MAULANA ABDUL KALAM AZAD UNIVERCITY OF

TECHNOLOGY, WEST BENGAL

Bachelors in travel and tourism management (BTTM)

Field trip report of Manali TTM (684)

Submitted by

Satyajit Das Purkayastha

Makaut reg no: 182341610012

Makaut roll no: 23453918009

Under the supervision of

Prof. (Dr.) Supriya Sikari

NSHM Knowledge Campus, Kolkata

 Acknowledgement
I have taken efforts in this report. However, it would not have been possible without the kind
support and help of many individuals and organizations. I would like to extend my sincere
thanks to all of them.

I am highly indebted to the Faculties of Hospitality & Tourism Department of NSHM

Knowledge Campus, Kolkata, for their guidance and constant supervision as well as for
providing necessary information regarding the report& also for their support in completing
the report. They are Dr. Bhaswati Bhattacharya and Dr. Supriya Sikari (HOD) Tourism
Department.

I would like to express my gratitude towards my parents & Mr. Barun Roy, Director of
National Adventure Foundation (NAF) & Instructors, Mr. Roy & Mr.Thakoor at the
Adventure Camp Sitefor their kind co-operation and encouragement which help me in
completion of this project.

I would like to express my special gratitude and thanks to Jabeto Cholo Tours & Travels for
arranging such a marvellous adventure trip for us.

- Satyajit Das Purkayastha

 CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................................ 4
OBJECTIVEs OF THE TRIP............................................................................................................................................. 4
THINGS WE DID! ............................................................................................................................................................... 4
How it is organised .......................................................................................................................................................... 5
METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................................................................................ 5
EXPERIENCE OF THE ADVENTURE TRIP ............................................................................................................... 6
EFFECT ON LOCAL COMMUNITY............................................................................................................................... 8
About Himachal Pradesh ............................................................................................................................................... 9
Districts .................................................................................................................................................................... 10
Get in ......................................................................................................................................................................... 11
About Manali ................................................................................................................................................................... 12
History ...................................................................................................................................................................... 13
Geography ............................................................................................................................................................... 13
Demographics........................................................................................................................................................ 16
Climate...................................................................................................................................................................... 16
Get in ......................................................................................................................................................................... 18
Get around .............................................................................................................................................................. 19
Attraction to see ................................................................................................................................................... 21
Things to do ............................................................................................................................................................ 24
Buy ............................................................................................................................................................................. 26
Eat............................................................................................................................................................................... 26
Drink.......................................................................................................................................................................... 30
Sleep .......................................................................................................................................................................... 30
Home Stay ............................................................................................................................................................... 32
Stay safe ................................................................................................................................................................... 33
Get out ...................................................................................................................................................................... 33
7 Vibrant Manali Festivals That Make This Resort Town Even More Amazing ....................................... 34
Tourism in Manali ........................................................................................................................................................... 41
About kullu ........................................................................................................................................................................ 41
SOME IMAGE HIMACHAL KULLU MANALI ......................................................................................................... 42
CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................................................................... 45
 INTRODUCTION

Adventure trips are supposed to be fun! Isn’t it? At least that is exactly what our strength of
33 students thought. Little did we knew that things are going to be rough and excruciating
and not to miss, refreshing at the same time. Our camp commenced on 16th October and
ended on 21st October. Straight out of the bat we were awestricken of the beautiful
surroundings that we were in, at the same time our instructors [Mr. Roy and Mr. Thakoor]
made it very clear that we need to sock up and get ready for anything and everything that
would be thrown at us. Our tents were set up beautifully but did not had charging points, did
not had electricity nor had any other basic facilities.

NOTE: As we were up for an adventure trip, these realistic adversity simulations were
necessary.

OBJECTIVES OF THE TRIP

• To interact, learn and understand the traditional cultures and lifestyle of North India
especially the Hill Stations which stands for vernacular and majestic natural beauty.

• To study the effect of climatic change and sea level rise in the mountain regions of
Himachal Pradesh.

• To overcome the hurdles that one must face during an adventure trip and to become
physically and mentally apt.

THINGS WE DID!

• TREKKING

• ROCK CLIMBING

• RAPPELLING
 • RIVER CROSSING

• RIVER RAFTING

• TENT CONSTRUCTING

• SELF COOKING

HOW IT IS ORGANISED

The entire trip was organized by a tour operator, Jabeto Cholo Tours & Travels, which was
finalized by all of us on a joint decision. They took all the responsibilities from booking of
train tickets, arranging bus, providing food and water at the right time and place and all other
required necessities.

The tour operator was with us while we departed from Sealdah Railway Station, Kolkata by
Humsafar Express on 14thOctober, 2019 at 1:20pm. Then after reaching Ambala Cantt.
Railway Station, they had arranged one bus for us, by which we were going to reach Manali
and meet NAF for our upcoming adventure trip.

Then on the day of returning after we have completed our marvelous and exciting adventure
trip with NAF, the tour operator received us from the manali bus stand and took us to Ambala
Cantt. Railway Station from where we took Akal Takht Express for our hometown, Kolkata,
the city of joy and we reached Howrah Railway Station on 23rdOctober at 4:00pm.

METHODOLOGY

• We were guided by an adventure trip by our instructors who explained in detail about
various adventure sports and activities that took place at Manali or near that.

• The question and answers session between the local people and our instructors took
about half an hour. Due to time constraint as there were many things to watch and do.
 EXPERIENCE OF THE ADVENTURE TRIP

• DAY 1[16th] - Our first trek started in the afternoon towards the point where we had
to perform our first two activities which are “rock climbing and rappelling”. The
experience was gut wrenching, but we felt a sense of achievement as we completed
the activities effectively.

• DAY 2[17th] - Second day was comparatively relaxing and revitalizing, we had our
20 km trek and the visuals were astounding. we were clearly testing our physical
limits in a positive way.

• DAY 3[18th] -This day was enthralling and amusing as we performed our third
activity, that is river crossing through rope. Everyone had a lot of fun completing the
activity.Following that we had a free visit to the Manali market from where we had to
come back to the base camp all by ourselves, which was also a light-hearted pleasure.
• DAY 4 [19th] - Another invigorating day of trekking amidst the heavenly company
of mountains bending towards us. In the second half we had a fascinating
masterclass by Mr. Thakur and his accomplices in which they showed how to
construct a reasonable shelter(tent) when one gets stuck in wilderness and then we
had our hands roughed up on the task of constructing a tent of our own which was
pretty nice.

• DAY 5 [20th] - This day was certainly the best day in the whole trip as we had the
most awaited activity that is river rafting. We went to Kullu where the rafting sight
was allocated. It was the most enthralling and mind-boggling experience that we had
in the entire trip. That evening we had a fun session as we had our campfire flaming
intrepidly. We sang, danced, played games, told stories, you name it and we must
have done it…!
• DAY 6 [21st] - This was the last day of our trip where we performed our last activity
that is self-cooking. We were divided in three groups and were given limited
resources\ingredients to cook a decent meal out of it. And surprisingly all three
groups did good, from firing the woods to serving the cooked food.

EFFECT ON LOCAL COMMUNITY

• The locals get a lot of foreign exposure which makes them to continuously evolve in
different aspects in order to lure more foreign recognition.
 • Wanting to grow as a destination the awareness among the social communities must
be there which was seen at our visit there.

• Tourism being the major source of income here, it isthat the economic growth is
always rising and occasionally limping.

• Being surrounded with a lot of pros. It still has a few cons. Under its belt such as over
exploitation of resources, unhealthy profit wanting which eventually leads to
maximization of tampered natural surroundings.

• Due to being overcrowded throughout the year, waste littering is one of biggest
concerns out there.

