Things to Do in Manali

Manali has some of the most scenic trekking routes in the entire country. The amazing view of the mountains and the valley makes the trek completely worthwhile. The challenges of the rocky terrains are very exciting and inviting for professional trekkers and mountaineers, who flock to Manali for trekking every year. There are easy trekking routes for amateur trekkers as well as challenging and difficult routes for the professionals. Some of the most adventurous treks in Manali are-

- The Bara Bhangal Kalihani trek from Kullu Valley to Bara Bhangal range
- Chandratal Baralacha Trek
- Beas Kund Trek

Manali is very popular with tourists for its scenic trekking routes. So naturally, camping is a very popular activity here. One can camp beside the Beas river or in the hills for a scenic and unique view of Manali and its surroundings. Camping in Manali lets one enjoy a stunning view of the mountains and the lush, green valleys around here. The best time to go camping in Manali is from mid-July to the first week of October before the winter sets in. Some of the popular camping sites are-

• Beas River
• Solang Valley
• Kothi

Other than skiing, snowboarding is also a popular thing to do in the snowy mountains of Rohtang Pass and Solang Valley. Rohtang Pass is the only region in India where one can snowboard all year round as it remains snowy the entire year. There are week-long snowboarding camps that cost INR 12000. The different areas providing snowboarding facilities are-

• Solang Valley
• Golaba at the Rohtang Pass
• Patalsu
• Kothi
• Marhi

A good way to spend some quality family time is to go for a leisurely boating ride while enjoying the pleasant view of the surroundings. Van Vihar in Manali is a municipal garden that has a large pond which has boating facilities. It is popular with the tourists as well as the locals. People come here to spend some relax time by boating amongst awe-inspiring Deodar trees. The cost of entry in Van Vihar is INR 5 per person and boating costs an additional INR 30 per person for a 15-minute ride.

Jeep Safaris in Manali takes you to some of the most thrilling experiences by going through several mountains. The jeep safaris are generally multi-day long and the popular routes are Manali to Leh and Manali to Ladakh. Mountains are a unique ecosystem. Mountains are majestic and have their own charm and captivating grandeur. The Jeep safaris provide the right way to be able to explore the beautiful mountains and terrains around Manali.

Manali is a paradise for those looking for a spiritual retreat. The peace and quiet of this place help one delve deep into their chi and explore their spirituality, their body and mind, and their religion. It provides a perfect environment for some self-exploration. Being a place where Tibetan refugees took shelter, Manali has become an important place for Buddhists to gather and worship which is signified by the presence of gompas around here. There are also many temples like the Hidimba Devi Temple or the Manu Temple which the Hindus consider very holy and important and flock from different parts of the country to visit.

Canyoning is a relatively new sport that is a cross between rappelling and caving into waterfalls. Canyoning is basically exploring a canyon using various techniques like walking, rappelling, swimming and climbing. The rocky terrains of the Himalayas mean Manali has the perfect locations for canyoning. Canyoning lets you explore areas that were otherwise inaccessible. One can follow the natural routes taken by the pure, crystalline water and explore the spectacular and beautiful waterfalls in the Kullu Valley.
Manali valley has a lot of rivers and waterfalls. The canyon is situated in Vashist on the Caroni river. Canyoning is safe is done with proper gear and protection with professional guidance.

Zorbing is a recreational sport where someone is put inside a transparent plastic ball or orb and they roll down a hill or a gentle slope, but it can also be done on a level surface. Zorbing began in New Zealand but has become popular all over the world. Solang Valley in Manali offers zorbing activities. The cost of zorbing here is around INR 350 per person.

River rafting is the most popular water sport in Manali. The challenging water of the Beas provides a challenge to the experienced rafters from all around the world, while the lower rapids of Beas are safe for amateur rafters to try this amazing water sport. Rafting is done nearly throughout the year in Manali by the tourists who seek some cheap thrill and adventure. Rafting is organized by private operators mostly, who provide safety equipment and a professional trainer to help out. The best sites for rafting are-

• Beas River
• Tattapani
• Kullu
• Pirdi

Paragliding is one of the most popular adventures sports around the world, and Manal is no exception to that. The adventure sports hub of Solang Valley offers an array of adventure sports facilities, out of which paragliding is one as well. Paragliding in Manali offers a bird’s-eye view of the picturesque terrains and the valley, the beauty of which leave the tourists awestruck. It offers a memorable experience and a terrific adrenaline rush for the adventure lovers. Paragliding can cost you anywhere from INR 1500 to INR 4000 depending on the duration of the flight and offers.
The places to experience paragliding are-

• Solang valley
• Fatru Mountain
• Gulaba
• Naggar Road

Skiing is quite a popular activity in Manali with skiing enthusiasts visiting it from all over the country. The slopes of Rohtang Pass and Solang Valley offer perfect skiing conditions for amateurs to learn and professionals to test their skills. With the help of a professional trainer, an adventure lover will have the time of their life here. There are some safety precautions to check like one must get themselves medically checked to test if they are fit for skiing or get themselves checked for altitude sickness. Good footwear is a must for skiing to avoid frostbite. The best places for skiing in Manali is the Rohtang Pass and Solang Valley, which costs INR 300 per hour per person.

