Manali, at 2,050 m in the Kullu valley on the Beas river, is the most loved hill station of Himachal Pradesh – deodar forests, apple orchards, snow peaks all around and the gateway to Rohtang Pass, the Atal Tunnel, Lahaul, Spiti and Leh.
Travel Himalayas is based in Manali since 2002, so this guide comes from our own drivers and guests – what to see, when to come, how to reach and what it costs.
Manali – Quick Facts
State
Himachal Pradesh (Kullu district)
Altitude
2,050 m
Nearest airport
Bhuntar (Kullu) – 50 km
Nearest big railway station
Chandigarh – 310 km; Kiratpur Sahib – 230 km
Best time
March – June for sightseeing, December – February for snow
Ideal stay
3 – 5 days
Places to Visit in Manali
Hadimba Devi Temple Wooden pagoda temple of 1553 in a deodar forest – the symbol of Manali.
Old Manali & Manu Temple Village lanes, cafés and the temple of sage Manu above the Manalsu stream.
Vashisht Hot Springs Natural sulphur baths and the old stone temple of sage Vashisht.
Mall Road & Tibetan Monastery Shopping street of Manali and the Gadhan Thekchokling gompa.
Solang Valley 14 km – paragliding, ropeway, ATV rides in summer and snow activities in winter.
Atal Tunnel & Sissu 9.02 km tunnel under the Rohtang ridge to Sissu in Lahaul – open all year.
Rohtang Pass (3,978 m) 51 km – snow point, open about May – November with an NGT permit (closed on Tuesdays).
Naggar Castle 21 km – 15th-century castle of the Kullu kings and the Roerich art gallery.
Jogini Falls Short walk from Vashisht to a waterfall in the forest.
Kasol & Manikaran 75 km – Parvati valley cafés and the gurudwara with hot springs.
Best Time to Visit Manali
March – June: pleasant days (15 – 28 °C) – peak season for families
July – September: monsoon – green hills, lower rates, landslides possible
October – November: clear skies and autumn colours
December – February: cold, snowfall in the higher hills – Christmas & New Year rush
How to Reach Manali
By air: Bhuntar (Kullu) airport, 50 km – flights from Delhi.
By bus: Overnight Volvo from Delhi (540 km, 12 – 14 hrs) and Chandigarh (310 km, 8 hrs) to the Manali Volvo stand.
By train: Chandigarh or Kiratpur Sahib, then by road.
By road: Delhi – Chandigarh – Mandi – Kullu – Manali on NH-3.
Manali Distance Chart
Route
Distance
Drive time
Delhi
540 km
12 – 13 hrs
Chandigarh
310 km
8 hrs
Shimla
250 km
7 hrs
Dharamshala
230 km
7 hrs
Kullu
40 km
1.5 hrs
Rohtang Pass
51 km
2.5 hrs
Sissu (Atal Tunnel)
35 km
1.5 hrs
Kaza (Spiti)
200 km
8 hrs
Leh
475 km
2 days
Approximate road distances and times – mountain roads can take longer in snow or rain.
Manali Map
Manali local sightseeing map – Old Manali, Hadimba, Vashisht, Solang & Rohtang road (tap to enlarge)Manali – Leh highway route map (Rohtang / Atal Tunnel, Keylong, Sarchu, Pang, Tanglang La) (tap to enlarge)
Manali Travel Tips
Rohtang Pass needs an online permit and is closed on Tuesdays – book a permit cab with us.
Hire snow suits and boots at Solang / Kothi, not in Manali town.
Avoid the Manali – Rohtang road on long weekends – start by 6 AM.
Carry warm clothes even in summer evenings.
Entrance & Permit Fees in Manali 2026
Permits
Rohtang Pass permit: ₹500 + ₹50 congestion charge per vehicle (HP Govt., online, limited per day) – included in our cab rate. Rohtang is closed on Tuesdays and in winter.
Atal Tunnel & Sissu: no permit and no fee.
🎟️ Entrance fees (per person, paid at the gate or online)
Rohtang PassRohtang permit ₹500 + congestion charge ₹50 per vehicle (HP Govt.) is included in our cab rate – nothing to pay · closed on Tuesdays
✅ Included
✅ Included
Naggar CastleHPTDC heritage castle
approx. ₹20 – 30
approx. ₹20 – 50
Roerich Art GalleryRoerich estate & museum
approx. ₹50
approx. ₹100
Fees as published for 2026 and can be revised by the authorities; "approx." rates are local / private and may differ. Children are usually free or half rate. Camera fees extra at some places.
Manali Tour Packages 2026
Packages by Travel Himalayas that stay in Manali – hotels and a private cab, with the complete price for your date on each page.
3 to 4 days cover local sightseeing, Solang, Atal Tunnel / Sissu or Rohtang and a day in Naggar or Kasol.
Is Rohtang Pass open in winter?
No – Rohtang is usually closed from December to April; Solang, Atal Tunnel and Sissu are visited instead.
What is the taxi fare for Manali sightseeing?
Local sightseeing starts at about ₹1,500, Solang ₹2,000 and Rohtang with permit from ₹3,000 per cab – see our Manali taxi rates page.
What is the best time to visit Manali?
March – June: pleasant days (15 – 28 °C) – peak season for families. July – September: monsoon – green hills, lower rates, landslides possible. October – November: clear skies and autumn colours. December – February: cold, snowfall in the higher hills – Christmas & New Year rush.
How to reach Manali?
By air – Bhuntar (Kullu) airport, 50 km – flights from Delhi. By bus – Overnight Volvo from Delhi (540 km, 12 – 14 hrs) and Chandigarh (310 km, 8 hrs) to the Manali Volvo stand. By train – Chandigarh or Kiratpur Sahib, then by road. By road – Delhi – Chandigarh – Mandi – Kullu – Manali on NH-3.
How much does a Manali tour cost?
Our Manali packages start from about ₹6,300 per person (2 sharing) with hotels and a private cab – open a package for the complete price on your date.
