We had to cross a Park to reach the river bank which was already loaded with tourists. It was very peaceful to sit on huge rocks and soak our feet in the chilled flowing water of the river. After sitting there for some time while enjoying Maggi with tea, we headed back to the hotel as it started to get cold around late evening.

Sitting on the river bed enjoying the strong waves and chilled weather with a cuppa in hand is surely one of the best things to do in Manali, India.

Places to visit in Manali

Know the History of the Hadimba Temple & explore spirituality

We started the first day of our trip by exploring the spiritual side of Manali by visiting the famous Hadimba temple. It is an ancient cave temple dedicated to an Indian Goddess, Hidimi Devi (a figure in the Indian epic, Mahabharata) and is surrounded by dense cedar forest in the Himalayan range. A famous temple from Manali surely tops in the list of pilgrimage things to do in Manali.

Places to visit in Manali

Walk in the snow & make a snowman at the Rohtang Pass

The second half of our trip was dedicated entirely to The Rohtang pass, which is a natural divide between Manali and the Spiti Valley and also the entry point towards Leh. The distance between Manali to Rohtang Pass is almost 51km and from the old town square of Manali, it takes two hours long and bumpy ride to Rohtang Pass, so is adventurous. As it is a relatively cold place than Manali (during summer as well), we rented warm clothes from a local shop before starting our drive.

On reaching the Rohtang Pass, we were mesmerized to be in a valley surrounded by snow-covered mountains. We proceeded to trek into the snow-laden hills and felt the powdery snow everywhere with clouds running through us. Within minutes, the weather started to change drastically, and it suddenly became very cloudy, so we decided to depart from there to avoid being stuck. It is recommended to take precautions as Manali weather can change in minutes and a traffic jam can also cause a huge mess. A must-do and a not to be missed place from the hill station is truly one of the best things to do in Manali.

Places to visit in Manali

See Natural Hot springs & experience the holiness of Manikaran Sahib Gurudwara, Kullu

The Manikaran Sahib Gurudwara is one of the most sacred gurudwaras relevant to both Hindus and Sikhs equally. It is widely recognized for its natural hot springs, and these are used by the gurudwara staff to prepare the Langar food (mostly rice) for the devotees. The Gurudwara is not exactly located in Manali while in Kullu – another village on the way back to Delhi, so we kept this one for the last day of our trip. Situated in Parvati Valley on the river banks of the Parvati River known for its heavy flow around the gurudwara as it has caused various accidents in the past.

As it is a sacred place for both Hindus and Sikhs, it is a must-visit the gurudwara for the divine connection with a distinguished history. In Hinduism, it is known to be relevant as Manu – known to be the first Hindu Man – post a massive flood recreated human life here. While Sikhs believe that the founder of Sikhism – Guru Nanak Dev – lifted a stone to create the famous hot springs to prepare food for the community not able to fetch food back in those days.

Places to visit in Manali

Walk on a jittery bridge in the Kasol Valley

Just a few miles behind the Manikaran Gurudwara in Kullu, a bridge is built over the Parvati River in the Kasol Valley – caught our attention. In an attempt to appease our adventurous urge, we headed on to quickly explore the other side of the bridge. There’s something really exciting about this bridge.

Upon reaching the centre of the bridge, it tends to move at a fast pace, or at least it appears so making it very difficult to even keep a step forward. But, going on with our hysteria we continue to cross it. At the end of the bridge, we were welcomed by another spectacular view of the steep mountains of the Kasol Valley. We even encountered some locals who use this reckless bridge for their daily chores by taking all their stuff tied to their heads…Not Kidding! See the picture below, the locale here is carrying huge baggage at his head while trying to cross the bridge safely. How audacious.

So, whenever you’re in Manali or around Kullu, don’t forget to look out for this bridge. It’s going to be your most vivid memory and surely become one of your favourite things to do in Manali like it’s for me.

The footfall in Manali increases during spring & summer, but visiting the places in winter with snow all around is altogether another experience, and I’m yet to experience that, waiting for that another trip

Did you know Manali is also an amazing place for camping? Camping in Manali is a unique experience in itself which not many get to undergo. The lush forest of Manali makes for an amazing campsite, so try out this adventure on your next trip to Manali.

Where to Stay in Manali

If you’re headed on a Manali trip, I would highly recommend staying near Mall Road. Staying at the centre of Manali city will have its advantages of the best connectivity to the highway, restaurants just a few blocks away and all the Manali tourists within easy reach.

Being one of the renowned tourist places in India, Manali has a relatively high number of hotels available. Manali gets a huge amount during spring and thus it would be best to book the hotels in advance.

Although there is not one best time to visit Manali, a visit to Manali in winter will land you in a fairyland. Although, the hotels in Manali near Mall Road charge moderately high than the ones in old Manali – so choose wisely. I recommend picking from these – House of Amigos, Johnson’s Hotel, Victory Resorts, The Crazy Indian Pad which has both dorms & separate rooms and lastly The Madpackers Hostel if you like to cut on the budget.

Where to Eat in Manali

Being one of the famous tourist spots in India, Manali has a variety of restaurants serving Indian, Italian, Japanese, Tibetian and many more cuisines. There are some of the best restaurants in Manali’s old town. To name a few – Mount View Restaurant – is the oldest fine dining restaurant in Manali serving some exquisite delicacies. The Adarsh restaurant is known for its’ delicious Indian food items. “Dylans Toasted and Roasted coffee house” is one of the most popular coffee houses in Manali. For fancy exotic Asian food, head to *Chopsticks Restaurant* for its famous Chinese, Japanese, & Tibetan food. Not all restaurants still accept credit cards, it’s best to have some cash handy.

How to reach Manali

Manali tourism gets a boost through significant connectivity through amazing highways with private cars/taxis & buses and even well connected through airlines. The nearest airport to Manali is Kullu which is no more than a 1-hour journey from Manali. If going by road, then you can pick up your own car or a taxi. If driving on your own, make sure there are 2 drivers who can change in between as a 12-hour drive can be hectic. If you would like buses, then I would suggest an (overnight) Volvo – windows won’t open – or a semi-Deluxe – AC/Non AC but the flexibility of opening windows.

The Journey from Delhi to Manali

As much as I am excited about the destination I am heading to, the journey is no less exciting for me. When we decided to visit Manali, it was like a dream come true. I was young and heard lovely stories about the place. It was a family trip with uncles, aunts and a bunch of cousins.

The distance between Delhi to Manali is 550 km and hence an approximately twelve-hour drive from Delhi, although not a hectic one. The highway from Delhi to Manali was an entertaining experience and this road trip also qualifies as one of the top things to do in Manali.