ABOUT HIMACHAL PRADESH

The earliest known inhabitants of the region were tribals called Dasas. Later, Aryans came
and they assimilated in the tribes. In the later centuries, the hill chieftains accepted suzerainty
of the Mauryan empire, the Kaushans, the Guptas and Kanuaj rulers. During the Mughal
period, the Rajas of the hill states made some mutually agreed arrangements which governed
their relations. In the 19th century, Ranjit Singh annexed/subjugated many of the states.
When the British came, they defeated Gorkhas and entered into treaties with some Rajas and
annexed the kingdoms of others. The situation more or less remained unchanged till 1947.
After Independence, 30 princely states of the area were united and Himachal Pradesh was
formed on 15th April, 1948. With the recognition of Punjab on 1st November, 1966, certain
areas belonging to it were also included in Himachal Pradesh. On 25th January, 1971,
Himachal Pradesh was made a full-fledged State. The State is bordered by Jammu & Kashmir
on North, Punjab on West and South-West, Haryana on South, Uttarakhand on South-East
and China on the East.

Himalayas in Himachal’ or one must say Himachal in Himalayas. ‘Him’ in Hindi literally
means ice or snow and ‘alaya’ means home, which makes Himalayas ‘The Home of Snow’
and from there Himachal gets its name meaning ‘Land of Snow’.
While traditionally Himachal was known as a summer destination, the Department of
Tourism & Civil Aviation Government of Himachal Pradesh has taken special efforts to
break the seasonality factor and has developed diversified tourism products to attract tourists
in other seasons too. Now Himachal is known as “A Destination for All Seasons and All
Reasons”.

In fact, the Department has laid a special emphasis on the development of activity-based
tourism and opening up of new sub destinations. To promote tourism in the countryside and
to unexplored areas, appropriate infrastructure is being developed within available resources.
By focussing on quality tourists, the Department aims at promoting sustainable tourism and
encouraging private sector to develop tourism related infrastructure in the State without
disturbing the existing ecology and environment.

Himachal situated in the heart of the western Himalaya, identified as "Dev Bhumi" and is
believed to be the abode of Gods and Goddesses. The entire State is punctuated with stone as
well as wood temples. The shadowy valleys, rugged crags, glaciers and gigantic pines and
roaring rivers and exquisite flora and fauna compose the symphony that is for ever Himachal.
The State has a rich treasure of places of pilgrimage and of anthropological value. The State
has also the pride of being the home to rishis like Vyas, Parashar,Vashist, Markandey and
Lamas, etc.

DISTRICTS

There are twelve districts in Himachel Pradesh State:

• Bilaspur

• Chamba

• Hamirpur

• Kangra

• Kinnaur

• Kullu

• Lahaul and Spiti

• Mandi
 • Sirmaur

• Shimla

• Solan

• Una

GET IN

By plane

Shimla, Kullu (for Manali) and Kangra or Pathankot (for Dharamsala) have small airports,
with services largely limited to Delhi. Flights are frequently cancelled or delayed by adverse
weather. In addition the airport in Pathankot (Punjab) can be a convenient connection
for Dharamsala and Dalhousie. If you are on a tight budget you might want to skip this option
as it is way more costly than other mode of transportation. Airfare on this route is one of the
highest in world for a given unit distance. Airport in Shimla is at Jubbal Hatti which is around
40 km away from main Shimla City.

By train

Given the difficult geographical position of State there is very little penetration of railway
network. Little rail network available give access to peripheral districts and capital Shimla.
Nevertheless it is an amazing experience going from Kalka to Shimla. Kalka-Shimla railway
track is also UNESCO world heritage site. Few points in Himachal are easily accessible by
train, but there are narrow-gauge railways from Pathankot (Punjab)
to Kangra and Kalka (Haryana) to Shimla. This will take you through beautiful rural
Himalayan regions. The ride beyond Kangra is amazing. You ride along the Dhauladhar
range of the Himalayas via Palampur and Baijnath to Joginder Nagar. The region is criss
crossed by rivers and streams.

By bus

Bus is the only practical means of getting to many points in Himachal. All cities of interest
have direct services to Delhi. There are three different entry routes to Himachal if you are
coming from Delhi.

• Delhi-Chandigarh-Shimla-Kaza route.

• Delhi-Chandigarh-Bilaspur-Mandi-Manali-Keylong-Leh

• Delhi-Chandigarh-Kangra-Dharamsala or Delhi-Chandigarh-Kangra-Chamba

all three routes are interconnected within Himachal. It is cheapest means to travel in and
around Himachal. There are Volvo buses operated by Himachal State Transport Corporation
on these routes.

ABOUT MANALI

Manali is a resort and tourist town

nestled in the mountains of
the Indian state of Himachal
Pradesh near the northern end of
the Kullu Valley in the Beas
River Valley. It is located in
the Kullu district, about 270 km
(168 mi) north of the state
capital, Shimla, 309 km (192 miles)
northeast of Chandigarh, and 544 km
(338 miles) northeast of Delhi, the
national capital. The small town, with a population of 8,096, is the beginning of an
ancient trade route to Ladakh and from there over the Karakoram Pass on
to Yarkand and Khotan in the Tarim Basin. It is a popular tourist destination and serves as the
gateway to Lahaul and Spiti district as well as Leh.

HISTORY

Manali is named after the Sanatan Hindu lawgiver Manu. The name Manali is regarded as the
derivative of 'Manu-Alaya' which means 'the abode of Manu'. Legend has it that sage Manu
stepped off his ark in Manali to recreate human life after a great flood had deluged the world.
Manali lies in the North of Kullu Valley. The valley is often referred to as the 'Valley of the
Gods'. Old Manali village has an ancient
temple dedicated to sage Manu.

The British introduced apple trees in the area.

The first apple orchard was set up by the
British near Patlikuhal, before this, no Apple
trees grew in the area. To this day, apples—
along with plum and pear— remain the best
source of income for the majority of
inhabitants. Both Rainbow and
Brown Trout were also introduced into the
rivers and streams of the area by the colonizers.

With the increase in disposable incomes and

somewhat owing to the rise of disturbances in Kashmir in the late 1980s, Manali witnessed a
surge in tourist traffic. This once quiet village was transformed into a bustling town with
numerous homestays as well as the occasional boutique hotel. During the warmer summer
months, cafes and restaurants can be seen doing brisk business.

GEOGRAPHY

Manali is located at 32.2396 N, 77.1887 E, about 547 km (340 mi) north of New Delhi.
 DEMOGRAPHICS

Manali has grown from a trading village to a small town; as of the 2011 census of India, its
population was 8,096. In 2001, Manali had an official population of 6,265. Males constituted
64% of the population and females 36%. Manali had an average literacy rate of 74%, higher
than the national average of 59.5%; male literacy was 80%, and female literacy was 63.9%.
9.5% of the population was under six years of age. During the summer months, there is a
marked surge in the transients as many of them are employed in the hospitality businesses.

CLIMATE

Manali features a subtropical highland climate with warm summers, relatively cold winters,
and a high diurnal temperature variation. The temperatures range from −7 °C (19 °F) to 30 °C
(86 °F) over the year with the hottest day crossing 30 °C (86 °F) and the coldest day going
below −7 °C (19 °F). The average temperature during summer is between 10 °C (50 °F) to
30 °C (86 °F), and between −7 °C (19 °F) to 15 °C (59 °F) in the winter.

