Manali is the fastest growing tourist’s destination of the country having the credit of snow clad mountains and availability of snow throughout the year. Reviews and feedback for Manali as a tourist destination are always positive and better than any other destination compared to. Manali tour is a standard 3 days sightseeing tour which covers a half day local sightseeing, one day for Kullu and Manikana and one day for Snow point. Tourists staying for more than three days have also many option to explore all around and have many things to do here in Manali. So you must have an idea of all sightseeing around Manali before Manali tour booking
Rohtang Pass/ Snow Point
Rohtang Pass OR Snow Point There is always confusion among the tourist that what is the difference between snow point and Rohtang Pass? for which our answer is that snow point is never the same place while Rohtang Pass is a fixed place situated on the top of the hill where one can find snow almost throughout the year. Snow point of Manali is always the must to see for the tourist in Manali, because most of the tourists used to visit Manali just to see the snow. Snow point of Manali differs from time to time on the basis of availability of snow. Snow point of Manali is never the same it starts from Nehru Kund and goes back towards Rohtang pass as the snow melts. When there is a heavy snowfall you will find snow point at Nehru kund where you can enjoy all the snow activities like ATV biking, Snow Scooter, Skiing, Tube slide, Zip Lining etc. on the spot. When the snow melts at Nehru Kund next snow point will be Solang Valley where you can do all the activities mentioned above and apart from this one can enjoy the Horse riding, Gandola or Cable Car system, Paragliding, bunjee jumping etc at Solang Valley. After that next snow point becomes the Gulaba Camp site where there is a barrier which is managed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and one has to apply for the online permit if he is wishing to go ahead from Gulaba. There is a limitation of vehicle to go ahead, only 800 petrol variant vehicle and 400 diesel variant vehicles are allowed to go ahead for Rohtang Pass. And if you are planning to go beyond Rohtang pass there is a separate permission system available online on the website, which is a bit of easy way to get the online permission. Charges for Rohtang pass permit is 550 Rs. While you have to pay just 50 Rs. if you are willing to go to beyond Rohtang pass for the places like Keylong, Jispa, Sarchu, Leh and Spiti Valley. A permit is required to go to Rahla Fall, Marhi, Rani Nallah also because all these points also exists after the Gulaba Barrier. Its very hard and tough to get a Rohtang Pass permit in week ends and red season. Rohtang pass and all the places beyond Gulaba remains closed on Tuesday for maintenance of road by Border Road Organization (BRO) which increases the traffic on Monday and Wednesday because if the tourists are not able to go to Snow point on Tuesday they will certainly plan for Monday or will schedule there plan for Wednesday. Rohtang pass remains closed from the month of November to the month of April because of heavy snow fall which get cleared by the BRO by the month of April. So if someone is planning his trip to just to see the Rohtang pass in that case he will have to plan his trip between the month of April and October. Rohtang pass or the snow point is a very cold place where you will have to carry some woolen and down feather or heavy jackets with you and if you do not carry these stuffs with you in that case you can get snow dresses on the way on hire bases with a full kit with gum boots, daangri and gloves etc.
Hamta pass
Hamta Pass is another alternative snow point which is getting more and more popular from recent years among the tourists. One will find Hamta pass covered with snow between the months of December to the month of April or sometime later. Hamta pass is a best picnic spot which is not that much crowded as compared to the other snow points of the Manali. It has a beauty of dense forests, small rivers and rivulets and some glades. Sethan village at Hamta is a small village with a population of less than 100 people residing over there. Skiing and Snow boarding lovers find Hamta pass a best destination for these activities. Hamta pass has some of the best skiing slopes of the world which makes it more popular among the tourists. There is also a permission system to go to the Hamta Pass which can be availed from the SDM office Manali or sometimes at the Allain Hydro Power Project barrier. Documents like RC, Driving License, Insurance and acknowledge forms are required to get the permission and a fee of Rs. 100 has to be paid. There is a limitation of 200 vehicles to go to Hamta Pass. Activities like trekking, Camping, Skiing, Zip lining and tube slides are available at hamta pass.
