As I opened my jet lag ridden eyes, and peeked out of the car, I saw the emergence of the Himalayan peaks touring over us. Although October had arrived, the summer temperatures were still prevalent, and the greenery reflected this. From all angles there were glistening blue rivers, emerald greenery peaking out in the skyline all encased by the bright blue skies. Himachal Pradesh, we had arrived.

Our first stop- Manali. The city has such a good reputation, I had already heard so much about this before getting there. Whether this was from the nurses and doctors from my hospital, or from my parents who had spent the first part of their honeymoon there, everyone was certain it was a beautiful place, and one that should be on your bucket list. Nestled in the himalayan valley, its a hill station city, which is widely known for its breathtaking\ views and adventurous activities.

Getting to Manali from Delhi

Depending on where you are coming from, driving is the cheapest mode of transport, and the way we decided to travel there. The journey from Delhi is roughly 11hours without any breaks (though I highly recommend taking multiple breaks, particularly in Chandigargh, punjab, where the toilets and rest rooms at the service stations did not dissappoint. not to mention stopping for some luscious indian food).

The roads are very good and well built along the whole journey, and for anyone driving from the UK (and i imagine the US), driving is very easy to do on the motorway.

But if you are not experienced in driving, another solution is to hire a driver and a car from Delhi or Manali. This is very commonly done in India, and is much much cheaper than you’d think. Infact, we hired a driver on our way back, as it made our lives a bit easier (and we didn’t have to spend the entire time driving and could enjoy the view). The journey is roughly 540km, and most companies charge a set fee per km, and a flat driver fee. Please make sure you have this agree to the price before getting into the car.

Here are a couple of services which provide this service:

1. https://suritours.in/outstation-taxi/delhi-to-manali.php
2. https://www.carrentaldelhi.com/car-hire/delhi-to-manali-cab-service/

Prices vary on the size of the car, but would bbe between 5500 to 10000RS (between £55 to £100)

By air

The nearest airport to Manali is Kullu Manali Airport. This is a very fast flight (an hour and a half) directly to Kullu, which is about 10km away from Manali, and therefore much easier to get to. The cost of the flight can be very pricey however having a value of around 19000Rs (even when booked in advance), and a super saver value of 7000 Rs (£70) one way, with very limited seats. Although there are lots of flights available, sadly I was only able to access one online, from Air alliance. Once at Kullu, you can get a bus or hire a car to get to Manali.

By train

As not all of us could come in one go, my aunties and some of my cousins decided to join us by coming via train. There are several train services you can use, however, there is no direct train to Manali or nearby. The easiest way to get there via train is to get a train to Chandigargh (around 2-10 hours) and then travel by car or bus for the following journey.
My family decided to take the new Vande bharat trains, and get the executive class there (around 1400Rs one way – £14). They could not stop talking about how amazing these seats were, and were in Chandigargh within 3 hours. The seats are air conditioned, and can swivel around to allow you to see the scenery as you go past. Very comfortable and one to think about if you want to avoid driving.

Once there you can hire a car, as they did. Or get a bus from Chandigargh.The buses vary in price and time, and can be up to 12 hours on the road, so be aware of this when booking.

view from our hotel

So What Do You Do When You Arrive?

Finding a hotel is not hard in Manali. Reasonably priced, there are both budget friendly hotels to luxury hotels are all present. As we were with family (and after a long journey, with the need of a nice private bathroom), we opted to stay in the Grand Allure hotel.

This is found on the outskirts of the city, and is one of the newer 4* hotels that have been built. Right on the river beas, the views to the moutains were amazing, and the river wasn’t flowing so fast, that it was hard to sleep! Being ethnically indian, I need some good indian food, especially when staying in India. And the hotel delivered!!! Dinner is usually a buffet dinner with lots of variety of food, and a live singer while we ate.

There is also a bar outside next to a bonfire which starts at 7:30pm. I would highly recommend this place. However, one disadvantage is that it is much better to come here if you are driving. It is not really walking distance to the centre. However, is only about 30 minutes walk from Jogini waterfall and its hot springs!

The Unmissables

There is so much to do, and depending on how much time you have will dictate what you do. We sadly only had 2 days in this city, which meant that we fit in as much as we could in this short time.

October is cooler month, where the temperature in the day, can rise up to 20-25 degrees, but dropped to 5-9 degrees centigrade during the evening and night, and calling for a jumper.

Our itinerary was short however definitely doable with a car,

Day 1- Rohtang tunnel/ Atal Tunnel

The tunnel was opened in 2020, as a pass through the mountain, under the Rohtang pass, to allow the military to pass through this tunnel with ease, and decreases time to south portal of the tunnel to 45 minutes. IT is the longest tunnel above 10,000ft in the world, and so draws a lot of locals, and is a much easier access point to Leh.

We were very fortunate at this time, as we were about to make it to the entrance of the tunnel, and we were hit with traffic. The area is known to have multiple landslides, and unfortunately about an hour before we had gotten there a landslide had occurred. This being a major military pass as well, many people were already there clearing the area. Luckily we were able to make it out within 30 minutes (and got some new sunglasses on the way- the speediness of the street side vendors is hilarious). However, previous anecdotes from my aunt and uncle told me that landslides can sometimes last up to 4-5 hours, and this is one to be careful of.