Monthly precipitation varies between 31 mm (1.2 in) in November and 217 mm (8.5 in) in
July. On average, some 45 mm (1.8 in) of precipitation is received during winter and spring
months, increasing to some 115 mm (4.5 in) in summer as the monsoon approaches. The
average total annual precipitation is 1,363 mm (53.7 in). Manali experiences snowfall
predominantly between December and the beginning of March
 GET IN

By bus

Manali is 570km from Delhi, the capital of India, and there are buses connecting the town
with Delhi, Shimla, Dharamsala and Leh. For service from Delhi to Manali and back, tickets
and reservations can be made at the Inter State Bus Terminus or the Himachal Tourism office
on Safdar Hashmi Marg near Mandi House in New Delhi. You can book tickets online too.
The approximate travel time from Delhi to Manali is 14 hours; from Ambala to Manali is 10
hours; from Chandigarh is 08 hours and from Kulu to Manali is 1.5 to 3 hours. Volvo
buses—which depart around 17:00 and arrive about 10:00 the next day—are available from
Delhi and is the best option in terms of comfort and value for money to reach Manali but you
need to book these in advance. Some hotels like Snow Valley Resorts will book your Volvo
& sightseeing along with their hotel package which results in a good package deal as you get

everything in one go.

The windows on Volvo buses are fixed and do not open at all. Carrying/ consuming a tablet
for motion-sickness is advised before mountain journeys ('Avomin' is one popular brand
available over-the-counter). Also heavy/ spicy meals just before/after boarding the bus should
be avoided. Volvos offer bags that people may use if they feel like vomiting. You may enjoy
a better view of the valley and the beautiful Beas river if you book seats on the right side of
bus while travelling from Delhi.

Bus Tickets for Himachal Road Transport Corporation can be booked online. This is
one of the most popular bus companies to get to Manali and various other cities in the region.
They have regular and deluxe volvo buses. Best part is the HRTC website accepts foreign
credit cards so you can avoid the huge markups by ticket agents. Go to Himachal Road
Transport Corporation website.

By private taxi
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money spent.

• Meru.in (cabs in Manali), ☎ 02244224422 (feedback@meru.in). Book cabs in

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satisfied customers.

• Black Taxi India™, ☎ +91 985 555 6554 (info@blacktaxi.in). Inquiry: 24*7. Book
Chandigarh to Manali cab at reasonable fare.

While booking a private taxi for Manali, one must ensure that the driver has adequate
experience driving in hilly regions and does not have the habit of drinking alcohol. Also
make sure the driver has made the trip at least once before and knows all the routes well.
Also, you need to make sure that the driver is habituated to long, continuous driving routines.
If you are going to Manali through Chandigarh-Ropar-Kiratpur-Mandi highway, then your
driver would need to drive on hilly roads for at least 6 hours. Chandigarh to Manali would be
about 8-9 hours by taxi.

By train

The nearest Broad Gauge Rail Head is Ambala Cantt (200km) or Chandigarh (250km)from
Indian Capital New Delhi. Ambala Cantt is on the Delhi - Amritsar and Delhi - Jammu main
lines and is well served by rail, but you will need to travel to Ambala to get a bus for the 10
hour ride to Manali. Jogindernagar and Kalka are other, less preferable, rail heads for Manali.

The nearest broad gauge station is Kiratpur Sahib in Punjab near the city of Nangal. It lies in
Ropar district of Punjab. The station lies on the Ambala Cantt - Una route of Indian
Railways. From here you can easily get buses for Manali.

By plane

The nearest airport is Bhuntar ( Kullu ) Airport ( Tel: 01902-265037, 265603), 50km from
Manali, 10km from Kullu, about two hours away. Air India Regional operate flights
to Kullu from Delhi. However the services can be irregular, and airfares can be high.
Himalyan Bulls offer flight services from Chandigarh to kullu airport. It can be booked from
their site. From the airport the best option to go to Manali is by Pre Paid taxi which is easily
available there. The taxi stand is 100 metres from the airport. They have written prices with
minimum ₹1200 to Manali. Alternatively just go to Kullu and take a frequent public bus
(₹35, see Get Around section).

GET AROUND

There are various ways of getting around in Manali, if you are not already travelling with
your own vehicle. Most tourists hire a taxi (various kinds available), which takes you around
to all the sight-seeing spots in and around Manali (Rohtang, Manikaran etc). It costs about
₹1,800 per day, or little over ₹3,000 if you book together for 3 days (in the peak season).
Dress for Rohtang cost around ₹150 for each set including boots and skiing set will cost you
around ₹200. These detail are mentioned at a board at Mall Road. Be sure to bargain.

The second most common way is to hire a motorbike. There are many places where you can
hire a motorbike (easy to find if you ask around), and is the most common mode of transport
for foreigners. Both cruiser bikes like Bullet and sport bikes from Honda, Bajaj, Yamaha etc
are easily available, though Bullet is the most commonly seen one on the roads. Rates hover
around ₹1000-1500 per day in the peak season, but much discounted at other times. A good
place worth a look will be in Bike rentals Manali office in Vashisht 9816044140, have a good
selection of Royal Enfields and Pulsars. Also 'Tinku' Bike mechanic near old Manali bridge is
an honest shop for bike rentals.

Public transport is not so good. There are cheap bus services, but they are not so frequent.
Yet, if you are going to stay for a long time, it is better to know the times and use them, as
other modes of public transport are exorbitant compared to bus. For e.g., auto rickshaws take

₹200 from manali mall road to Solang valley, while the bus will cost you just ₹10. The buses
are not punctual specially because they seem not have a written schedule. The best option is
to ask about timing at the bus terminal. Buses starts to run at 07:00. Frequently a bus can be
cancelled or late. You can get in / out almost at any place on the route just wave to the driver.

Public bus routes

• Kullu - Manali. Price ₹40. Every 15min

• Manali - Naggar. Every 1.5h

• Manali - Solang. Every 1h

By Bike

Most of the traveller opt to choose to hire bikes in Manali. This would be the best option as
you will avoid getting stuck in endless traffic jams and can move around freely at your own
will. Two good places to rent out bikes in Manali would be Brm Expeditions and Big Bike
Rentals. Do keep in mind to wear helmets at all times.
 ATTRACTION TO SEE

• Rohtang Pass, at an altitude of 3979m (13,050 ft) above sea level, is another
adventure tourist site where it can be cold even on a summer day. It is the highest
point on the Manali-Keylong road and provides a wide panoramic view of mountains
rising far above clouds, which is truly breath taking. Close by is a small lake called
Dassaur Lake. Beas Kund, the source of river Beas, is also nearby. In winter, the road
of Rothang Pass is closed.

Important to note that the road to Rohtang Pass is closed off at Manali bridge, on all
Tuesdays 09:00-18:00 for carrying out road widening work and repairs. If you are able to
leave early, before 09:00, you can avoid the traffic rush (found on all other days) and have
Rohtang Pass to your self (well almost!!). Flip side is to be prepared for stoppages (extending
up to a few hours) on the return trip as the road is blocked off where repair works are
progressed.

If you are driving up, be prepared for the rough broken roads at many places, sheer blind
turns and tight hairpin bends, which can be exhilarating depending on the state of your
nerves. If you are hiring a vehicle then better rent a four wheel drive vehicle from Manali.
Some times the local people along with police does not allow the non-four wheel drive
vehicles from going beyod Snow-Point(a place 16km before Rohtang Pass)and force to hire
their own 4x4 vehicle at exorbitant prices which can be up to ₹1,500-2,000 per person. This
happens in the winter times when there is heavy snow fall. The tours organized by HPTDC
does not go up to Rohtang pass and terminate at Snow-Point. Shared taxis are also available.

Rohtang Pass can also be accessed on foot, if there are stoppages beyond Snow-Point.
However, it is a strenuous climb and also needs a good guide to show the short cut routes to
the Pass.

