Of the popular hippie trail. Today it is tough to imagine Manali as a backpacker’s paradise. It has easily become one of the most popular hill stations in India with tourists thronging to Manali in the height of summer as well as winter.
Manali suits the needs of every kind of travel mindset. A family looking for some bonding time, a couple for some peace and quiet, solo travellers for some solitude or a group of friends seeking an adventure.
Visit the Rohtang Pass
If you are returning from a Ladakh, you would have already crossed this king of the Himalayan passes on the journey from Leh to Manali. If not, then reserve a day of your trip to Manali for the Rohtang Pass. Be bowled over by the lush green winding roads that slowly lead to snow. At parts of the Rohtang Pass, the snow never melts. Which means what you see and hold in your hands, could very well be ancient snow. Be a child once again, and let loose as you play in the snow.
The river Beas flows through Manali and chances it will dominate the landscape during your stay in Manali. You can enjoy your morning tea perched prettily on the lawns over this river as the gushing river makes music with birdsong. Enjoy this blissful time with your family, your partner and just by yourself. Open a book and be lost in it as the mountains lose themselves in the clouds. Or pack your bags and head down to the river for some rafting action.
These short touch-and-go trips are not something that we usually recommend. Parvati valley deserves a long trip all for itself. But say, you are returning from a long exhausting trip to Ladakh or Spiti or are just pumped up enough to explore a bit beyond Manali, we say, why not! Go for it.
Start early in the morning from Manali. Make your way through Kullu, Bhuntar and cross over to the Parvati valley.
The landscape here is easily capable of making a 3-hour drive into an 8-hour photo-ops filled journey. The road climbs up steadily as you go further into the Parvati valley. Stone houses with flat slate roofs start making an appearance. There are a few tourist hubs here, like Kasol and Malana which also lead to many multi-day Himalayan treks like the Chanderkhani.
Beyond all of this, don’t forget to be an explorer in Manali. Look beyond the obvious. You will find numerous trails all around Manali and if any looks inviting, just ask any local about it. Find where it leads to, how easy or difficult it is. And armed with this information, just follow your heart.
After all, that is what travel is all about.
Contact Ghumo India 247 for more