2. Solang Valley

Sholang valley is a beautiful valley, found on the other side of Kullu valley. The valley is well known for its sports in the winter, as it usually covered with layers of deep snow, and is used for its well known ski slopes. However, in the summer, there are other activities available here in the summer, including paragliding, parachutes and ziplining in this area. If you’re the adventurous type (as I am), this is the ideal time to go and enjoy yourself!!! However, if this isn’t your vibe, you can always look around and see the scenery. The feeling of insignificance within the fast mountain ranges, humbles you, and really gives you a moment of peace, that is difficult to find in bustling cities.

3. Sissu waterfall

This was by far my favourite part of my trip to Manali. Sissu waterfall is found in the Lahaul Valley, found at 10,500ft above sea level, a short 2km from the Manali-Leh highway.

We turned towards the lake, where several campsites caught our eyes, among lots of adventurous activities that you can do. The sun was high in the sky, and we stopped at the local cafe, for our 5th cup of chai (who can complain) by 12pm. As we sipped our beautifully spicy and milky tea, a small waterfall could be seen in the distance. ‘ that’s tiny’ I thought, wondering why we had travelled so far to see a tiny waterfall. I could not have been more wrong.

The trek to Sissu waterfall is still gaining popularity, but has slowly started to increase since the building of the Atal tunnel in 2020. But due to this the path up to the waterfall is still not well built, and a bit longer than you would expect it to be.
If you are like us, and don’t have much time, I would recommend doing the zipline from Sissu Lake.It is very cheap in comparison to european prices (300 Rs.- roughly £3 for a return journey).

The zipline is very safe and very fun!!! It is a brilliant way to see the waterfall and save time as well. The journey across the river is about 15 seconds, and once on the other side you can choose to enjoy the site just here and the beautiful views, or take the full hike to the waterfall. This was so fun to do, the zipline itself, was even enjoyed by my mami, who in her 50s was very up for any adventurous activities, and really enjoyed this as a way of seeing the waterfall in a new way.

We made the decision not to do the full trek to the waterfall, partly because it is not well guarded, but also because we had been told that once you go up, getting down is a bit more challenging. However, for those that do want to do this, expect steep inclines and a 30 minute walk up the mountain, for a stunning waterfall.

4. Sissu Lake

We had been told that summer had been harsh this year, that temperatures had reached to 50 degrees centigrade in the summer, and the lakes and rivers were showing signs of this. Although snow capped mountains were still visible in the distance, the majority of the mountains were ranging from dried greenery to luscious greenery to a completely blank canvas. The lake was shallow, the pictures which show the lake as bounding, large, majestic, didn’t appear to be on this autumn sunny day. Despite all of this, the lake and the waterfall, take away your breath, and make even the most adventure averse to trek here.

This was my favourite part of Manali, by a long mark. It had been midday when we had arrived, but had decided to do the trek to the waterfall before sitting down by the lake. Safe to say, we were exhausted when we had gotten back.

As it happened there was a bhutta (corn on the cob) man, here as we were sitting by the lake. This to be honest had been something I had wanted to have for a long time, and definitely on my trip to India. Such a weird thing to want, you might be thinking, and if I’m honest you wouldn’t be wrong. For me, corn on the cob, has memories from India, when I was younger. Many people tend to eat it in the colder climate, and the streetside corn on the cob, is not comparable to anything I’ve tasted in the UK (even though I’ve tried to replicate it multiple times without success).

5. Hadima Devi Temple

This temple is one that is well known and stood here since 1553. If you’re a fan of Bollywood I’m sure you have seen it in the background of some of them- yeh Jawani hai divani is an example (and my excitement is like a child when I realise I’ve been there!)

The temple itself is one dedicated to the goddess Hadimba temple. A goddess of protection. One from one of the Hindu texts of Mahabharata. She was said to be a demoness who then became holy. The forest that surrounds this is thought to be sacred for the locals.

Personally I found the architect very different for what you’d expect in a holy place. Although the roof and the carvings were beautiful. However the casual goats head abreast all the stunning workmanship, was a little frightening and you can see how the tale of demon to goddess is being told. Perhaps there is something in there of being our own protectors (although the goddess did find her sacredness by marrying one of the pandav brothers- being one of the children of gods themselves).

Other things to do

For thrill-seekers, Manali is a paradise. The area offers a plethora of adventure sports like:

• Paragliding: Soar high above the valleys and take in the spectacular views.
• Skiing: In the winter months, the slopes at Solang Valley come alive with snow enthusiasts.
• Trekking: Several trails offer options for both beginners and experienced trekkers, such as the Beas Kund Trek and the Hampta Pass Trek.

Conclusion

Whether you’re seeking adventure, relaxation, or a cultural experience, Manali has it all. Its stunning vistas, adventurous activities, and rich heritage create an unforgettable experience for any traveller. We hardly spent any time there. I would have loved to spend more than 2 days here! One could easily spend a month here without getting bored. What have been your favourite parts of Manali?