Beas Kund, an igloo shaped temple, on top has a spring which is the origin of River Beas.
• Hadimba Temple: It is an ancient cave temple dedicated to Hidimbi Devi, who was a
character in the Indian epic, Mahābhārata. The temple is surrounded by a beautiful
cedar forest (Dhungri Van Vihar) at the foot of the Himālayas. The sanctuary is built
over a huge rock jutting out of the ground, which was worshipped as an image of the
deity. The structure was built in the year 1553. If you're walking to the temple you
can take a short cut up the hill through the woods instead of walking along the road.
Look for two signs side by side with vertical Hindi writing on them (blue on the left,
green on the right).

• Maa Sharvari Temple This temple is represented as KULDEVI of the kings of Kullu
in early times and is worshipped as a manifestation of Durga, and image of the
goddess is also enshrined here. The divinity is popularly worshipped throughout the
region during the festivals and the Goddess is transported to Kullu to visit the Lord
Raghunathji during Dussehra festival. This temple is on the top of above the
Shaminallah village, which is around 5km from Manali, accross the Beas river on the
left bank on the way to Naggar Casttle

• Kalath Hot Water SpringsAround 6.5 Km downstream from Manali,natural

sulfurous water flows from the bowels of earth.public bath areas and private bath
areas are available."Asia Sulphur hot water spring" is a small hotel where private
bathroom can be hired on per-person basis(c. ₹100/person). These are simple
bathrooms but give all the privacy needed by a couple or family.It can be easily
spotted on your way to Manali just before the "Green Tax barrier".

• Vashist Hot Water Springs and Temple: Around 3km from Manali, across the Beas
river is Vashist, a small village with natural sulphur springs. Modern bathhouses, with
Turkish-style showers, have the hot water piped into them for the convenience of the
visitors who come here to benefit from the medicinal properties. Vaishisht, also boasts
 a pair of old stone temples, opposite each other above the main square. Dedicated to
the local patron saint Vashista, the smaller of the two opens on to a partially covered
courtyard, and is adorned with elaborate woodcarvings. Those lining the interior of
the shrine, blackened by years of oil-lamp and incense smoke, are particularly fine.
The temple tanks are underground hot-water/sulfur springs. Be wary of hanging up
your trousers or bags on the hooks provided, pickpocketing is a daily occurrence.
Hand over your wallet to a trusted person for safekeeping before you enter the springs
for a bath. Separate tanks for men and women are provided in the temple. Keep in
mind these are open baths and little or no privacy is available for women except
separated areas for bathing.

• Jogini Falls: About a 2km trek from Vashisth Temple. Going to the top of the falls
would need a guide and quite a bit of trekking, but if you wish you could just keep
asking for directions from Vashishth temple and reach the first level of the falls.

• Solang Valley popularly known as Snow Point, is 13 km northwest of Manali and

famous for its 300m ski lift. The Ski Lift ticket is ₹500 per head for a trip both ways.
It is a picturesque spot and offers splendid views of glaciers and the snow-capped
mountains. Solang valley also offers attractions like paragliding, snorkeling etc.
Jagatsukh, the former capital of Manali, is also an important spot.

• Jagatsukh: Jagatsukh, the former capital of Manali, has a few nice temples done in
Shikhara style. You can visit them while travelling to Naggar.

• Rahala waterfalls: About 16km from Manali at the start of the climb to the Rohtang
Pass, are the beautiful Rahalla Falls at an altitude of 2,501m.

• Rozy Falls: On the way to Rohtang amazing water fall worth seeing. this water fall
looks amazing between the high hills.

• Monasteries: Manali is known for its shiny gompas or Buddhist monasteries. It is

maintained by donations from the local community and by sale of hand-woven carpets
in the temple workshop.

• Old Manali: At a distance of 3km northwest of Manali is Old Manali, famous for its
orchards and old guesthouses. Calm and serene surroundings coupled with the sound
of Beas river is a very peaceful experience. There is ruined fort here by the name of
Manaligarh. There is also the Manu Maharishi Temple, dedicated to sage Manu.

• Gauri Shankar Temple at DASHAL village(700m from Sarsai ) on the main left
bank Kullu Manali Highway. It is a 12th century protected monument.Also see lush
green apple orchards,play with water stream out there

There are some interesting temples of Tibetan Buddhist lineages located between old and
new Manali.

• Naggar: The Castle, Roerich House and Art gallery are places to see. Moonlight
dinner on the balcony of Hotel Castle restaurant is worth experiencing, with the lovely
sight of twinkling lights below in the Beas valley. Bijli Mahadev temple, about 20km
from Naggar, is also worth visiting.
 • Krishna Temple at Thava: Ask for directions to this temple from Naggar Castle and
do a small trek of half an hour through dense pine and deodar forest to reach the
beautiful Krishna Temple. With hardly any tourists around, this place is magical.

• Jana Falls: 15km from Naggar and 35km from Manali, at Zana Village, beautiful
Water Fall is worth visiting. The valley provides amazing views. There is one water
fall on the road side and two other water falls which are not much explored by tourists
and are amazing. Moreover Traditional Himachali food is available here at small hut
like shops.

• Beautiful Log Hut Area: In fact both these places especially log hut area have some
good hotels to stay.

The Manali Gompa:

Manali Gompa was built in 1960. It is one of the most important places for Buddhists.
Buddhists come to this place from Ladakh, Tibet, Spiti, Lahul and Kinnaur. Manali Gompa is
world famous for a large statue of Buddha and for its wall paintings.

Kothi:

Kothi is located at the bottom of Rohatang Pass. It is a beautiful and photographic village
where tourists can capture different thrilling views of the deep gorge through which the Beas
swiftly runs. This is an amazing place to experience the natural beauty of high altitude
mountain.

• Nehru Kund: Nehru Kund is located at the distance of around 6 km from Manali. It
is one of the natural springs of natural water in India. Nehru Kund is named after the
late Prime Minister Jawar Lal Nehru. Nehru used to drink water from this Kund,
while his journey to Manali. Nehru Kund is on the Manali-Keylong road, about 6 kms
from Manali. It is understood that a landslide has wiped out this spring.

THINGS TO DO

• Hot natural Sulphur water bath at Kalath(6.5 Km downstream),Vashisht village (3

Km upstream) or Manikaran.

• Get your photos clicked with either rabbits or yaks (near the Hadimba Temple). It will
cost about ₹10-20 (USD0.15) for a single photo.

• One can also enjoy paddle boating in a fun park near Hadimba temple.

• River rafting, skiing, zorbing, trekking, snow scootering, and river crossing. One of
the best adventure companies is the High Himalayan Adventure, based in Vashisht
village. River rafting is closed during the monsoon season, typically around August
15 to Sept 15. Check the dates if you are interested in doing this. Rafting is an
inherently dangerous activity and the record of the various fly by night operators is
 less than stellar. Fatalities owing to capsizing are fairly common. The rafting outfits
also ply their rafts in the winter months, when there isn't much water in the river.
Besides the fact that this is not fun, should go overboard and is not rescued
immediately, death by hypothermia is certain.

• Paragliding- A word of caution. Many pilots of these parachutes are un-trained and
obtain licences in the usual way any licence is obtained in India. Many a tourist visit
the Lady Willingdon Mission Hospital with broken bones, sometimes protruding out,
and often alive, after accidents. Some paragliders crash into innocent bystanders who
end up with spinal injuries (information added by a surgeon who worked at the
mentioned hospital. These victims are often treated at the hospital. Serious and
complicated cases with heavy blood loss are stabilised to the extent possible and
refered to either Chandigarh or Shimla. Some sadly don't make it. Blood availability
is very very limited in this hilly area. www.manalihospital.com). Paragliding is quite
popular in Manali, especially in the peak season. The scene is located at Solang
Valley. There are multiple levels, starting from the basic 1 minute flying for Rs. 450
(the most common), progressing to a more fun 5 minute flight for Rs. 1500. But the
ultimate is the half an hour flight for Rs. 2500, for which they take you up almost
halfway to Rohtang, and bring you back to Solang all the way by paragliding. In such
a long flight, wind plays a big role, and sometimes it is not possible to fly all the way
to Solang, something to keep in mind while going for it. Generally, later in the day
you go for it, better are the chances you will do the whole flight.The trip to Hospital,
though, may cost you much more than just money!

