Manali is a wide open valley with pine and deciduous canopy, freshwater streams and permanently snow-capped peaks making it an ideal place to relax and rejuvenate. Not only are there beautiful places to stay, but there are also many spiritual retreats that invite you to visit.
We took a flight to Chandigarh and stayed for a night. After landing at Chandigarh we headed towards Brothers Dhaba for Kulchas and Choles. I loved the kulcha with onion and garlic on it. I also tried their legendary extra spicy kulcha. It is yummy!
On our way during the drive we stopped for lunch at Visco resorts. The place has the best view and food. You can enjoy their outdoor restaurant facility i.e. sitting in open air with a view of the river and refreshing nature all around and having food, tea or coffee. We had onion pakodas.
Day 1
We drove to Manali early in the morning. We checked in at Manuallaya hotel in Manali by 5pm. We reached on time to catch the sunset.
The best place to have dinner is Cafe Evergreen. This restaurant offers perfectly cooked pies, trout and pasta. Do not leave without eating good biscuits and tasty brownies. A lot of visitors order delicious rum. Evergreen Manali cafe invites you to try the excellent cappuccino, hot chocolate or tea. You can enjoy live music in the evening. You will definitely love the cool feeling and cute decoration. We had hot chocolate in the cold weather and it was warm and comforting. The veg burger with extra cheese and jalapenos and cheese was insane.
Day 2
The next day I woke up to beautiful views from my room. It was the best decision to stay at Manuallaya. Manuallaya embodies the best of Himachal’s iconic history, art and culture. Combining modern design with traditional elegance, Manuallaya is a stylish contemporary luxury resort in an enviable location offering Manali.
The most attractive thing about Manuallaya is the picturesque view of the Beas River and the Himalayas that can be seen from every room in this resort. While here, don’t miss the complimentary spa and massage service that will refresh your senses and put you in a trance. You can choose from a variety of room types such as Deluxe Suite, Royal Suite or Sunny Cottage. We stayed at the royal suite. You can’t miss the view from any window of this gorgeous suite. With the Solang Valley a short walk away, this is one of Manali’s best resorts for adventure seekers.
After breakfast we went to Hampta pass. It is always recommended to book a car to avoid any mishaps. The Hampta Pass Trek is perfect for those who love the mountains and want an adventure along the way. The most attractive feature of this trek is its moderate elevation, perfect for beginners and amateur climbers. The experience is definitely unreal.
You will get to see India’s first Igloo hotel, there are snow activities there. Cosying up in an igloo is probably the perfect winter experience that will make you want to visit Manali even more. Manali Igloo Stay is a tourist attraction not only in Himachal Pradesh, but in entire India. Tashi Dorje and Vikas Kumar came up with the concept of experiencing a stay in an igloo or snow cave back in 2017.
The igloos are decorated beautifully with night light with power supplied through power generators. The rates for these igloos range from ₹5000 per person to ₹10,000 per couple per night. Snow activities along with breakfast, lunch and dinner were provided to us. Enjoy Skiing, Snow Rides and lots of other activities in snow thus making your trip nothing short of once in a lifetime opportunity .
We had our dinner at the Johnson’s Cafe. Located on Circuit House Road in Old Manali, the cozy café serves Continental delights, tea, coffee and drinks in a cool ambience with live jazz. People come here mostly for breakfast or partying. I loved the Parmesan cheese and tomato flatbread.
We spent some time on Manali Mall road . Mall Road has a number of showrooms, department stores, shops, restaurants and cafes. A Himachal emporium that offers handicraft products of Himachal Pradesh like locally designed woolen clothes, branded clothes, pottery items, wooden products, and jewelry is also located here. We tried the local dish Siddu (steamed bun with a sweet or savory filling) and Masala Milk.
Day 3
We decided to spend our day exploring Manali. We visited places like Hadimba Temple, Old Town, Jogini Waterfall and explored local cafes.
Old Manali and New Manali are separated by the Manalsu River. A river bridge connects Old Manali to the rest of the city. Old Manali is a quiet town below a valley covered in thick layers of apple orchards. There are also some beautiful houses made of wood and stone. Enjoy delicious continental cuisine while shopping for souvenirs and handicrafts at the nearby market. You will fall in love with this place for its mesmerizing sunrises and sunsets.
The Hadimba Temple, known locally as the Dhungari Temple, honors Hadimba Devi, mother of Ghatothkach and wife of Bhima. For mythology lovers, it is a must-see destination. It is perched on a rock meant to represent the image of Goddess Hadimba herself and is surrounded by snow-capped hills. It has a unique structure with wooden walls, an entrance, and a conical roof.
A popular tourist attraction, Jogini Waterfall, which falls from a height of 160 feet, is located 2 km from the famous Vashisht Temple. The path leading to Jogini waterfall is surrounded by beautiful orchards and pine trees. For all nature lovers and adventurers, crossing several small streams while enjoying breathtaking views of the Beas River and the snow-capped peaks of Rohtang is an unforgettable experience. It is a popular tourist spot in Kullu Manali and also famous for its entertainment and adventure activities, so bring your camera to capture the awe-inspiring beauty.
We had our lunch at Chopsticks restaurants. One of the best restaurants on Manali Mall Road, Chopsticks is a gourmet’s paradise. The extensive menu of Tibetan, Indian, Chinese and Japanese dishes will leave you spoiled for choice. This is one of the best veg restaurants in Manali.
You must visit Cafe Amigos which offers exactly what you need on a solo trip and is as the name suggests. The venue’s hippie decor, German cuisine and the live guitarist’s soothing tunes all combine to provide a memorable experience. I loved their apple tart. This cafe is the perfect place to spend some extra time, sit, read, socialize or just reflect on each decision in your life.
