A Complete Guide To The Himalaya’s Hippie Town, Manali

This beautiful hill town is ideal for those looking to unwind and rejuvenate in the lap of nature, for there is no place in the country more vibrant and charming as Manali. Nestled in the lap of the Himalayas in the beautiful green Beas valley, the hippie town of Manali is truly a Himalayan paradise. While you may have read enough things about the place and what you should do, to make your next Manali holiday a bit smoother, here is our complete travel guide to Manali for you:

What to do in Manali

1. Vashist

Famous for its sweeping valley views and sulphurous hot-water springs, the charming village of Vashisht is an amorphous jumble of traditional timber houses and modern concrete cubes; but these are divided by paved courtyards and narrow muddy lanes. Feeling tired and sick on your Manali holidays? Well, take a dip in the sulphur hot water springs. A dip here is supposed to cure all ailments.

2. Old Manali

Away from the bustling the hippie town, lies the charming of Old Manali, which is a backpacker’s paradise. The serenity of Old Manali means swaying eucalyptus, rolling mountains, gently winding roads and the gushing waters of Kullu River. Also, Feast on delicious continental food at the many cafes of Old Manali. You get better bargains at shopping here than the commercialized New Manali.

3. Rohtang Pass

One of the best things to do in Manali is head to Rohtang Pass. This stunning snow-covered pass is located on the Leh highway and is only open from June to October every year. Almost 4000 meters above sea level, the pass offers spectacular views of glaciers, mountain peaks, and the gushing Chandra River. In fact, A visit to this spectacular pass is one of the highlights of Manali tourism. Enjoy thrilling skiing and sledging experience near the pass.

Suggested Read:Things We Bet You Didn’t Know About Himachal Pradesh

4. Hadimba Temple

Manali maybe a hippie town, however, it is famous for this beautiful temple. This wood and stone temple is dedicated to warrior princess Hadimba, the wife of Pandava Bhima. Moreover, this beautiful temple is known for its unique architecture and features prominently in the travel guide to Manali. It is located in the middle of the Dhungri Park. Explore the park too as it is beautiful.

5. Solang Valley, Must visit place in Hippie Town

Tucked snugly between Beas Kund and Solang village, Solang Valley, also known as Snow Point, offers panoramic views of the beautiful glaciers and snow-capped peaks. While it’s a hotbed for adventure activities, you can try paragliding, parachuting, horse riding and zorbing here.

6. Great Himalayan National Park

The newest addition to the list of National parks in India, The Great Himalayan National Park is quickly becoming what the wildlife scene in the region is being defined by. This stunning park is home to around 400 species of beautiful Himalayan fauna and is definitely one of the best places to visit in Manali. In addition, the park offers great trek routes. Try camping inside the park. It is an unforgettable experience.

7. Beas Kund

Image Source: himalayandiaries

The birthplace of the imposing River Beas, breathtaking Beas Kund is secluded by an igloo-like stone formation. Apart from its sacred significance, the Beas Kund region offers exciting and challenging activities like trekking and camping for the adventure lovers. Beas Kund is the starting point for treks to Shitidhar, Friendship, Ladakhi and Hanuman Tibba peaks.

8. Tibetan Monasteries

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Apart from undulating hills and rolling rivers, this hippie town is known for its charming Tibetan Monasteries, with a sizeable Tibetan population here. These serene monasteries are a treasure house of Tibetan culture, literature and crafts. A visit to these serene prayer houses gives you a taste of divinity on your Manali holidays.

Don’t miss the two prominent monasteries of Gadhan Thekchhokling Gompa and Himalayan Nyingamapa Gompa. Marvel at their pretty handicrafts, paintings, and carpets. If you are just looking for some serenity, the aroma of incense sticks, sounds of hymns/chants and the rotating prayer wheels create a serene ambience.

9. Adventure activities at Manali- Must Try When You Visit The Hippie Town

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One of the best things to do here is to enjoy the adventure activities. The hippie town is a hotbed of exciting summer and winter adventure activities as hoards of visitors from across the country visit Manali for a slice of adventure. Manali is the base for many beautiful treks in the Vashisht, Beas, Parvati and Kullu valley.

If trekking is not for you, try your hand zorbing, paragliding, biking, rafting, and mountaineering in summer. Winters can be fun as you can try out skiing and snowboarding in winter.

Suggested Read: Top 10 Holidays In India For Adventure Lovers

10. Food

One of the fun things to do in Manali is to eat their exquisite cuisine. The Himachali cuisine is rich and spicy with a generous sprinkle of spices like cardamom, cinnamon, turmeric and coriander powder. Try out delicious Himachali food in various local restaurants in New Manali.

If you want something a bit more modern, don’t miss trying out delectable continental food at the cafes in Old Manali. For something more authentic. Try out Tibetan dishes like Thukpa, Momos, and soups at Tibetan cafes in Manali.

Best time to Visit

The best time to visit the hippie town is during the summer when all you want to do is escape the heat. Temperatures go as high as 25 degrees between the months of March to June. If your Manali holidays are in the monsoon months, you will need to be cautious as there are possibilities of landslides. Winter temperatures will go below Zero degrees and one of the best things to do is to huddle with your partner next to a bonfire!

How to Get There

• By Air:  If you are choosing to fly, the nearest airport is Bhuntur in Kullu. From the airport, you can hire a taxi to take you to Manali, which is about 50 km by road.
• By Rail: Jogindernagar is the closest railway station to Manali. You will need to book a car to reach the hippie town of Manali.
• By Road: If the above two options do not work for you, the best way to actually reach Manali is a road. Thanks to the boom in Manali tourism, there are ample buses that will take you there. However, you can actually plan a very scenic road trip to this place and catch the sights en-route to Manali.