• Rock climbing- there are some fabulous routes, however, go with a reputable
company that can provide you suitable gear, otherwise this can become a dangerous
sport. Look for the bright orange building across from Pizza Olive. The company also
does abseiling trips, in which you can swing down into 9 tiers of a waterfall using
rock-climbing equipment. Another contact is Dave Morahan (9805346007) who takes
you to all kind of rock climbing trips for all difficulty levels, and is quite skilled
himself.

• If interested in books, there is a bookshop in the main town near the Post Office
called Bookworm. It has a decent selection of books.

• Early morning walks as manali is best enjoyed before the town wakes up

• Hiking- Take the steps behind Himalayan Extreme Centre in Old Manali and follow
the footpaths to a beautiful 1-2hrs hike alongside the Manaslu river (much nicer than
Jogni falls). You'll have to come back the same way. Swimming possible.

Trekking:

Deo Tibba Base Camp Trek: This trek is a technical trekking trail in Manali. This trek is a
famous trek among the experience climbers. This trek gives a magnificent view of Deo.

Friendship Peak Trek: This is one of the majestic mountains in the beautiful valley of
Kullu. This mountain is situated at around 5289 meters above the sea level. Best way to go
for this trek is from Beas Kund and Dhundi.
Hampta Pass Trek: This trek is one of the most famous trekking trails in the Manali region.
This trek is suitable for those who have some prior hiking experience and are reasonably fit.
This trek is passes through forests.Wetrekkers is the one stop destination for trekking in
Manali.for Register wetrekkers.com/trek-details/HamptaPass

BUY

Keychains, name plates, etc which are customized to ones own message are worth buying as
mementos. Also one can get his name carved/written on a single grain of rice. One can also
visit Manali Market to buy woolen stuff like sweaters, pull overs, shawls, blankets, etc.
Hippie clothes/ jewelery can be found in Old Manali.

Also one can buy personalized key chains made of woolen threads.

The Best of Manali. Launched in 2016, this booklet contains discount coupons and a guide
map showcasing the best experiences of Manali. If you want to avoid paying commissions to
agents and taxis, get this book for direct contacts of the best service providers.

Fruit products, honey and apricot oil at Himcoop Juice Bar Manali are also something
local produced in the valley. Jam from Himcoop taste like real fruit due to high contents of
fruit pulp and apricot oil is good for joint pains and also general massages.

Chingu. Local shops are aplenty selling chingus ( a type of blanket) claiming to be warm in
winters and cold in summers. Be wary of these. They will show you parcel ready chingus. Do
not fall prey to them. The chingus are also known as "Sparu". Beware of these Sparu sellers.

Do not buy saffron (kesar), musk (kasturi), or shilajit from street vendors; most of these
products are fakes. Buy from government-authorized shops only.

Do not also buy the dry fruits, almonds, cashews, and pistachios that they sell on the streets.
They seem to be cheap but they are stale and not of good quality.

EAT

Manali market is key place for eatables. Right from chat to Indian (veg/nonveg) to
international cuisine like Italian/Chinese are available in the main market which is just
opposite the Manali Bus stand. The mall road has a variety of eating options ranging from
stalls and dhabas to fancy restaurants. Deeper into the lanes of the town, one can find more
local eating places, catering to special tastes and habits ranging from Tibetan food, to
Vaishnavi Dhabhas. You are sure to find something without hunting around too much.

You must try the local cuisine while you are in Manali. Chilra is pancake made from
fermented mix of jaggery and flour, and it it is eaten with a vegetable dish. Sidu is large
steamed dumpling made filled with different types of mixes such walnut chutney, poppy
seeds or grounded/ roasted sesame, and is eaten with Ghee or chutney. Bedhni rotis are
parathas filled with a grounded mix of roasted sesame and jaggery. Excellent high energy
food for treks. It is difficult to find these in Manali town. Your best bet to enjoy these is to
visit Hamta village, which is just 12 km from Manali.
Old Manali is one of the best places to hang out in the evening. It has a great collection of
restaurants/bars and shops. It is also not crowded like the Mall Road, with the crowd
consisting mostly of foreigners. You can get a nibble of Yak's cheese in the restaurant's here.

• The Lazy Dog has an extensive multi-cuisine menu, featuring an assortment from
Korean, Japanese, Thai, Italian, Vietnamese, Continental and Indian Cuisine. The
food is excellent and the ambiance is great. The restaurant sits on a sheer cliff right by
the river Manalsu. With free wifi and gracious hosts, this is one of the favorite hang-
outs in all of Manali. No wonder it is 'Highly Recommended' by all major
guidebooks.

• RedHouse Cafe (RedHouse), Behind Clubhouse, Old Manali (up the stairs - in the
street directly behind the Clubhouse), ☎ +91 8894350425. 1000 - 2230hrs. An Apple
Garden Cafe, serving a delectable mix of freshly cooked comfort food - atop a hill
with unobstructed views. An eclectic selection of music (to choose from), free Wi-Fi
& being far away from the madding crowd only add to one's experience. Pick any of
the house guitars - strum, sing; else Saturday Nights almost always have Live Music
(unplugged). Its also one of the few places left in Manali where you can soak in the
sun on it's many beautiful days. RedHouse is a Budget Boutique Inn too. Every room
is topped up with free amenities like Satelite T.V., Room Service, Electric Room
Heaters, Wi-Fi, etc. besides offering views of rolling fields, open skies & snow
capped mountains.

• Andhra Bojanalayam near Piccadilly theatre serves south Indian tiffins, full
meals(Rs.150 per plate) and snacks. Morning 8am to 10pm. Very good. If you order
full meals ask for extra "Kandhi Pappu Podi" and "Rasam". Pure Veg only.

• Bob Dylan's Cafe (also known as Roasted and Toasted) is in the heart of old
Manali. It serves the most delicious cookies and sandwiches. With its extremely good
menu and pocket friendly price, it remains one of the most popular destinations after a
day's sightseeing. Also, at no extra cost you have a very comfortable movie theater
where you can choose among some 100 movie titles and watch as you munch on
those delicious cookies. And yes, they do play Bob Dylan's songs. Must visit.

• Shere Punjab Serves good butter chicken with butter naan. You can also get a beer
which is not mentioned in the menu, if you ask for.

• Shan-e- Punjab at mall road Serves delicious pure vegetarian food. If you are there
try 'Kichri' amazingly wonderful

• Cafe m 1947, Old Manali, ☎ 09418461969. The 1st Music Cafe in Old Manali(near
the Bridge), located on the banks of the River Manalsu. Cuisines from all around the
globe and known for its dishes like the "Burger Of Bodom", "UFO", and "The
Terminator". Travelers can also pacify themselves by playing instruments in rhythm
with the Voice of the River. Also, there are Unplugged Concerts and parties held time
and again.

• Blue Elephant Cafe is a small eatery with good Indian and Western spread at very
reasonable rates close to the bridge on Beas river. You get the option of sitting and
 enjoying the food right next to the river gushing by. Try out the freshly made
parathas, bruschettas, omelettes and traditional Indian tea.