Fishing is a popular activity in England, the British, seeing the perfect conditions for fishing in Manali, introduced brown and rainbow trout to the streams here. The trout population grew massively in number due to the perfect ecological conditions and rich oxygenated water. Soon, angling became a popular activity with the Indians as well. It is now a very popular tourist activity in Manali. The streams around Manali are a haven for anglers, containing brown and rainbow trout, considered to be the best sports fish in the world.
One can try Angling in Beas River, Manalsu Nala in Old Manali, Haripur Nali, and the BaragrainNala.

The river crossing is an adventure sport where one tries to cross a river suspended from a rope stretching from one side of the river to the other. This sport requires utmost safety precautions, safety gears and professional trainer other than which it must not be attempted at all. The river crossing is a great source of thrill for the tourists and it is practiced in Bhang and Aleo.

Rock climbing is very popular with the tourists in Manali who want an adrenaline rush and to keep themselves fit and healthy. The Himalayan terrain is present here in Manali which offers great opportunities for rock climbing activities. The scenery around these areas is beautiful and magnificent offering a view of the six thousand metre long mountain peaks and monasteries. The best time for rock climbing is when the snow melts and it not practised after December when the winter sets in. Some of the best destinations for rock climbing in Manali are-

• Aleo
• Aleo-Gompaspot
• Vashisht
• Solang

Rappelling is a rock climbing sport that is safe for anyone and fit for anyone with a usual body strength. Manali offers excellent terrain for the rappelling which includes Aleo, Shuru, Nehru Kund and Kothi. There are many locations in the places mentioned where rappelling is organized around Manali in the months of March to December with proper safety equipment and a qualified instructor.

Solang Valley is the most popular destination in Manali for all sorts of adventure sports. It is where you can enjoy a magnificent cable car ride of 1.5 kilometres with a vertical elevation of 500 metres. The ride gives a stunning view of the hills and the Solang Valley. The stopping point of the ride is a snow-covered stunning hilltop which gives a scenic view of the entire valley. The cost for a ride is INR 500.

The Beas River is the most popular kayaking location in Manali. Other than the Beas, the Sutlej, Chenab, Zanskari are other rivers where kayaking is possible. Manali waters of the Beas is best suited for experienced kayakers while a trip to the lower streams of the Beas would be suitable for rookies to kayak. The Beas river gives one the most chills and a thrilling kayaking experience making it a must visit for professional kayakers from all over the globe.
Kayaking arrangements including boat and safety gears are arranged by local operators from INR 2000 to 4000 depending on the duration and length of the kayaking tour.

The Vashisht Village, 6 kilometres from Manali, is a spiritual retreat that makes you spiritually rejuvenated, not only because of its temples but also because of its hot sulphur baths. There are separate bathing areas for men and women and the water is known for its medicinal properties, often healing skin problems. It is open all days of the week from 8 AM to 9 PM.

A visit to the Rohtang Pass is a must in the itinerary of any visitor to Manali. It is located at a distance of just 51 km from Manali and can only be reached by road. The beauty of the hills and landscape as the vehicle climbs to the Pass will leave one spellbound. Rohtang Pass remains closed from November to May due to heavy snowfall. It is filled with tourists once it opens in June again. Make sure you have the special permit required to go to Rohtang from before, either booked online or offline. Carry woollens as temperature there is below 0 degrees.

There are many places in Manali where one can shop locally produced things for personal use and souvenirs. Some of them are -

Mall Road – The Mall Road is considered the heart of the town, and it functions as the focal point of Manali. Mall Road is close to all places of interest and is buzzing with activity throughout the day, making it a perfect place for street shopping. From shawls, rugs, gloves, woollen garments to Tibetan handicrafts, books, Mall Road has something for everyone.

Tibetan Market – Perfect place to pick up some Tibetan handicrafts and souvenirs

Old Manali Market – A small shopping area in the village of Old Manali, lined with a cobblestoned pathway

Manali is popular with the spiritual tourists who come here, searching for a spiritual retreat, to spend some time exploring their spirituality and religion, and the peace and quiet here is just the environment for that. The presence of several temples and monasteries mean Manali is like a holy pilgrimage to many tourists.

Manali was a place where many refugees from Tibet came for shelter after fleeing their country. They settled down here and made several beautiful gompas or Buddhist monasteries all around Manali. Some of the Gompas are –

• Manali Gompa – It was built in the 1960s and is an important gathering place for Buddhists from Nepal and Tibet. This Gompa is known for its wall paintings and a large statue of Lord Buddha

• Gadhan Thekchhokling Gompa– This lively monastery is known for its unique pagoda style-yellow roof and beautiful wall paintings illustrating the ideology of Buddhism. The gompa has small shops for the sale of authentic Tibetan handicrafts and goods.

• Himalayan Nyingmapa Gompa – Located near the Manali Bazaar amidst a beautiful garden of sunflowers, this gompa has a huge gold faced the statue of Lord Buddha.

Manali is also known for several of its popular temples, some of them which are-

• Hadimba Devi Temple – Built in honour of Hadimba, the wife of Bhima, the mighty Pandava, it is believed that this temple enshrines the footprints of Hadimba. This magnificent pagoda-styled four-tiered temple with an exquisitely carved door is a feat of the local craftsmanship. The Hadimba Devi Temple is probably the most popular shrine in Manali

• Manu Temple – Located only 3km from the bazaar, this temple is believed to be only one in India in honour of Manu, who is believed to the creator of the human race.

• Shiva Gayatri Temples of Jagat Sukh
• Vashishth Village