With the March heat setting in it’s time to take a quick weekend break to somewhere cooler, quieter, and nicer. But where would you go? That painstaking task of finding that right spot for just two days and on a budget. Fret not, for here’s a solution for a quick weekend getaway. Think Manali- the Goa of the north, the party place of Himachal or the artist’s haven, this quaint town of Himachal Pradesh has earned a few names to its credit. If you don’t want to stay in the city for a weekend and you don’t feel like splurging for a short vacation, then nothing beats Manali. This multicultural and multicolored settlement at 6726 FT. above the sea, is cool and chilly until the summer months.
Reaching there
If you are in and around Delhi metro or Chandigarh, Manali is almost a hop, skip and jump. There are plenty of options to travel from Delhi to Manali. It takes about 12 hours to cover the Delhi to Manali distance and about 7.5 hours from Chandigarh to Manali by car. For a two-day trip, it’s wiser to start driving at night so you reach Manali by early morning and get the entire day for your activities.
Where to stay
When time is short, you need to plan well. Staying around the town can make your commuting easy. Though there are plenty of lodging options on the outer side of Manali, opting for a hotel/resort/homestay around Old Manali can make it easier to head to your sightseeing and other adventures.
Best of Manali in a weekend
Tibetan Monasteries
Start your holiday on a positive note with a visit to the Tibetan Monasteries in town. The most popular ones are Manali Gompa, Gadhan Thekchoking Gompa, and the Himalayan Nyingamapa Gompa. Besides being a place of worship for Buddhists, these monasteries make for a great place to meditate, introspect and also learn about Buddhism.
Vashisht Hot Springs
Hot springs in the middle of a town! That’s Manali for you. At barely 1 KM of distance from the Mall Road, there’s the Vashist Temple which hosts a hot water spring. With glacial minerals, this natural spring water is said to have medicinal value and relieve people of ailments and diseases.
Van Vihar
A public garden, Van Vihar sits right across the Tibetan Market, at a few minutes’ walk from the Manali bus stand. Created for leisure, this natural enclosure is a huge patch of greenery within the bustling area of the town. Sitting amidst clusters of pine, deodar, and alpine trees, Van Vihar boasts a man-made lake which is open to boating for visitors.
Manali Nightlife
There’s something mystical about Manali. Take an evening walk down the lanes and bylanes of the town, along with the quirky cafes, while multi-lingual music floats to your ears and the air is filled with a heady aroma of cigarettes, hookah and all things herbal. Stop by Café 1947 or Johnson’s Café on the riverside, for a hearty meal with a view.
Solang Valley
If you’re travelling from Delhi to Manali by car, take a detour of about 14 KM from the Manali town, and you will reach the Solang Valley. This expansive Himalayan grassland makes for outdoor activities and adventures. Take off for a paragliding or ski trip and enjoy the panoramic views of the snow-clad mountains.
Street shopping
A trip to this cross-cultural hill town would be incomplete without taking home some souvenirs. Streetside shops, flea markets, and ethnic bazaars are aplenty. From traditional Kullu clothes, leather goods to tribal jewelry, Tibetan trinkets, and other knick-knacks, Manali makes for a shopping spree!
Nature, adventure, exploring, shopping, and dining, Manali will give you the perfect dose of refreshment and in a jiffy.