• Pizza Olive has the best pizza in town and is worth the trek to Old Manali. Also try
the fabulous tiramisu.

• Green Forest cafe, lying on the Hadimba-temple old manali road, only a few
hundred meters from the temple, is also a very popular destination for both locals and
foreigners. It serves tibetean soups, veggie dumplings and other sandwiches and
snacks.

• Moondance is right opposite the Dylan's cafe. It also has a multi-cuisine menu, and
the food and ambience are all good.

• Apple Blossoms at Manali Heights Resort (near log huts area) to savour the best of
local himachali menu as well as delectable Indian, european, oriental cuisines.

• Johnson's Bar and cafe located 5 minutes walk up from the mall road, it is a great
place to hangout in the evening. The food and service is quite good, and is thus a very
popular place.

• Chopsticks (opposite the bus stand).Really good Tibetan food.

• Mayur Restaurant (in a lane opposite the upper end of the bus stand).

• Vaishnao dhaba (in the market adjacent to the bus stand).

• Valley View Restaurant at Snow Valley Resorts (known for beautiful view and good
homely buffet food).

• Madras mess is a popular mess which serves south Indian meals Unlimited meals
Rs:80

• Il Forno, (ca. 100 m below the Hadimba Temple, in direction of New

Manali). Original Italian pizzas prepared by an Italian cook. Prices higher than Indian
average but still cheap for Italian pizza..

• Cafe Zeppelinn, Kothi village (13km from Manali, on the way to Rohtang Pass). all
day long. is the last Cafe once you leave Manali and are heading towards Rohtang
Pass. It is run by young enterpreneurs for their love of life in the mountains and
music. They serve good pizzas, pastas,sandwiches and momos. They also play
excellent ROCK music from the 60s and 70s. Most paragliders will land at their Cafe
and should enjoy they services while waiting for their friends or families to pick them
up. reasonable.

• Manali Resorts, (10 mins away from Mall road). The view from the rooms is breath
taking. Surrounded by mountains on all four sides, this hotel lays right on the bank of
the river Byas.

• Dawat Restaurent (sunparkresorts.com), Left Bank Aleo New Manali (left bank
aleo), ☎ 09816100049. 24. A well decorated in house multi cuisine restaurant that
offers Indian, Mughlai and Chinese delicacies. 1,500.
• Satyam Restaurant (Restaurant in Manali), Mall Road Manali (Next to Shri Heera
Medical Store), ☎ 098168 94518. "SATYAM Restaurant " Situated on the Mall road
just 200 Mtrs away from main Manali Bus stand with sitting capacity of 75 persons at
a time on 2 Floors. We serve all type of Punjabi, Gujrati, South Indian and
continental.

• Chawlas Square (Chawla Chicken), Rangri NH21 (2 kms from mall road, towards
kullu), ☎ 9816198928. Delicious north indian and mughlai food. A great place for
adventure too.

• Martins' (Himalayan Sports Club), (shanag, about 10km north of Kullu, close to
nheru kund bridge). If you miss european food, that's the place to be. Delicious
austrian cooking at its best. Usually opened only at weekends.

• Shiva Paradise Cafe (Non-veg Food), (Old manali just on the

bridge), ☎ 09805379377. Delicious Non Veg Food specially kolapuri chicken and
Trout Fish .

• Local Himachali Dish-Sidu is right at the tea shop behind bus stand in municipal
market. One can eat Sidu (which is like filled Idli or filled rice baked bun) with
Chutney to experience a slice of Himachali Cuisine in Manali with tea/black
tea/coffee. This is the only 1 there is visible yet hidden but worth a gem before
leaving Himachal.

• Cafe Bella Vista, Hadimba Temple Road (10 Minutes walk up from the mall road). A
small spanish style cafe with 2 small & 2 cottage rooms available for stay. Serves
amazingly fresh, brick oven Pizzas & italian. Great service & very nice people.

• Khyber Bar & Restaurant, (Top of Mall Road, upstairs). Nice restaurant with lots of
good Indian classics. The Karahi Paneer with churidar naan was very nice.

• Mount view restaurant, mall street (behind bus stop, beside

chopstick), ☎ 01902253617. an authentic chinese cuisine restaurant in manali. edit

• Drifters Cafe, Manu Temple Road, Old Manali Village, ☎ 9805033127, . 9:30am to
11:00pm. Drifters' Cafe is one of the best restaurants in Manali. It serves excellent
continental food and has a well stocked bar. There's often themed nights and live
music gigs. It scores very high on attentive service and value for money.

• Pappu's Cafe (Veg & Non Veg Food), (Close to the School - On the way to Jogini
Falls - Vashisth). Art Hub in the quite part of the village, wall paintings, exhibitions
and Jams Sessions every day. Amazing open views and Delicious Snacks & Indian
food.

• Kibber Restaurant - Mughlai and North Indian Cuisine, MANUALLAYA The

Resort Spa in the Himalyas, Sunny Side Chadiyari, Manali (10 minutes from the Mall,
towards Vasistha Temple), ☎ Chadiyari, Manali, . 1900-2200. Dine in style with an
exclusive royal seating and an open kitchen. An ideal venue for family and romantic
 dinner. Open exclusively for Dinner and serving the royal north west frontier cuisine,
with specialiies of Tandoor and North India. 500 onwards.

• Khana Khazana, Shop 62 Tibti Market Vashisht Temple, Opposite Upper Parking,
Manali,, ☎ +918626883262. Simple restaurant serving delicious Kashmiri food.
Good value.

DRINK

The locals drink two kinds of alcoholic beverages: Lugdi/ Chang , a kind of crude beer made
from fermented rice or barley and an alcoholic drink distilled from Lugdi/chang. Alcohol
here is also made from jaggery or apples or any other fruit. You can enjoy these drinks in
Hamta village, 12 kms from Manali.

It might be an interesting experience to visit a local home when the ladies make arak (quite
regularly). You can sit in the fields where the ladies make it, have hot water from the
distilling to wash with and "test" the product at frequent intervals.

Because there are apple orchards all around Manali, it's often possible to find apple cider.
Besides this, there is alcohol available in bars, larger restaurants and the larger hotels.

Kullu-Manali Valley is known as fruit bowl of India. Himcoop Juice Bar at The Mall
Manali is one of the well know corner shop since 1972 selling 100% Natural Apple
Juice and fruit drinks made from local fruits besides some syrups known as Fruit Crush to
carry home to prepare fruit drinks after diluting with fresh water. Himcoop Juice Bar is
located on the Main Mall as one of the corner shop next to Temple.

SLEEP

• Hotel Kanchanikoot, Rohtang road (1km from Manali, Near Vashisht Chowk, river
side Before Reshpan petrol pump), ☎ 09459160466. Free pick and drop from and to
Manali BusStand ; 2 standard rooms , 4 executive rooms , 4 luxury rooms ,1
suite.Ample parking,Free WIFi, balcony in all rooms,room service,travel desk to
tailor your holiday plans,camping and trekking; doctor, taxi, guide on call.

• Hotel Drilbu Manali, Gurudwara Road, Near Mall Road Tehsil MANALI,Distt
KULLU HIMACHAL PRADESH INDIA (Mall road), ☎ 919736386854,
checkin: 12noon; checkout: 12noon. Hotel Drilbu Manali offers a unique experience
of cozy camp where the traditional & coloured tents are luxuriously furnished with
modern amenities.

• Hotel Prini Inn Manali, Prini, Naggar Road Tehsil MANALI,Distt KULLU
HIMACHAL PRADESH INDIA (Near Club Mahindra), ☎ 919459407714.
 checkin: 12noon; checkout: 12noon. Hotel Prini Inn Manali offers cozy rooms
furnished with modern amenities

• Drifters' Inn & Cafe, Manu Temple Road, Old Manali (about 300mts before Manu
Temple), ☎ +91 9805033127, checkin: 12noon; checkout: 12noon. Drifters is really
high on value for money. Rooms and toilets are clean and cozy..

