Last Updated on January 30, 2023 by admin
Manali beckons to adventure enthusiasts, nature lovers, backpackers and couples stealing quite moments. This Manali sightseeing guide covers all the places to visit in Manali.
Manali has evolved over time but no matter what, it still remains the quintessential honeymoon destination, an adventure capital, and a backpacking hill station.
There is no best time to visit Manali as it opens its arms to tourists, all year round. Over the years, adventure camps have flourished offering trekking, whitewater rafting, paragliding, and zorbing.
Camping, birdwatching, and biking to Leh from Manali are also one of my favorite activities. If you are spending a couple of days and wondering about things to do in Manali or places to visit in Manali, read on.
Table of Contents
PLACES TO VISIT IN MANALI
Beas River
The river Beas flows through Manali and will dominate the landscape throughout your stay in Manali. The refreshing sounds of the gushing Beas river will make for a companion during all of your meals.
Get lost in the mist overlooking the river, sit across the river with a book near the rocks or get some adrenaline rush through rafting but just be in awe with Beas.
Vashisht Falls, Manali
One of the top Manali Tourist places is the natural spa or the ‘The Vashisht’ Hot Water Spring.
The hot water springs are believed to have medicinal value and claim to cure many skin diseases. The hot water springs are just behind the Vashisht temple which is said to be more than 4000 years old.
Pay your respects to the idol and then change for your dip. There are separate kunds or tanks for men and women. Ideally, people spend 15-20 minutes in the tanks to soak in the medical properties of the sulfur water.
If hot water springs attract you and you want a bigger area to bathe, get ready to travel 80km to Manikaran for bigger hot water springs.
Hidimba Temple, Manali
Locally known as the Dhungiri temple, the Hidimba Temple is a unique shrine dedicated to Hidimba Devi.
Surrounded by tall cedar forests, overlooking the snow-clad hills of Manali, this beautiful shrine is built on a rock and the construction style is a cone-shaped roof like a pagoda while typically Indian temples do not display such a design. The temple has a wooden doorway and the mud walls adorn stonework.
You can drive over the hill to reach this shrine or simply take a walk from Mall road by following the signs.
Feel the chill in the air when you go up the hill. If you’re tired or just need a refreshing drink, stop by IL Forno, an authentic Italian restaurant serving wood-fired pizzas and homemade apple and plum juice.
Mall road for Shopping in Manali
Like every hill station in India, even Manali has a Mall road that sells woolen items and has many restaurants to suit every taste bud. Buzzing with activity throughout the day, Mall Road acts as a central place for meetings. Lined with multiple hotels, restaurants and the busy commercial center also houses numerous shops and emporiums. A beautiful forest walk connects Old Manali to the Manali market. You walk through the thick deodar forest along the Beas river to reach the Mall road.
Shopping in Manali for Manali Souvenirs is a must-do thing in Manali and definitely features under Manali Travel Guide. From jewelry to artifacts, handicrafts to books, from cakes to winter wear the options are unending on what to buy in Manali.
One of the main places to visit in Manali is Mall Road. If you want to buy affordable souvenirs from Manali as gifts for your friends, I will suggest picking up beaded jewelry, yak mittens, or a shawl.
Valley views
Sometimes, taking a break and not doing anything is so therapeutic. No matter where you are in Manali the enchanting views of the valley, mountains, and river will leave for energized. Soak in the chilly air and leave that mobile behind and prepare for a detox.
Manali Apple Orchards
Manali in Himachal Pradesh is lined with apple trees around the highway, in hotels, and even in local residences. Other fruits such as peaches, plums, cherries, and litchis also make their presence felt in Manali. It is a sheer joy to be able to pluck it from the tree and eat it then and there. The sweetness is undescribable especially if you live in a city and buy fruits from a supermarket. It definitely reminded me of picking raw mangoes in my childhood.
Rohtang Pass
Rohtang Pass is the highlight of Kullu Manali Tourism.
With curvy roads and stunning landscapes, going to Rohtang pass is the most picturesque drive from Manali. About 50 km away, Rohtang pass connects the Kullu Valley with the Spiti Valley.
Rohtang Pass, also known as the Snow Point of Manali draws tourists as it is one of the most popular destinations. During the winter, the mountains of the Rohtang Pass are completely covered in snow and it remains closed from October until May.
During summer it turns into a lush green meadow with some portion of snow that never melts. You are most like to cross it during your road trip to Ladakh, Spiti, and others.
White water Rafting, Manali
Wonder about offbeat things to do in Manali?
Manali is a broad, open valley, formed by the River Beas, and white water rafting in the icy cold water is a nail-biting and teeth-chattering adventure. The River Beas is at its strongest in Manali and the valley is famous for its 14 kilometers stretch of white water right down to Jhiri, making it perfect for rafting in Manali on its wide currents.
Best time for Water Rafting in Manali: Summer (April to July). I went in August and the rafting was not operational.
Here’s a guide, in case you are looking for some offbeat things to do in Manali.
Where to stay in Manali?
There are dormitories to vacation homes, luxury hotels to Airbnb, and hostels to camps available in Manali for every kind of traveler. I would recommend you stay away from mall road. Here are some of my recommendations:
Hostel: Zostel, Backpacker Panda
Mid-range hotel: Snow bliss, Golden apple resort
Luxury hotel: Span Resort and Spa, Larisa Resort
Camps: Himtrek camps, The Wrong address camp and cafe
Vacation homes: Hamta house cottage, Heaven’s Abode
Best time to visit Manali
Though Manali is accessible all year round, summer and monsoon are the best seasons to go as the weather is pleasant and it has good connectivity with buses from Delhi. Manali in winter is special as one can watch the snow and there are some skiing options nearby. This is why a honeymoon in Manali is extremely popular. However, the Rohtang pass may be closed during that point in time.
