Manali Kasol Package

About this tour

In Manali Kasol Package, Manali marks the beginning of the overland route to Ladakh, part of the increasingly popular Great Himalayan Circuit. This route traverses through the mountain valleys of Ladakh, Lahaul, and Spiti, ultimately leading to the luxurious comforts of Shimla. The surrounding mountain scenery lures tourists to Manali year-round. Domestic tourists come here for honeymoons and mountain views, while foreigners come for adventure sports or, more commonly, to hang out in the hippie villages around the main town. Until the 1960s, there was nothing here, but a few old stone houses and temples, but modern Manali is crammed with concrete hotels, and the town is in severe need of some town planning – stay in the villages of Vashisht or Old Manali for a more peaceful mood.

It is also the main jumping-off point for Ladakh, Spiti, and Lahaul, with daily buses to Leh, Keylong, and Kaza from June to October. Many tourists are also lured here by the famous Manali charas, but be warned – local police are more than happy to arrest people for possession or sting them for bribes.

According to legend, Manu, the Hindu equivalent of Noah, alighted his boat here to re-create human life after floods destroyed the world. Indeed, from April to June and September to late October, it can feel as if all of humanity has returned to Manali. There’s another surge in visitors for Christmas and New Year. Room prices can more than triple at these times. Old Manali and Vashisht close for winter from around October to May.

Manali is based around one street, the Mall, a continuation of the highway that runs into town. The bus and taxi stands are in the mall, and most hotels and restaurants are in the alleys, branching west. Two roads run north from Manali along the Beas River – one to Old Manali on the west bank and one to Vashisht and the Rohtang La on the east bank.

Kasol is the main traveller HQ in the Parvati Valley. It’s like Vashisht or Old Manali but more so, with dozens of reggae bars, travel- ler restaurants, internet cafés, body-piercing studios and cheap guesthouses. You’ll either love it or loathe it. The most excellent places to stay are in Old Kasol on the Bhuntar side of the bridge; most amenities are in New Kasol on the Manikaran side.

Manikaran means ‘Jewel from the Ear’, and according to local legend, a giant snake stole earrings from Parvati while she was bathing, then snorted them out into the ground, releasing the hot springs bubbling beneath. The water from the ground is hot enough to boil rice and must be cooled with river water for bathing. Locals claim it can cure everything from rheumatism to bronchitis.

The town is centred on the vast Sri Guru Nanak Ji Gurdwara, lurking behind a veil of steam on the far side of the river. Hindus and Sikhs revere the shrine inside, and the road through the village is chock-a-block with pilgrims and shops selling prasad (a food offering used in religious ceremonies) and Guru Nanak souvenirs.

Places to Visit during the Manali Kasol Package

Hadimba Temple: Hadimba Temple or Dhungri Temple is an ancient wood and stone mandir erected in 1553. Pilgrims come here to honour Hadimba, the wife of Bhima from the Mahabharata. The temple walls are covered in woodcarv- ings of dancers, and horns of bulls and ibex adorn the walls. Grisly animal sacrifices are carried out in May for the three-day Dhungri Mela. Photographers loiter around the temple, offering souvenir photos in traditional costumes with their arms around a yak or angora rabbit. Ghatotkach, the son of Hadimba, is worshipped in the form of a sacred tree near this temple.

Naggar Castle: Built by the Sikh Rajas of Kullu in 1460, this dramatic fort is a fine example of the alternating stone and timber style of Himachali architecture. It was converted into a hotel in 1978 when the last raja fell on hard times. A tiny one-room museum is downstairs, and the Jagtipath Temple in the courtyard houses a stone slab. The lower floors display some of Roerich’s surreal paintings of Kullu, Spiti and Lahaul, while the upper floors preserve the artist’s private rooms. A five-minute walk uphill from the gallery is the Urusvati Himalayan Folk & Art Museum, which houses the painter’s ethnological artefacts and photos of the Roerich family. There’s a painting school here for children, and modern art exhibitions regularly change.

Manali Museum: Opposite the Hadimba Temple, the fascinating Museum of Himachal Culture & Folk Art has religious relics, household objects, instruments, weapons, architectural woodcarvings and scale models of Himachal temples.

