk through Old Manali.
Day 2
Solang Valley for the ropeway, paragliding or snow, and Vashisht on the way back.
Day 3
Through the Atal Tunnel to Sissu in Lahaul, if the road is open, or Naggar Castle and the Roerich gallery.
Day 4
A short hike in the valley or a slow morning before the journey back.
Planning your visit
How long to stay
Two to four days. The journey from Delhi takes a full day each way by road, so allow at least two nights to make it worthwhile.
Best time to visit
March to June for pleasant weather and October to November for clear skies. December to February brings snow and cold; roads beyond Solang may close. The monsoon, from July to September, can cause landslides and flooding in the Kullu valley, and travel is best avoided.
Getting there
Most visitors come by road: Delhi to Manali is about 530 km and usually takes 12 to 14 hours, often as an overnight journey. Bhuntar airport, near Kullu, is about 50 km away but has few flights, and they are often affected by weather. There is no railway station nearby.
Combine it with
Manali is usually combined with Shimla on a loop from Delhi, or reached via Chandigarh. Longer trips continue to Dharamshala and Amritsar.
Travel tips
- Mountain roads are slow and weather can change plans. Keep a spare day in your itinerary.
- Rohtang Pass needs a permit and is open only part of the year; the Atal Tunnel route does not require the same permit. We check the current rules.
- Choose registered operators for paragliding and other adventure activities.
- Carry warm clothing even in summer; it is much colder at Solang and beyond the tunnel.
Opening hours, fees and seasonal conditions change. We confirm current details when we plan your trip.
Questions about Manali
When can you see snow in Manali?
Snow is likely in and around Manali from about December to February, and at higher places such as Solang Valley and beyond the Atal Tunnel for longer. It varies from year to year.
How many days are enough for Manali?
Three days is a good minimum: one for the town and Old Manali, one for Solang Valley and one for the Atal Tunnel or Naggar.
Plan your trip
Plan your visit to Manali
Tell us when you plan to travel, which places you want to explore, and what kind of experience you are looking for.
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