By road
~540-570 km from Delhi
North India · Himachal Pradesh
Manali, Himachal Pradesh
Snow peaks, pine and river cafés · ~540-570 km from Delhi
Getting there
By rail
No nearby broad-gauge line; Chandigarh (~280-310 km) is the nearest well-connected station
By air
Bhuntar Airport (Kullu-Manali), ~50 km
Best time to visit
October to June; January-February for snow, May for Rohtang opening
Don't miss
Hadimba Temple
Old Manali
Solang Valley
Jogini Falls
Vashisht hot springs
Things to do
Solang paragliding
Atal Tunnel day trip to Sissu
Riverside café days
Easy treks
Where to eat
What to pack
Layers year-round, snow gear in winter (rentable), sunscreen
A quieter corner
Old Manali's orchard lanes above the café strip
Questions travellers ask
When should I go to Manali?
October to June. January and February for snow, May if you want Rohtang open.
How do I reach Manali?
Bhuntar is the nearest airport at 50 km. There is no rail nearby — Chandigarh at 280-310 km is the closest. Most people take the overnight Volvo from Delhi, 540-570 km.
What should I pack?
Layers year-round, sunscreen, and snow gear in winter — which you can rent there rather than carry.
Where do people go to get away from the crowd?
Old Manali's orchard lanes, above the café strip.
What is worth a day trip?
Solang for paragliding, or through the Atal Tunnel to Sissu. Vashisht's hot springs are closer in.
About Manali
- Mountains
- Riverside
Where it is
Manali is a mountain town in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh, at the head of the Kullu Valley on the Beas river, at about 2,000 m below the Pir Panjal range and the roads to the Rohtang Pass and Lahaul.
History
Manali takes its name, by tradition, from the sage Manu, and its old villages grew up around temples such as the Hadimba Devi Temple, built in 1553. The British planted apple orchards in the valley, the town grew into a tourist hub in the later 20th century, and the Atal Tunnel gave it year-round access to Lahaul in 2020.
People
Manali's people speak Kullvi, a Pahari language, and Hindi, and the Kullu Valley is known for its patterned woollen shawls and caps. Village deities, or devtas, are central to local life, and Dussehra in Kullu brings them together from across the valley.
Known for
- The Hadimba Devi Temple
- Old Manali and the Vashisht hot springs
- Adventure sports in Solang Valley
- Apple orchards
- Gateway to Rohtang Pass and Lahaul
Did you know?
The Atal Tunnel under the Pir Panjal near Manali, opened in 2020, is over 9 km long and is often cited as the world's longest single-tube highway tunnel above 10,000 feet.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.