Things to Do in Manali: 12 Best Experiences

Quick answer

In Manali, see the Hadimba temple and Old Manali, soak in the Vashisht hot springs and take a day to Solang Valley and Sissu via the Atal Tunnel. Rohtang Pass needs a permit and opens only in summer. Add Naggar Castle, Jogini Falls and a rafting run on the Beas, or a day in Kasol and Manikaran.

12 things worth your time in Manali

01
Hadimba Devi Temple
Landmark
A four-tiered wooden pagoda temple built in 1553 in a deodar forest above the town.
1 hourFree
Go before 9 am; by mid-morning the queue and the yak-photo touts take over.
02
Old Manali and Manu Temple
Experience
Village lanes, apple orchards and riverside cafés, with the Manu temple at the top of the village.
Half dayFree
Walk up from the Manalsu bridge; cars jam the single lane in the evening.
03
Vashisht hot springs
Experience
Sulphur springs in public baths beside the stone Vashisht temple, about 3 km from Mall Road.
1–2 hoursFree
Baths are separate for men and women; carry a towel and a change of clothes.
04
Jogini Falls
Nature
A walk of about 2.5 km from Vashisht village through orchards to a tall waterfall with valley views.
2–3 hoursFree
Wear proper shoes; the last stretch is rocky and slippery after rain.
05
Solang Valley
Experience
Snow slopes in winter and paragliding, zorbing and the ropeway in summer, 14 km from Manali.
Half dayParagliding about ₹1,500–3,500; ropeway about ₹600–1,000
Short tandem flights are often only a few minutes; ask the flight length before paying.
06
Atal Tunnel and Sissu
Day trip
The 9 km tunnel at about 3,000 m, opened in 2020, links Manali to Lahaul; Sissu has a waterfall and snow for much of the year.
Full dayLocal taxi about ₹3,500–5,000 per vehicle
No permit needed. Start by 8 am in peak season to beat the jam at Solang.
07
Rohtang Pass
Day trip
A 3,978 m pass with snow into early summer and views over the Chandra valley.
Full dayPermit about ₹550 per vehicle, plus local taxi
Permits are capped daily and sold online; book through your taxi operator early.
08
Naggar Castle and Roerich Art Gallery
Landmark
A stone-and-timber castle about 500 years old and the home of Russian painter Nicholas Roerich, 21 km south of Manali.
Half daySmall entry fees, about ₹30–100
Have lunch at the castle café, which looks straight down the Kullu valley.
09
Rafting on the Beas
Experience
Grade II–III runs near Pirdi and Babeli, south of Kullu, a good half-day with teenagers.
1–2 hoursAbout ₹800–1,500 per person
Runs roughly April to June and late September to October; suspended in the monsoon.
10
Kasol and Manikaran
Day trip
Kasol's cafés and pine forest in the Parvati valley, and the Manikaran gurudwara with hot springs and langar.
Full dayFree
About 80 km and 2.5–3 hours each way; leave early or stay a night.
11
Mall Road and the Tibetan monastery
Shopping
Kullu shawls, woollens and Tibetan handicrafts, with the Gadhan Thekchhokling Gompa just off the Mall.
2 hoursFree
Buy Kullu shawls from Bhuttico or HP government outlets for genuine handloom.
12
Bhrigu Lake or Hampta Pass trek
Experience
Accessible alpine treks starting near Manali, with high meadows and, on Hampta, a crossing into Lahaul.
3–5 daysOrganised trek about ₹8,000–15,000 per person
Best from June to September; book with operators registered with HP Tourism.

How should you plan your days in Manali?

Manali is a long, narrow town along the Beas. Mall Road is the centre; Old Manali and Vashisht sit on opposite banks 2–3 km north; Solang is 14 km up the valley, and the south portal of the Atal Tunnel about 10 km beyond that. Four days covers the main sights without rushing.

How do you get there from Delhi?

Overnight bus: HRTC and private Volvos take 12–14 hours for the roughly 540 km. The most popular option.
Flight: Bhuntar (Kullu) airport is about 50 km south, with a few flights from Delhi that are often cancelled in poor weather. Chandigarh, about 300 km away, is the reliable airport.
Train: no railway reaches Manali. Chandigarh is the practical railhead, then 7–8 hours by road.

How do local taxis work?

Manali's taxi unions control sightseeing to Solang, the Atal Tunnel and Rohtang. Cabs from Delhi or Chandigarh usually cannot do these runs, so budget for a local taxi, around ₹3,500–5,000 a day for Solang, the tunnel and Sissu.

What about Rohtang permits?

Rohtang Pass needs an online permit, about ₹550 per vehicle, with a daily cap. It usually opens from late May or June to October or November. If permits are sold out, the Atal Tunnel to Sissu is an excellent alternative and needs no permit.

Snow-gear stalls on the Solang road rent boots and suits for a few hundred rupees a day. Check the soles before paying; leaky boots ruin a snow day.

Pick your month with the best time to visit Manali, set a budget with Manali trip cost, choose a base from where to stay in Manali, and see day-by-day plans in itineraries. Going on to Kaza? Read things to do in Spiti Valley.

Frequently asked questions

Is Rohtang Pass or Atal Tunnel better?

For most travellers the Atal Tunnel to Sissu is the better day out. It needs no permit, stays open most of the year, and Sissu has snow and a waterfall for much of the season. Rohtang is higher with more snow in early summer, but permits are capped and costly, and the day is long. Do Rohtang only if snow is the main goal.

How many days are enough for Manali?

Four nights is right for most first-timers: one day for Hadimba, Old Manali and Vashisht, one for Solang and the Atal Tunnel, one for Naggar or rafting, and a free day. Add a fifth night for Kasol and Manikaran. With only two nights, focus on the town and Solang.

Can I use my own car for Manali sightseeing?

You can drive your own private car to Solang and through the Atal Tunnel, subject to police traffic controls, and you need a permit for Rohtang. Hired cabs from outside Himachal are usually stopped from doing sightseeing runs by local unions. In winter, snow beyond Solang often means only local 4x4 taxis with chains are allowed.

How we checked this page

Last reviewed 28 October 2026

Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.