This 3 days and 2 nights Manali trip includes sightseeing in Manali, Yak riding, zip lining, cultural photoshoot, exploring cafes, shopping at Mall road, Rohtang pass, Paragliding, skiing, Mountain biking, Snow boating, Atal tunnel, Solang Valley sightseeing and more. This is the minimum time to explore this town. For office-going tourists, it is going to be the best Manali trip. This trip will cost you around 10k/person. If you are not sure about when should you visit Himachal, see the best time to visit Himachal.

Manali

Manali is a town in Himachal under Kullu District. It is one of the most visited towns in India and every year receives thousands of tourists of all age groups.
Manali is also one of the best picnic spots for children, good for adventure lovers. It is home to many Rishi and Muni of ancient times. Even the name of this town is believed to be named after one of them; Manu. The home of Many – Manu Alaya became Manali. Manali has many old temples, natural hot water Kund, and whatnot. Manali is full of natural beauty. The snowy mountains of Manali are gigantic and beautiful. Mornings in Manali are very enjoyable. Even just a cup of tea at this place will make your day. If you are new to Himachal then you must read this Himachal Trip Guide so that you know how to start your Himachal trip.

Delhi to Manali Trip

Buses are available from Delhi to Manali and the price ranges from 800₹ to 2500₹. It is the most common route to Manali. Although buses and flights are also available from Chandigarh.

Where to stay in Manali

There are many hotels, hostels, and Dorms in Manali that are easily available. You can book your stay as per your preferences. Staying in Manali starts from as low as 1000/ person for a day. Make sure to check ratings and reviews before you book your stay. You can also read my experience and reviews when I stayed in Manali.

One thing that I always recommend is to call the property beforehand and confirm all the booking details. They do say sometimes that it was not updated on the booking site and it’s not their fault and then you just can’t do anything. So, always confirm.

What is best for a Manali trip? Bike/Scooty or Auto/Cab

It totally depends on how you want to travel, and how many people you are. If you are 1 or 2, obviously a bike is the best option. But if you are 3 then auto might be better. For a group of 4, a cab is good if you have to go out of the town but a bike is again best within the city. However, Bikers do like riding long drives but then you have to prepare yourself for it.

Rohtang pass: the most insane part of a Manali Trip

For a Rohtang trip, you can book an Alto if you are at least a group of 3 or 4. 4 is even better because then the cost will decrease per individual. You can get Cabs too for Rohtang under 4000. If you want to know more about how much the Rohtang trip will cost, click on the link.

Old Manali and New Manali

This town can be divided into two parts. Old Manali and New Manali. Though no one calls the name New Manali instead there are places which are built later and are mainly the areas near Mall Road. Mall road is famous for shopping and cafes. People love spending their evenings at Mall road.

The old Manali is the area near Manu Temple. The evening of Old Manali is very engaging and beautiful. It is known for cafes, live concerts, street shopping, Manu Temple, trekking, and more. The old Manali is an integral part of a Manali trip without which it just can’t be completed.

Top places we will cover in this Manali trip

1. The Mall Road

The Mall road is a very engaging and lively market in Manali. It has many famous cafes and restaurants, big shops as well as the street side ones. There are many places to sit and enjoy the vibe. You can also find a few points which provide bikes/scooters for rent.

2. Hadimba Temple

Location – In Old Manali, Near Ghatotkach Temple
Timings – 8 am to 6 pm
Hadimba temple is famous for the temple itself. The activities outside the temple. There is also a very beautiful park in the backside of the temple which is very beautiful and best for spending daytime or evenings.

As the name suggests, it is a temple dedicated to Hidimba Devi. However, Hidimba Devi was the daughter of a demon who used to eat humans. But his daughter was different, she was kind, and tried to stop his father from doing wrong things.

When Bheema arrived there he defeated the demon and fell in love with the daughter. She also felt the same and then they got married. This shows us that no matter what background one has if he/she is on the right path they will receive respect one day. And now we bow down to Devi Hidimba for the kindness and love she used to spread.

3. Ghatotakach Temple

There is no such temple-like structure at this place, instead, a tree is there. It is believed to be the birthplace of Ghatotakach. Ghatotakach was the son of Bheema and Devi Hidimba. This is very near to Hidimba Temple. You can visit this place once as there are no such major attractions other than this temple. There is someplace to sit at this temple as well.

4. Himachal Art Museum

Himachal Art Museum is located on the opposite side of Ghatotakach Temple. It is one of the best places to start your day. You will get to know the art and culture of the Himachali people. Their traditions, customs, history, and more which you won’t be able to find otherwise.

5. Manu Temple

Manu Temple is one of the most visited places in Manali. As we already know that even the name Manali has been derived from the Rishi Manu whose place of residence Manualaya became Manali. Manu Temple is located in old Manali. The temple’s architecture is a traditional one. Very close to this temple is the Taposthali of Manu.

6. Vashishtha Hot Water Springs and Temple, Manali

Vashishtha Temple is at a distance of around 3 km from the town of Manali. You may walk there but as the road is not on plains you will have to walk up and down. So it’s better to hire a cab/auto. You can also rent a bike for sightseeing in Manali. If you are new to Manali, see how to explore the Himachal guide prior to your visit.

7. Jogini Waterfalls

Jogini Waterfalls is not more than 8 km from the vibrant city of Manali. It is less than 4 km from the Vashishtha Temple. It is near the Vashishtha village at a trekkable distance from the Vashishtha Temple. You should definitely include this beauty in your Manali tour. After emerging, this waterfall falls into the Beas river.

8. The Manali Gompa

This is basically a Monastery and one of the best attractions in Manali. Tibetan refugees built this Monastery in 1960 and named it the “Gadhan Thekchhokling Gompa”. This Monastery is not very big in size but its vibe is boundless. Tourists from all corners of the world come here to find calmness and peace.

More places to visit on a Manali trip

1. Bhrigu Lake
2. Gulaba, Manali
3. Hampta Pass
4. Nehru Kund, Manali
5. Arjun Gufa
6. Van Vihar
7. Himalayan Nyingmapa:
8. Kothi
9. Beas Kund
10. Jagatsukh, Manali
11. Rahala Falls

Places to visit near Manali

1. Naggar Castle
2. Gauri Shankar Temple
3. Nicholas Roerich Art Gallery
4. Nicholas Roerich art museum
5. Rohtang Pass
6. Solang Valley
7. Atal Tunnel
8. Katrain, Manali
9. Manali Sanctuary
10. Chandrakhani Pass, Great Himalayan National Park, Manali

Bonus tips for the Manali trip

While booking a cab/taxi :

1. Try contacting your property owner how much the auto/cab will cost you to reach that place. Try asking the normal fair to get an idea of it.

2. Try bargaining with auto or cab drivers only when you feel they have overpriced it.

While street shopping at Mall road:

1. Bargain as much as you can, but please do not over a bargain.
2. Try to be a genuine buyer, it helps to make the shop owner realize that you are going to buy it and then they will most probably tell you the right price of that stuff.
3. Try different shops, the shops on the left of the Atal jee statue are a little inside the market and you may find it a little cheaper.

Please let us know in the comment below if you find this article informative.