Parvati Valley: Running northeast from Bhuntar towards Lahaul and Spiti, the Parvati Valley is a well-established traveller hangout. Several small towns along the valley have been transformed into hippie resorts, offering cheap accommodation, international food and a nonstop reggae soundtrack to crowds of dreadlocked and taffeta-skirted travellers. The valley’s attractions are peaceful scenery, the hot springs at Manikaran and a plentiful supply of wild charas (marijuana), with all the risks that this entails. The area has some excellent treks, but solo trekking is not recommended.

Jari: About halfway along the Parvati Valley, Jari is the quietest of the traveller hangouts in the valley. There are some friendly guesthouses, and the village is the starting point for treks to Malana – a sprawl of wood and stone houses with its unique caste system and parliament. Visitors must wait on the outskirts of the village to be invited in, and it is forbidden to touch any of the villagers or their belongings (there’s a Rs 1000 fine if you break this rule). The walk is about 17km in each direction, and the village has a few basic guest houses for overnight stays.

Pin-Parvati Valley Trek: Best attempted from mid-September to mid-October, this strenuous but rewarding nine-day trek crosses the snow-bound Pin-Parvati Pass (5319m) to the Pin Valley in Spiti. There’s no accommodation en route, so you’ll have to make arrangements through a trekking agency in Kasol or Manali. The trailhead at Pulga is easily accessible by bus or taxi from Manikaran. From Pulga, the route ascends through forest and pasture to Thakur Khan for two days. Two more days through arid mountain country take you to High Camp for an overnight stop before attempting the pass. A challenging tramp over snow and scree will take you into the Pin Valley. The final stage follows the river for two days through the Pin Valley National Park to the village of Mud, which has a daily bus connection to Kaza.

Hamta Pass Trek: Easily accessible from Manali, this four—or five-day trek crosses the 4270m Hamta Pass over the Pir Panjal. The trailhead is the village of Prini, accessible by bus on the Manali—Naggar road. However, it’s camping all the way, so organised treks are the way to go. From Prini, the route climbs through pine forests to Sethan, then open meadows to Chikha. A waterfall campsite gives time to acclimatise before reaching the foot of the pass at Juara. The climb to the pass is steep and tiring, but there are sublime snow-peak views from the top. You can push on to Chatru or break the journey with a riverside camp at Shiagouru on the descent. From Chatru, road transport runs north to Ladakh, east to Spiti and south to Manali.

Kullu: Kullu is the local administrative centre and makes a pleasant change from the hippie holiday resorts elsewhere in the valley. The town goes quietly about its business most of the year, but 30,000 devotees descend on it every October for one of India’s most prominent and loudest Dussehra festivals. Over 200 idols are paraded into town from surrounding temples, led by a vast rath (chariot) holding the statue of Lord Raghunath from the Raghunath Temple in Sultanpur. Simultaneously, a week-long carnival and market is held on the maidan (parade ground), with entertainment such as acrobats, musicians and a motorcycle Wall of Death. Predictably, accommodation is scarce. Kullu is divided into two parts by the Sarvari River. The southern part of town has a taxi stand, a tourist office and most restaurants and hotels. The bus station and Raghunath Temple are north of the river.

Buddhist Monasteries: Set back from the main road south of Manali, the Himalayan Nyinmapa Buddhist Temple houses a statue of Sakyamuni, the historical Buddha. Further along the same lane is the more traditional Gelukpa Cultural Society Gompa, with an atmospheric prayer room crammed with statues of Buddhist deities. Tibetan carpets are also produced in the workshops of these monasteries.

Nature Park: A large grove of deodars (cedars) on the banks of the Beas has been set aside as a nature reserve (Entry: Rs 30, Time: 9 am-7 pm). It has a small aviary of Himalayan birds, including the monal pheasant, Himachal’s state bird.

Old Manali: About 2.5km above the Mall on the far side of the Manalsu Nala, Old Manali still feels like an Indian mountain village. There are some beautiful old houses, and the wood and stone Manu Maharishi Temple is built on the site where Manu is said to have meditated after landing the boat that saved humanity. A trail to Solang Nullah runs north from here through the village of Goshal.

Outdoor Activities during Manali Kasol Package

To get the most out of Manali, get up into the mountains. The tour operators listed below can arrange various adventure activities in Manali; also see.

Ballooning: Tethered hot-air balloons offer impressive views of the valley but don’t achieve the complete sense of weightless freedom. Travel agents arrange rides for Rs 500 per person.

