Manali sits at about 2,050 m where the Beas river leaves the high Himalaya and enters the Kullu valley. For Indian holidaymakers it is the classic honeymoon-and-snow destination; for backpackers it is the start of the roads to Lahaul, Spiti and Ladakh; for trekkers it is the trailhead for Hampta Pass, Beas Kund and Bhrigu Lake.
The town has two personalities. New Manali, around Mall Road, is busy, full of hotels and traffic in peak season. Up the hill, Old Manali and the village of Vashisht keep their wooden houses, apple orchards and a slower café culture. Solang Valley, 13 km up the road, is where the snow is — skiing in winter, paragliding and zorbing the rest of the year.
Top things to do in Manali & Solang Valley
Hadimba Devi Temple
Built in 1553, this four-tiered wooden pagoda stands in a grove of giant deodar trees on the Dhungri hillside. It honours Hidimba, wife of Bhima in the Mahabharata; the Doongri festival in May brings village deities and music. Go early to beat the queues.
Old Manali and the Manu temple
Cross the bridge over the Manalsu stream and walk up through orchards to the old village, its guesthouses and cafés, and the Manu temple dedicated to the lawgiver Manu, after whom Manali is said to be named.
Vashisht hot springs
A short walk or ride above the Beas on the opposite bank, Vashisht village has hot sulphur springs piped into public bathing tanks next to stone temples to the sage Vashisht and to Ram. Bring modest swimwear and respect the separate men’s and women’s baths.
Solang Valley
In winter (roughly January to March) the slopes above Solang are Himachal’s most accessible ski area, with lessons and equipment hire; the rest of the year there is a ropeway, paragliding, quad bikes and pony rides. The Atal Tunnel starts just beyond.
Day hikes
Walk to Jogini waterfall from Vashisht (about 2–3 hours return), up to the Lama Dugh meadow through deodar forest, or through the Van Vihar forest park and the Club House area by the Beas. Longer treks — Hampta Pass, Beas Kund, Bhrigu Lake — start near town.
River and road adventures
Raft the Beas below Manali (the main stretches are around Pirdi and Raison, towards Kullu), or take a day trip through the tunnel to Lahaul. Mountain-bike and motorbike rentals are everywhere for the Leh and Spiti roads.
How to get to Manali & Solang Valley
- By bus from Delhi: overnight Volvo and HRTC buses take roughly 12–14 hours to Manali; they leave Delhi (ISBT Kashmere Gate, Majnu ka Tilla and other pick-up points) in the afternoon and evening.
- By air: the nearest airport is Bhuntar (Kullu), about 50 km south — flights from Delhi are limited and weather-dependent. Chandigarh airport is about 300 km away.
- By rail: there is no railway to Manali. The nearest practical railheads are Chandigarh and Kiratpur/Una, from where you continue by bus or taxi.
- By road: Delhi is roughly 530–550 km via Chandigarh, Kiratpur, Mandi and Kullu; the four-lane highway and tunnels have cut journey times, but allow 10–12 hours by car.
Insider tips
- In peak weeks (May–June, Christmas–New Year) traffic jams between Manali and Solang can last hours; leave before 8 am.
- Book a Rohtang permit well ahead if the pass is on your wish list — see our Atal Tunnel & Rohtang guide.
- Old Manali and Vashisht are better bases than Mall Road if you prefer quiet evenings and cafés.
- Carry cash: ATMs in Manali town are reliable, but Solang, Sissu and villages may not accept cards.
- In the monsoon (July–August) check the road status daily; landslides can cut the highway below Manali.
Tours that include Manali & Solang Valley
These guided trips cover Manali & Solang Valley or combine easily with a visit:
Private day tour Private Solang Valley Sightseeing Day Tour from Manali
A full private day that pairs the high-altitude fun of Solang Valley with the culture of the Kullu valley: the timber-and-stone Naggar Castle, the Russian painter Nicholas Roerich’s estate and traditional shawl workshops along the Beas.
- Solang Valley snow slopes, ropeway and paragliding
- Naggar Castle and the Roerich art gallery
- Kullu valley shawl weavers and riverside stops
Private day trip Manali: Solang Valley, Atal Tunnel & Sissu Day Trip
The classic Manali day out, done in a private car with a local driver who knows the permit rules and the traffic. Stop in Solang Valley, cross under the Pir Panjal through the Atal Tunnel and spend time in the wide, stark Lahaul valley at Sissu before heading back.
- Solang Valley’s meadows, ropeway and adventure sports
- Drive through the 9 km Atal Tunnel under the Rohtang ridge
- Sissu’s waterfall and Chandra river views in Lahaul
Guided hike Guided Lama Dugh Hike in Manali
A proper day hike straight from town: the trail climbs steeply from near Hadimba temple through cedar forest to the grassy shepherd meadows of Lama Dugh, with wide views of the Beas valley and the snow peaks around Solang. Good acclimatisation before a longer trek.
- Climb through deodar and oak forest above Manali
- High alpine meadow of Lama Dugh with Pir Panjal views
- Local guide who knows the trail and the weather
Private sightseeing Manali City Tour with Car (5 hours)
An easy half-day introduction to Manali by private car: the 16th-century Hadimba temple, the hot springs and temples at Vashisht, the lanes of Old Manali and the Manu temple, the Tibetan gompa near the bazaar and finally Mall Road.
- Hadimba Devi Temple in its deodar forest
- Vashisht hot baths and Old Manali
- Tibetan monastery, Manu Temple and Mall Road