Hadimba Devi Temple
Hadimba Devi Temple Hadimba Devi temple is a 1553 AD built temple which is also known as Dhungri Temple. It is situated between the dense cedar wood forests. This temple was built by Maharaja Bahadur Singh. This temple is dedicated to the goddess Hadimba who was a Rakshasi. There is an interesting story behind this that how a Rakshasi was turned into a goddess and is still worshiped by the local and all tourists visiting to Manali. When the Pandavas were on 14 years of exile the one of their brother called Bhima had an encounter with Hadimb (Brother to the goddess Hadimba)and was killed by Bhima. Though the Hadimb was very powerfull and it was about impossible to defeat him, in spite of this Bhima defeated him. Hadimba had taken an oath that she will marry to the person who will defeat her brother and eventually she married to Bhima and they had a son naming Ghatotkachh. Hadimba temple is a very popular tourists place of Manali where you can go for a yak ride and can also take photographs with the local kullvi dress and cute rabbits. One will find many Kashmiri shawl shops there having a range of hundred rupee To Thousands. These shopkeepers have a special skill of selling and you might be convinced for buying a package of stuffs which is not that much good as they told you. We are often asked by the tourists that what is a Sparu or Chingu for which our answer is that it’s a very rare type of species of animal. Some shopkeepers will tell you that a particular shawl is made with the stuff of this Chingu or Sparu which is not true and you might be deceived. We never advise tourists to buy a Chingu or Sparu.
Vashisht Hot Spring Water
It’s always an amazing and thrilling experience to find burning hot water even in the chilling month of December and January while it’s snowing outside the temple. The temple of Guru Vashishta is very well known for its hot spring water and Rama Temple. There are separate hot water ponds for men and women at Vashisht to take a bath. The hot water of Vashisht has a great remedial skills which works for treatment of joint pain and skin diseases. The devotees and the tourists used to visit here for the treatment of these diseases and the magic of the hot sulfur water and the faith on Guru Vashishta cure these in no time. Vashisht village is a religious place and you will not find that much adventure activities over here, but you can have the fun and adventure of Canyoning here and the trek to the famous Jogni Fall also starts from here. Vashisht village is liked by most of the foreigners and they used to live here for months and years. Vashisht hot spring water is one of the must to see place of Manali local sightseeing.
Club House
Local sightseeing of Manali which falls around the city are all the places of interest of the adults, couples and for the age group of above 15 years. While Club House is the place where you can find all the options of entertainments and activities for all the age groups including kids. Club House a building built with a British architecture where you find many indoor and outdoor activities, its around 1.5 Km from the Mall Road Manali. On the main entrance of Club House you will find some handmade gift items shops and shawl and stroll shops. You can have the fun of indoor activities like Carom Board, Table tennis, Skating, Go Carts, billiards and video games etc. The river Manalsu flows besides the Club House on which you can go for a River crossing adventure activity. There is a small pond at Club House where you can have the fun of boating. It’s a best place to spent time in Manali for families and couples.
The Mall Road Manali
The Mall road of Manali is situated in the middle of the city it’s about 350 meters long. Most of the tourists used to visit Mall Road in the evening and roam all around. This is the best place for shopping in Manali where you will find all options for shopping from a branded showroom to a local handmade stuff. You can find the best quality of woolen, angora and pashimna stuff on The showrooms of Bhutti Cooperative society. The popular Van Vihar and Budhisht monastery are very near to the Mall Road of Manali. Dense cedar forest attached to the Mall road makes it more attractive and soothing. Spending time between the shadow of the cedar forests feels like being in the lap of the nature in real.
Naggar Art Gallary As we know that Manali serves, satisfies and entertain all the tourists in some way because of having a vast variety of adventure activities and natural tourist places and many more. But there is something special to the Art lover who visit Manali, which is the “Nicholas Roerich Art Gallary” it’s 22 Km from Manali. Roerich was a great Russian painter, Philosopher, adventure lover and nature lover. He was so impressed with the beauty of Manali that he decided to stay at Manali at Naggar village. Nicholas Roerich Art Gallery was founded in the year of 1962 by his son Svyetoslav Roerich. A trust naming Roerich Heritage Museum has been formed by the governments of Himachal Pradesh and Russian Government. All the painting and things related with the memory of The Nicholas Roerich has been placed and displayed over there. This is the best place to visit for all the Art lover visiting Manali. The gallery remains open from 9 AM to 5 PM and remains closed on Monday.