We also visited Johnson’s cafe. The coffee shop is right next to Johnson’s Restaurant & Bar located at Johnson’s Lodge. It is wrapped in a serene atmosphere, lush vegetation and beautiful colorful surroundings. It is considered as one of the good restaurants in Manali. We enjoyed live music by a local band, Shankh the band, there.
After coming back to Manuallaya, the hotel arranged high tea with a view for us.
Day 4
If you’re going to Manali on vacation, Solang Valley is a must-see destination on your itinerary. The Solang Valley, located 14 kilometers northwest of the capital Manali, is one of Himachal Pradesh’s most popular tourist destinations. Located on the route from Manali to Rohtang, this valley welcomes many tourists every year. Available to tourists of all ages, from skydiving to paragliding to horseback riding to driving a mini open jeep, the Solang Valley is a favorite with adventure seekers.
In winter, the Solang Valley is covered with snow and skiing is a popular sport here. When the snow melts, zorbing replaces skis. Another popular Solang Valley attraction on the slopes of the valley is the chance to see giant transparent balls in the summer. Yes, zorbs are as fun as they look. It is one of the liveliest and most fun places in Manali. You can’t miss parachuting, paragliding, trekking, and rafting . But Snow scooter rides stand out of all. Snow Scooters are enthralling, and the rush of moving through the snow covered surroundings is just magnificent. One can opt to ride this themselves or take a guide to drive them around. The electric scooter moves smoothly and lets you enjoy every bit of the ride. Manali’s snow scooters have become a very popular recreational vehicle when you need a small or long ride. One thing is for sure, you will have the experience of a lifetime.
On our way back to Manali from Solang, we decided to have our dinner at Cafe 1947. There is a balcony with outdoor seating where guests may enjoy the soothing sound of the neighboring river pouring. Café 1947’s charming setting explores the concept of independence. With live music playing in the background and breathtaking views of the Manaslu River flowing beside this fantastic eating location. The place serves great tiramisu, chocolate cakes, and blueberry cheesecakes. Foodies must visit this charming cafe in Manali, which serves everything from burgers to delicious pizza. I loved their Jalapeno & Green Chilli Pizza and the Pasta.
After returning to Manuallya, we enjoyed a bonfire with a live music band playing. It was really great!
Day 5
We drove to the Atal tunnel. To get to the Atal Tunnel, the best way is to hire a cab from the town of Manali and drive to the location. Atal Tunnel or Rohtang Tunnel is an architectural marvel with a total length of 9.02 km, located above 10,000 feet. Atal Tunnel has been a blessing for all travelers and commuters.
We stopped at Lahaul and Spiti Valley. It was like a Blanket of white snow. The vast mountains, deep terrains, the stretch of barren landforms, and patches of green are entirely shrouded in a seamless sheet of snow. It’s a sea of white as far as your eyes can behold. It was too beautiful. Boasting a rich Tibetan Buddhism influence, the Lahaul & Spiti Valley is home to numerous marvelous monasteries and gompas such as the Guru Ghantal Gompa, Dzong Gompa, Shashur Gompa, Tayul, Yardong, Kardang and Gemur Monasteries in Lahaul and the Tabo, Dhankar, Komic and the famous attraction, Ki Monastery in Spiti.
We had lunch and dinner back in Manali. We visited the Lazy dog manali cafe. Be it the location of this place or the food, everything about Lazy Dog Cafe, Manali makes it one of the best cafes in Manali. You can enjoy delicious food and your favorite cold drinks without worrying about running out of pocket, and even enjoy live performances by popular bands like The Local Train and Rudra during peak season. I loved the hot chocolate, ginger lemon honey tea, Thai curry and spinach and ricotta quesadilla.
My most favorite Dylan’s coffee house is a must visit. With so many cafes located in Old Manali, choosing one often becomes difficult. But as soon as you see this cafe, believe us, you will want to sit down immediately. Perfect for having a warm coffee chat with your loved one, this place can be visited at any time of the day. I had their espresso, hot chocolate and cookies. This cafe’s chocolate chip cookies are legendary!
Day 6
From Manali we left for Kasol. We stayed there for two nights at the amazing villa Off limits.
Built on a European aesthetic, this luxury guest house features four bedrooms, a private garden and a living room. With the Parvati stream flowing right next to the property, along with the surrounding flora and fauna, Villa by Off Limits offers the ultimate vacation like mountain life!
The property offers guests a delicious mountain dining experience full of specially selected delicacies and is guaranteed to satisfy a wide range of diners.
A key feature of the hotel is the “café-hemp hospitality” where hemp has been incorporated into their dining experience in a very sociable, legal and healthy way, like a restaurant. It is India’s first cafe serving Hemp infused food. For anyone curious, be sure to try the hemp-infused coffee which is said to be one of their specialties! Hemp infused food won’t make you high. Instead it provided significant health benefits due to its anti-anxiety, anti-inflammatory and anti-seizure properties. We had spring rolls, garlic bread with cheese, hemp infused pasta and a burger.
At Off limits, take in the breathtaking panoramas of Himachal’s Parvati Valley as you relax and unwind in this beautiful and cozy retreat. We enjoyed the exotic delicacies served at the hotel’s cafeteria/café while sipping a hot cup of cappuccino with a book in hand which always accompanied me. We loved the stars in the clear night sky through the glass ceiling of the villa living room while sitting by the fireplace on a cold night in Kasol. You can also take part in various nature trails and adventure activities such as hiking and hiking available in and around the property. Take a few days off and enjoy the tranquility and relaxation in this unusual property surrounded by the most amazing nature!