Summer’s here in full force, with temperatures soaring past comfortable levels. The perfect solution? A refreshing escape to a cool hill station! Amongst the many gems nestled in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, Manali reigns supreme as a crowd favourite. Every year, come summer vacations, everyone is busy planning a Manali trip with family. Well, P and I aren’t very different either. We too jumped onto the Manali trip bandwagon this summer in April and planned an entire week’s road trip to this gorgeous hill station at an elevation of 1950 metres.
To help you plan your Manali escape, we’ve created a series of guides covering everything from road conditions and weather to must-visit cafes, tourist spots, and Lahaul-Spiti access. We’ll start with the essentials – choosing your stay area and navigating Manali’s roads and climate. Stay tuned for in-depth articles! Let’s go!
Manali Trip: Road Conditions & How To Reach Safely
From the moment we had decided to plan a Manali trip, I was concerned about the roads. Over the past few years, the catastrophic natural events had impacted everything in Himachal Pradesh and Manali was no exception. So, I began my research and tried to search for real-time information about Manali. While locals with YouTube channels and a few regional news handles gave information about the internal roads in Manali, no particular handle gave any information on how the condition of roads from Chandigarh to Manali was. So, I told P to rely on his driving skills and left home ‘Bhagwaan Bharose.’
We began our journey at 4 in the morning from Chandigarh and cruised through till Anandpur without any hiccups. The road quality remains excellent until Gutkar, where you might encounter some slowdowns due to ongoing repairs. Here, caution is key – the winding curves and rocky terrain can be treacherous.
Source: PrinkledJust past Pandoh, things get a bit hairy. The landslides and heavy rains they had back in 2023 really messed up the road between Pandoh Dam and Aut. Imagine driving on a super skinny one-lane road clinging to the side of a mountain, with a steep drop down to the Beas River on one side and nothing but rocks on the other. There are even some parts where the road disappears completely, and it’s just loose rocks and mud! This can be super scary, especially if you’re not used to driving on these kinds of roads. The good news is that they’re working on building tunnels through this whole area, which will make things a lot safer once they’re finished. For now though, this 30-40 minute stretch gets a big thumbs down from me – I’d only rate it a 2 out of 10.
Manali Trip: The Halts!
Another important thing to add here is that there are hardly any fast food or coffee joints on the entire route. You will find dhabas and small shops to grab refreshments but those too appear while you’re crossing a small town or city. So, please remember to pack some snacks for your Manali trip. We were grateful that our mom packed us club sandwiches, fruits and juices for the road. Thank you mom, you’re the best!
Source: PrinkledOnce you reach Aut, the roads are clean, clear and wide. You can enjoy the magnificent views of the hills and as you get closer to Bhuntar, the snow peaks play peek-a-boo with you on every curve and bend. After driving till Bhuntar non-stop for 5 hours, we stopped over for a cup of coffee at Offlimits Bhuntar. It was 9:40 and both of us needed coffee to function for the rest of the day. This cute cafe had everything one would need to unwind–a decent view, a few games and a gorgeous view overlooking the Bhuntar airstrip and snow-clad mountains. We just had two cold coffees and quickly left for Manali.
Source: PrinkledThe drive is extremely enjoyable, thanks to the views of the magnificent mountains on one side and Beas river on the other. From Bhuntar to Kullu, you’ll find several shops by the side of the road offering you a chance to try adventure water activities such as rafting. While we didn’t stop over for these, we did halt for a bit to soak in the fresh air by the side of the river. For another 30 minutes, we just enjoyed the view, felt the ice cold water of Beas and saw people experiencing thrilling river rafting. Honestly, it looked quite tempting but we still had to reach Manali.
So, once again, we got in our car and drove off. In another 40 minutes, we reached Manali and that’s where we encountered a massive traffic jam. Navigating it for about 20 minutes, we took a turn towards our hotel, which was away from the hustle and bustle of Manali.
Manali Trip: The Weather & Places to Stay
When we planned our Manali trip for April, we expected daytime temperatures to hover around a pleasant 8-10 degrees Celsius, dropping to 3-4 degrees Celsius at night. However, during our week there, Mother Nature had other plans! Manali enjoyed some welcome rain, followed by an unexpected snowfall that turned things delightfully chilly. Overnight temperatures plummeted to 0 degrees Celsius, and even daytime highs struggled to reach 2-3 degrees Celsius. But hey, that’s the beauty of Manali! This charming hill station is known for its cool breezes thanks to the majestic, snow-capped peaks of Rohtang, Sissu, and other nearby high-altitude areas. So, you really can visit anytime – you might just get lucky and experience a bit of winter wonderland magic yourself!
Manali offers a variety of stay options to suit every budget, from hotels and homestays to dharamshalas, hostels, and private guesthouses. If you prioritise convenience, staying near the mall road offers a wide range of choices, from budget-friendly homestays and hostels to luxurious 5-star hotels. However, be prepared for noise and crowds, as this area is quite bustling. Most hotels here also lack scenic views due to surrounding buildings.
For those seeking luxurious stays, 5-star properties like the Welcomhotel by ITC Hamsa, IHCL SeleQtions Baragarh Resort & Spa, or Span Resort & Spa are available. However, keep in mind that these are located outside the main town centre, so you’ll need to drive to explore Manali itself.
Source: PrinkledWe wanted to stay at a place a little away from the hustle and bustle of Manali. Hence, we found a 4-star property, Echor Himalayan Heights Luxe and let me tell you, it turned out to be a gem. Details about the stay I’ll share in a separate article. But, for now, you can have a look at a few photos of the property.
Prinkled’s Parting Thoughts
Manali is a gem worth the wait! Though the journey can be challenging, the destination is pure bliss. Stay tuned for our next article on must-visit cafes!
P.S. Let us know if you find this helpful and have any questions about our Manali road trip!
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