Naggar Castle
Naggar Castle was built in 1460 by Raja Sidh Singh its around 22 Km. from the Manali Main market. The castle is situated on the top of the ridge having a view of about whole of the valley from where the kings used to keep an eye on the empire reigned by them. It has an architecture of anti earthquake which helped it to remain untouched even from the earthquake of 1905 when most of buildings were ruined. Many shots of the Hollywood movies have been shot over here. It has a small museum also where you can find the musical instruments of Himachal Pradesh placed over there. The Castle has now been converted to a Heritage Hotel which is being run by the Himachal Tourism Development Corporation.
Manikaran
Manikaran is a very famous pilgrimage destination which is around 88 Km from Manali. It’s a complete full day tour to go to Manikaran which takes 8 to 10 hours to complete the journey. On the way you can cover Dobhi paragliding point, Babeli river rafting point, Kullvi Shawl showrooms, Vaishnu Devi temple at Kullu, Kasol and Gurudwara sahib, Rama temple and Lord Shiva temple at Manikaran. The name Manikaran has been derived from the Indian mythology when Lord Shiva and Mata Parvati were living there in Manikaran. “Mani” is a precious stone and “Karnika” stands for ornaments that we wear in ear. Once upon a time Mata Parvati lost her earring into the water and was very upset. She requested Lord Shiva to find the earring, when Shiva failed to find the earring he was so angry that he started “Tandava” the most dangerous incarnation of Lord Shiva. On This Sheshnaga the Serpent God gives back the earring which was founded by him. Manikaran is a very popular place for both the Hindus and Sikhs. According to Sikhs the most popular Sikh Guru “Guru Nanakdev” once visited the place. He was accompanied with his very good friend Bhai Mardana and some other followers. They were hungry and there was nothing to eat. They collected some flour to make roti but there was not even fire to burn. Guru Nanak Devji then directed Bhai Mardana to pick a stone where he found boiling water beneath this. The water was so hot that chapatti can be cooked over there. This was a miracle which can be seen even at this time and people use to cook rice and other things in that water. In this way Manikaran Gurudwara Sahib has become a must to see or visit place of Manali for the people who believes in Sikh religion.
Old Manali
Old Manali is 2 Km from The Mall Road Manali it’s a favorite of all solitaire reaper. The temple of Manu Rishi is a must to see here in Old Manali which is the only temple of Rishi Manu. Road of Old Manali is very narrow and steep and we advise tourists not to take their vehicle to Old Manali but to hire a cab or auto rickshaw. To park a vehicle is a major problem here. Restaurants and café in Old Manali are must to experience where you can find an option of having all Indian, Continental, Chinese and Italian food. Old Manali has some garment and gift item shop which has no comparison and other option around.
Jogni Water Fall
Jogni Water fall is the most beautiful water fall of Manali which is around 5 Km. from Manali. There is a half day trekking route to go to Jogni Water fall. There are two separate routes to go there, one starts from Vashisht village and second from Bahang. You have to go with a cab from Manali to Vashisht or Bahang and then your trek starts from there. It’s an amazing experience to be near the water fall and feel the breath taking cold vapors of the water fall. It’s a religious place where we will advise tourists to not to make a noise and spread trash.
Manali tour itinerary can be customized in the following way on the basis of availability of days for sightseeing in Manali.
One night and two days Manali tour
Day 1st : Local sightseeing of Hadimba temple, Budhisht monastery, Club house and Vashisht hotspring water
Day 2nd : Full day Snow point
Two nights and three days Manali tour
Day 1st : Local sightseeing of Hadimba temple, Budhisht monastery, Club house and Vashisht hotspring water
Day 2nd : Full day Snow point
Day 3rd : Visit to Kullu and Manikaran
Three nights and four days Manali tour
Day 1st : Local sightseeing of Hadimba temple, Budhisht monastery, Club house and Vashisht hotspring water
Day 2nd : Full day Snow point
Day 3rd : Visit to Kullu and Manikaran
Day 4th : Visit to Naggar Art Gallary, Naggar Castle and Jana Waterfall
Four nights and five days Manali tour
Day 1st : Local sightseeing of Hadimba temple, Budhisht monastery, Club house and Vashisht hotspring water
Day 2nd : Full day Snow point
Day 3rd : Visit to Kullu and Manikaran
Day 4th : Visit to Naggar Art Gallary, Naggar Castle and Jana Waterfall
Day 5th : Half Day trek to Jogni Water Fall