• Hotel Mountain Face by Snow City Hotels, VPO Prini Tehsil Manali Distt
Kullu (Near Mahindra Show Room), ☎ 8988315050. checkin: 12 noon;
checkout: 12noon. Hotel's location in a peaceful area surrounded with apple orchards
and a best place to stay for the honeymooners, couples, and all those people who
visited Manali for a peace and relax with nature. 950 - 2500.

• Pir Panjal Cottage, Vashisht Chowk, Manali (Near

Adventure18.), ☎ +919829037474. One of the only pre-1950s built properties in
Manali. Short 50m walk isolates it from the road and you can enjoys some of the best
views of Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar range. 3 large bedrooms, hot running water,
dining room w/ fireplace, self cooking kitchen facility, lounge area, free WiFi. A
private room is Rs 1500/day or Rs 7000/week.

• Handimba hotel, has 4 hotels in manali- mall, circuit house, kullu and near
temple (Near Mall Road.), ☎ "+91. checkin: 11 am or before; checkout: 11 am. You
can ask him for contacts in restaurants too for some good discounts. starts from just
500 Rs.

• Manali Residency (Manali Residency), Aleo road ,Manali (Aleo road near petrol
pump), ☎ 9817545143. Manali residency is a deluxe hotel in manali offering top
class services. 200.

• Getway Resort, Vashisht, Manali (Near Mall Road.), ☎ +91 9540040327. very clean
& nice rooms, beautiful view over the valley, great fresh food ,Price between 800/- to
1000/- Per Night

• Mount Ville Cottages, Burua, Manali (across the bridge opposite

Nehrukund), ☎ +91 94184 12254. Luxurious, spacious rooms, large windows,
attached balconies with tea/coffee making facilities. Brilliant view of snow covered
peaks and apple orchards all around. WiFi. Hot water. Fully stocked
kitchen. 2000/night.

• Krishna Guesthouse, Old Manali (Next door to Drifter's). Clean, comfortable rooms,
large windows with a view of the hills or the streetside. WiFi. Hot water. Friendly
owner. BUT... room 4 has bed bugs. 400.

• Maya Bodh Niwas Guesthouse, Vashisht, Manali (Behind Yeti G.H.), ☎ +91 86
2707 6394, run by a Indian-Swiss couple, very clean & nice rooms, beautiful view
over the valley, great fresh food..
• Rising Moon Guest House & Garden restaurant, Manali, (Opposite to Club House
& across river), ☎ 8627885079. Amazing place to stay, perfect location and great
Food. Bonfire was really a Beautiful experience. 800/-.

• Hotel Shandela, Club House Road (Near electricity office, The

Mall), ☎ 09418388208. Rooms overlooking the forest on one side. A favourite with
World Challenge expeditioners. -mail:support@shandelahotels.com PH.
01902252426

• Tiger's Eye, Club House Road (Above Drifter's and towards the right in the
village). Clean and warm warms. Nice wooden floors. Comfortable bed. Hot water.
Pretty courtyard. 400 rupees.

• Blue Guest House, Castle Road Naggar, Brahman Kothi, Naggar, Kullu Manali, +91-
9817287347, +91-9816421109 (Mrs. Lata Sharma), +91-9816377076 (Mr Chander
Shekhar Sharma), Hot water, CTV, view of Kullu Valley and Beas River and roof-top
restaurant. This is a family run guest house and the couple is very courteous. The
guest house is priced between 200/- and 500/- per night and located on the way up,
about 0.5 kms before the Castle. Manali is 30 mins by local bus.

• R.K. Guest House, Manu temple road, old manali (near Manu Temple), ☎ +91
09660319187Chenu. Clean and warm rooms. WIFI. Comfortable beds. Hot water.
Pretty Garden with hammocks. Delicious food.Nice view of Manali & vasisht
waterfalls. 300 /and 800 rupees.

HOME STAY

• Rocky's Guest Home, Near Manu Temple, Old Manali - 175131, Distt. Kullu (H.P.)
India (When arriving at the main bus station take rickshaw or taxi to Old Manali
(behind the bridge). Behind the bridge take the left turn uphill and follow the road
towards Manu Temple. Once at Manu Temple, which will be on your left hand side,
continue straight to the end of the road (approx. 300m). Rocky's will be located
directly in front of you at the end of the road.), ☎ +919816491374, +917831958071,.
checkin: 12:00pm - Noon; checkout: 11:00am. Rocky's Guest Home is located at the
top of Old Manali overlooking stunning views of the entire valley and several
beautiful villages and waterfalls are visible. From the balconies and terraces there is a
180deg view which looks into the rising sun, from the rooftop there is a 360deg view
(beautiful spot for morning yoga/meditation and great for sunbathing as well). All 12
rooms include comfortable double beds with warm blankets. The rooms are spacious
and spotless, lovely huge clean ensuite bathrooms, most of which have private water
heater for those wonderful hot showers. Rocky's also has a terrific on-site kitchen
with a great menu. Open all year. Rooms vary from 700-1000rs.

• Himalayan Cottages / Homestay Naggar, ☎ +91

9459400002 (ankushbhardwajj@gmail.com). A bed and breakfast or a Home stay. It
is located on the Nagger overlooking the Mountain View. As far as the eye can see,
you only see lush green mountains with only a few structures scattered in between.
 • Nature Treat Hut +91 9816056934 E Mail:magicmountain41@hotmail. Nature treat
hut is situated 6kms south of Manali. Place called Jagat Sukh a small Village with
Traditional Wooden Houses of Himachal Pradesh also near to Gayathri Temple which
is one among two temples in India. It is surrounded by Apple orchard and wide view
of Himalayan mountain range. It is far from crowd and in the lap of Peacefull Nature
and the kullu local food can be tasted.

• Ramgarh Heritage Villa: Located in the small town of Raison, midway between
Kullu & Manali. A heritage bungalow built in 1928, during the British era, with high
ceilings, spacious bedrooms and fireplaces, and surrounded by apple orchards & kiwi
plantations. It is managed by the descendants of the same family that built it. Behind
the home-stay is the village of Benchi, who's residents work on the orchards. The
village offers a glimpse of the Himachali countryside with its by-lanes overlooking
the Beas and the Dhalaudhar range. Advance booking is required & can be done via
India Untravelled at untravel@indiauntravelled.com.

• The Countryside Cottage : Located near Sarsai, on the left bank Naggar Road,
midway between Kullu & Manali, overlooking the Pir Panjal mountains of the middle
Himalayas. A countryside resort with home-like luxurious service facilities,
bedrooms, suites, and surrounded by apple orchards. It offers a true picture of the
Himachali culture and countryside experience. The cottage is located amidst an apple
orchard and has outdoor gaming facilities and a mini-pool. Kindly reach us via phone
at +91 94595 18200 or email: dashal@live.in.

STAY SAFE

Walking on the streets up to 10:00 PM is usually safe for women but avoid going into small
lanes and by-lanes after it is dark and make sure that you are not wearing any jewelry while
walking on the streets.

GET OUT

Travelling northward from Manali is the breathtaking region of Lahaul and Spiti across the
Rohtang Pass. The "highway" crosses the pass and forks at Gramphoo (12km) the left one
goes to Lahaul and is the Manali Leh highway and the road on the right leads to Spiti via
Kunzum La. The Rohtang pass also marks the boundary between the fertile Kullu valley with
its lush greenery and the sparse vegetation Lahaul and Spiti. The Ladakh, Zanskar and
Changthang areas further on are even more barren. Contact wetrekkers.