How to reach Manali, Himachal
By Air
The nearest airport is Bhuntar which is around 50 km from Manali. There are flight services from Delhi to Bhuntar.
By Train
There is no railway station in Manali however there are train services from Delhi to Jogindernagar and Pathankot. Then you have to hire a cab or bus to reach Manali. The distance from Pathankot to Kullu is around 325 km and from Jogindernagar is around 160 km.
By Road
It is ideal to take a road trip from Delhi or Chandigarh to Manali. Cabs, as well as overnight air-conditioned buses, ply from Delhi and Chandigarh. This region also has good connectivity with Ambala, Chandigarh, Shimla, Dalhousie and other districts through regular bus services of the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation.
Sustainable tips for Places to visit in Manali
- The state has officially banned polythene bags so do not use single-use or disposable plastic. Dispose of biscuit wrappers, wafer packets, and juice boxes in designated bins. Do not litter the highways, mall road, or riverbanks.
- Do not pluck fruits without permission. Be a responsible and respectful tourist.
- Eat and enjoy local food.
- Stay at Rohtang pass for a limited period of time. It may cause breathing problems for some tourists who are not used to heights.
- Respect nature during adventure activities and do not harm it in any form. A single cigarette butt can give rise to fires hurting the economy of the entire region.
Read More Himachal Posts here:
- Triund Rhododendron Trek in Himachal Pradesh
- Places to visit in Mcleodganj
- Volunteering at Triund with Waste Warriors
Disclaimer – This post contains affiliate links. It means it adds no extra cost to you if you book through the link but I get a referral bonus which helps me earn a little to keep this website up and running.
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23 comments
Fruit-picking and Himalayan spas would draw me to Manali, for sure!
Manali looks like a charming town to hit up but for me its the nature around it with some small mountains (am I right to say small) and the waterfalls. Towns like this are the places I want to hit up. Would also love to do some fruit picking, havent done that in a while.
Yup, apple picking turned out to be super therapeutic to me 🙂
This post is timely as I am looking for a place in India where to see the Himalayas. Planning for next year and Manali looks like the kind of place I would consider going. The natural hot water spring is a plus for me.
You would love Manali. Any place in the state of Uttarakhand and Himachal near the Himalayas as breathtaking and you will not be disappointed.
I love to read your reports about India. For me, this is such a remote country, to which I have hardly established a relationship. When I read your reports, my world always changes a bit.
That is so sweet of you Susanne. I guess that is why the world needs influencers and bloggers, right? 😉
The Himalayan spa would be awesome to me Kekti. Definitely high on my list, as is everything you mentioned.
I hope you are able to make it here real soon then 🙂
This region looks beautiful and unspoiled, my husband would love to photograph this area. I would love to visit in the spring during the bloom.
Luckily it is still pristine as compared to its other counterparts. You should definitely plan a trip here.
We are looking at Manali as a probable destination this winter and your article was so helpful! White Water Rafting, walking along the Baes and taking a walk around the Mall Road are all in our list. Hidimba Temple and Himalayan Spa are somethings we are considering after reading your article, thanks for sharing 🙂
Manali will be exceptionally beautiful in winters. I’m sure you’ll have an amazing time.
Isn’t it surprising how Manali has retained its tag of favorite hill getaway even after decades while its contemporaries are losing their appeal due to over-crowding. Maybe the extra distance from Delhi is a blessing in disguise. How bad is the steep drive after Kullu?
Punita, I did not go towards Kullu but went to Leh from Manali and that drive is equally scary. Though, many claim it is nothing as compared to Spiti valley and I am yet to experience that. And I hope Manali retains its beauty throughout the time.
Manali is really very charming and so many beautiful things to do, especially that river rafting. I would love to go for Himalayan spa. Vashisht spa really looks relaxing and rejuvenating. Even the Beas river sight is stunning.
Manali has been such an amazing experience that I want to go there every summer! It is indeed amazing 🙂
Looks like a beautiful place with tons to offer! This does seem to be the perfect place to relax or have an outdoor adventure. I would love to soak in the hot spring, and I’d be so intrigued to check out the 4000-year old Vashisht temple! I just looked up the Rohtang Pass and it really does look so lush and beautiful in summer, so I’d want to drive (or be driven) there as well.
What a cool trip! I would head straight for the Himalayan spa myself. 😉 The scenery looks fantastic as well as the shopping in town. I’ve never seen fresh litchis; would love to try them direclty from the trees.
Rafting & paragliding is fun if you are an adventure enthusiast. You can also Pashmina shawl from Manali market, which is super lightweight and warm
Fruit-picking activity in the Himachal is exotic in itself. I so want to try this activity. I have been to Manali two times, but now want to explore the hill station as a travel blogger.
Such an informative article! I was supposed to visit India last year but of course the trip was cancelled. I’m going to look into this region when I reschedule my trip as I want to spend a good amount of time exploring different parts of the country. Thanks for the post!
Himachal is an amazing state to explore. You should plan something around it while you are in Delhi. Glad this Manali guide could help.