Planning to visit MANALI??..
Once again I’m here with my new blog to solve all your problems in one go. The blog will give you a glimpse into what you can expect and all the information on how to reach Manali, getting around, shopping and nearby places.
I have spent 21 years of my life without ever feeling the chilly, flaky goodness of freshly fallen snow. But all that changed when I finally went to the lap of India’s most majestic mountain range – THE HIMALAYAS. I visited Manali on cold month of February and had a firm belief that I would be encountering snowfall there.
❄️BUS RIDE FROM DELHI TO MANALI❄️
I travelled to Delhi via train and then an overnight bus to Manali from ISBT Kashmere Gate.
The bus ride was very surreal – we paused at strange little stops consisting of tea shops and a barely serviceable loo. Not being a tea-lover, I was very much frustrated sometimes. And though I knew I was travelling across New Delhi, Punjab and finally Himachal Pradesh, everything looked the same, just bearing the air of Northern India.
The next morning, I witnessed a beautiful dawn over the mountains of Himachal Pradesh and the entire route to Manali was an incredible one – dotted with villages, colourful roofs, mountains painted in strokes of white and grey and the river Beas.
❄️SNOW IN MANALI❄️
Everyone should come to Manali to realise how beautiful India can be. Especially people who aren’t sure if there is an India beyond the dirt and noise of her cities.
❄️PLACES TO VISIT❄️
Although I had an exhaustive list of places to cover in and around Manali, what I finally managed to explore in the span of a few days was:
- Hidimba Devi Temple
- Buddhist temple
- Manali Market
- Solang Valley
And there were many walks around Manali, exploring patches of snow and silent moments by different parts of the river Beas which were perhaps more memorable one.
❄️HIDIMBA DEVI TEMPLE❄️
So on my first day in Manali, exhausted from the overnight bus ride, I was out to explore the neighbouring lanes, the market and the nearby Hidimba Devi temple.
The temple wasn’t much to speak of, although I knew from my childhood readings of the Mahabharata that Hidimba had quite the role to play. The locals here said that she married Bhima in Manali after he slayed her demonic brother and thus they had baby Ghatothkach.
However, the area around the temple was a delight – quiet and woodsy and women holding white rabbits and offering to let us hold them for a price.
❄️BUDDHIST TEMPLE❄️
The courtyard had a main temple and an area which contained the rotating prayer wheel, inscribed with the mantra “OM MANI PADME HUM”. I pushed the wheel several times while chanting these words.
❄️MANALI MARKET❄️
Mall Road is one of the top places to shop in Manali. It is also one of the most visited destinations of the hill station which attracts the number of tourists. Different activities throughout the day, exploring the street shops while shopping makes it a famous spot to shop in Manali.
The shops on both sides of the road are neatly lined and offer many attractive products which you can purchase at a reasonable cost by showing the bargaining skills. You can find a huge range of products on Mall Road which also covers famous Kashmiri shawls, sarees, books, antique items, and lot more. You will also see many spots where you can give a delightful treat to your taste buds.
❄️SOLANG VALLEY ❄️
These are glimpses from different parts of Manali but the experience I should really dedicate this post to is my day at Solang Valley. I was prepared for the stunning white valleys with lush grey mountains. When the bus began ascending the hilly road, it was as if I had already begun an ascent into a different world.
At Solang Valley, you can try as many adventure sports as your wallet allows:
- Paragliding
- Skiing
- Snow bike riding
- And ofcourse, making Snowman and all that stuff.
But be prepared to feel really exhausted at the end of all this snow sporting because climbing and walking through snow-covered valleys is quite the same as trekking.
I had a moment when I realised I simply couldn’t take another step. That’s when I paused to shake the snow out of my boots and spent some time laying down in the snow.
❄️MANALI FOOD GUIDE❄️
There’s not much by way of local cuisine. The little street food that I tasted was a quite good an experience. You may go for the restaurants and choose the cuisine that you like, although it tends to be a bit expensive.
If you have more than a few days at hand, do explore the nearby hill stations KASOL & MANIKARAN. Around Manali, don’t miss NAGGAR & SPITI VALLEY. The place is dotted with breathtaking villages and peaks.
ENJOYYYY!!!…⛄🌨️🏔️
"SAFAR" - The Journey 