• Hamta Pass

• Deo Tibba

• Indrasan

• Friendship Peak

• Beas Kund
 7 VIBRANT MANALI FESTIVALS THAT MAKE THIS RESORT TOWN
EVEN MORE AMAZING

There’s a lot to see in the different festivals of this resort town. Some of them have been
listed below to give you a better clarity as to what you can expect from them during your
vacation. Check them out!

1. Doongri Forest Festival

This festival happens in Van Vihar National Park and is one of the favorites amongst the
local women who organize as well as volunteer it together. For this festival, they come all
decked up in ethnic wear and take part in activities like singing, dancing, and more in order to
pay their regards to the goddess, Hidimba Devi.
When: between the months of May and June
Highlight: Everything is arranged by the local women who also actively participate in many
activities

2. Hadimba Devi Fair

The faith system of people of Manali is based on Goddess Hadimba and therefore the
Hadimba Temple is counted amongst the must-visit tourist attractions in Manali. During the
Spring season, the whole place is filled with colorful flowers. The fair is organized in the
temple that stands tall amidst cedar trees.

When: during the Spring season

Highlight: many cultural activities happen in this event that are a delight to watch
3. Losar Festival

This festival is one of those celebrated amongst the Tibetan Community of Manali. In this
festival, you’ll see people in their traditional clothes. Together, they recreate the wedding day
of a local princess with Lord Padamsambhava. During the start of the month of February, the
people who are a part of it can be seen getting completely indulged in different rituals and
arrange for all the necessary things required for the wedding.

When: during the first week of February

Highlight: This is a great platform to witness the lively culture of Tibetan Community who
participate wholeheartedly in this festival
4. Dussehra

This is one of the most heartily celebrated festivals in Manali. The celebrations of Dussehra
lasts for almost a month here and you’ll find that the whole town gets together to enjoy it.
There are colorful flags all around and people wear new clothes on this day. This festival is
one of the most prominent occasions in the Hindu religion.

When: usually in October

Highlight: there are processions brought out by thousands of people here and it is depicted
that Lord Rama is taken on a Shobha Yatra
5. Winter Carnival

As the name suggests, it happens during that time of the month when the town is covered in
snow and people are seen getting indulged in various adventurous winter sports activities.
The chills of the winter season are compensated by the warmth of people as well as cultural
activities that keep happening. You also get to learn a lot about the food culture of Manali.

When: February
Highlight: You can try out many winter activities by enrolling in them during this event
6. Baisakhi

Baisakhi too is one of the most important festivals that is celebrated in Himachal Pradesh.
Having its roots in the agricultural tradition, this festival is significant because it is celebrated
as a farewell to the winter season. There are many fairs organized during this festival and
activities like dancing, archery, wrestling, and more are enjoyed with full vigor.

When: April
Highlight: This is one of the festivals that will bring you closer to the cultural setup of the
town of Manali
7. Lohri

This is a well-known harvest festival that is celebrated enthusiastically in North India. This
festival is quite lively and is enjoyed amongst family and friends every year. The celebrations
involve a lively bonfire setup. This is one of those Indian festivals that show a lot about the
North Indian culture.

When: 13th January

Highlight: Walking around the bonfire is said to be auspicious and people have a belief that
this will even make miracles happen
 TOURISM IN MANALI

Situated at a height of 2050 mts.in Pir Panjal range of Western Himalayas,Manali town lies
on the right bank of river Beas. With temperate climate and profound nature the valley is
known for its lush green meadows, dense deodar forests, towering peaks, perennial glaciers,
fresh water streams and salubrious climate, making it a perfect tourist destination. Distanced
41kms from district headquarter of Kullu, Manali is a administrative sub division created in
year 1963 with one tehsil and a development block and house 70 villages. The village became
town in 1981 and elected Nagar Panchayat in 1997 with seven wards. Table4.1 Important
Indicators of Manali Indicators Manali Total population 51,661 Rural Population 84% Urban
Population 16% Male Population 54% Female Population 46% Density of town Population
2690/km sq Area of town 4 sq km Population of town 8086 Total households in MC Area
1832 Source:Census of India,2011 and District Profile Bestowed with bountiful nature,unlike
other tourist desinations Manali grew as leisure tourism destination attracting tourists from
far and wide.The valley has three tourist seasonsMarch to June, the peak season when place
is thronged by Indian holiday makers largely from plains of Panjab,Haryana,Delhi to escape
scorching heat of plains and to find solace in snow clad Rohtang; July to September when
valley is alive with the trekker enthusiasts coming from all over the world to explore the
unknown in various treks of Manali and December to January, the time of snow and winter
carnival when skiers make a beeline for the slopes of Solang and heli skiing on the higher
slopes of Manali. Though whole valley is dotted with abundant nature and a tourist delight
but tourism is largely concentrated in two main destinations, the 3400 meters high Rohtang
pass and Solang Valley, a must in every tourist’s itinerary. Since all tourism activities are
centered around these two destinations, tourism is the backbone and only source of income
for the residents of nine villages surrounding these two areas who monopolize tourism
here,Burwa, Ghoshal, Shanag, Ruwar, Palchan, Kothi, Kulang, Majach and Solang.

ABOUT KULLU

Historical references about the Kullu valley dates back to ancient Hindu literary works
of Ramayana, Mahabharata and the Puranas. During Vedic period several small republics
known as "Janapada" existed which were later conquered by the Nanda Empire, Mauryan
Empire, Gupta Empire, Pala Dynasty and Karkoṭa Empire. After a brief period of supremacy
by King Harshavardhana, the region was once again divided into several local powers headed
by chieftains, including some Rajput principalities, these principalities were later conquered
by Maratha Empire and Sikh Empire.

The name Kullu derives from the word "Kulant Peeth", meaning "end of the habitable
world". As per legends, during the Great Flood, Manu visited this valley but was unable to
cross the Rohtang pass. He named the last settlement he found as Kulant Peeth and chose to
settle and meditate in what has now become the town of Manali (Manu's Place). The name
further devolved into "Kulut", as the kingdom was known for a long time; before finally
being known by the current name of Kullu or Kulu.

The Buddhist pilgrim monk Xuanzang visited the Kullu Valley in 634 or 635 CE. He
described it as a fertile region completely surrounded by mountains, about 3,000 li in circuit,
with a capital 14 or 15 li in circumference. It contained a Stupa built by Mauryan
Emperor Ashoka, which is said to mark the place where the Buddha preached to the local
people and made conversions, Stupa was taken away by a Mughal ruler and put in Feroz shah
Kotla maidan (renamed as Arun Jaitely Stadium on 27 August 2019) in Delhi. There were
some twenty Buddhist monasteries, with about 1,000 monks, most of whom
were Mahayanist. There were also some fifteen Hindu temples, and people of both faiths
lived mixed together. There were meditation caves near the mountain passes inhabited by
both Buddhist and Hindu practitioners. The country is said to have produced gold, silver, red
copper, crystal lenses and bell-metal.

Kullu got its first motorable access only after Indian Independence. The long centuries of
seclusion have, however, allowed the area to retain a considerable measure of its traditional
charm. The road through the Kullu Valley and Lahaul is now paved all the way, to connect
and provide the major access route between the northern Indian plains to Leh in Ladakh.

SOME IMAGE HIMACHAL KULLU MANALI

 CONCLUSION

Even though everybody had to face a lot of adversities all along the trip, but as they say,
“things which are worthwhile, does not come to you while sitting on the beach with an apple
martini”. This trip has taught us a lot in all aspects and surely it is one to cherish for a long
time.