Fishing: The rivers of the Kullu and Parvati Valleys are rich in mahseer and trout. The season runs from July to November and March to June. Rods and tackle can be hired from agencies in Manali; daily fishing licences from HPTDC cost Rs 100. Top spots include the upper tributaries of the Beas and Parvati Rivers at Kasol.

Paragliding: Paragliding at Manali was suspended for several years following a series of accidents, but the industry seems to have cleaned up its act. Summertime tandem flights at Solang Nullah start from Rs 2000 for 15 minutes to Rs 3000 for 20 to 30 minutes, but always check your gear.

Rafting: Water rafting trips on the Beas River can be arranged at the small village of Pirdi, 3 km from Kullu. There is a 14-km patch with Grade II and III whitewater between Pirdi and the takeout point at Jhiri; trips cost Rs 1000 to Rs 2000, depending on the number of passengers. Book through travel agents or directly at Pirdi.

Rock Climbing: The cliffs at Solang Valley have good rock climbing points. The Himalayan Extreme Center (opposite) in Vashisht offers day trips for Rs 1000 to Rs 2000 per day. Rock climbing is an outdoor and indoor activity that involves ascending rock formations or artificial rock walls. It’s a physically and mentally demanding sport that tests a climber’s strength, endurance, agility, balance, and mental control.

Skiing & Snowboarding: From January to March, Solang Valley transforms into Himachal’s leading ski and snowboarding resort. Skiing in lighter, fluffy snow can be arranged through the Himalayan Extreme Center (opposite) for around Rs 2000 daily (trips last three to five days). Costly heli-skiing trips to high-altitude powder can be arranged through Himachal Helicopter Skiing (www.himachal.com).

Walking & Trekking: Manali is a popular starting point for different mountain treks. Most agencies offer multiday treks for around Rs 2000 per day, all-inclusive. Popular options include Beas Kund (three days), the Pin Parvati Trek and the Hamta Pass Trek. Manali offers numerous opportunities for shorter walks, but it’s essential to follow standard trekking safety precautions—always inform someone of your route and avoid trekking alone. A rewarding 12km hike along the western side of the Beas River to Solang Nullah provides a scenic alternative to taking the bus. Another option is a 6km trek to the snowline above Lama Dugh meadow, following the picturesque Manalsu Nala stream.

Zorbing: During Manali Kasol Package, the ski slope at Solang Valley is a popular place for zorbing, an adventure sport in which a person is placed inside a large, transparent, inflatable ball (called a zorb) and then rolled down a hill or on a flat surface. The ball is made of two layers of plastic with air in between, and it cushions the rider as the zorb rolls.

Shopping during Manali Kasol Package in Manali

Manali is crammed with souvenir shops selling souvenirs from Himachal, Tibet and Ladakh – most are open from 10 am to 7 pm. Tibet Art Collections probably has the best choice. Across the road, Tibet Emporium (Near Mall Road) has Tibetan knick-knacks and funky T-shirts with Tibetan messages. Shawls are sold all over Manali. The cooperative Bhuttico (Near Mall Road) is an excellent place to start, as it charges fair, fixed prices. Street vendors sell fake brand-name sunglasses, winter clothing, nuts and dried apples, raisins and apricots. HimCoop (Near Mall Road) sells a wide range of locally produced organic juices, jams, dried fruit and pickles. In the basement of the Modern City Heart Complex, the Magic Shop (Near Mall Road) sells all sorts of magic tricks.

Shopping during Manali Kasol Package in Kullu 

The Kullu Valley is known as the Valley of Apples, but it might be better described as the Valley of Shawls. From Bhuntar to Manali, the highway is lined with shops selling traditional Kullu shawls woven on wooden handlooms using wool from sheep, pashmina goats, or angora rabbits. It is one of the leading industries in the Kullu Valley, and it provides an income for thousands of local women, many of whom have organised themselves into shawl-weaving cooperatives. You can tour several of these around Kullu and buy shawls directly from the women who make them. With so much competition, the sales pressure in touristy places can be pretty overbearing, and you’ll have to haggle hard to get a bargain. Alternatively, you can head to the nearest branch of Bhuttico (www.bhutticoshawls.com), the Bhutti Weavers’ Cooperative, for high-quality products without the hard sell. Established in 1944 by a group of village women, Bhuttico charges fixed prices and has outlets in most major towns. Expect to pay upwards of Rs 300 for lambswool, Rs 1000 for angora, Rs 3000 for pashmina and Rs 6500 for the exquisitely embroidered shawls worn by village women.

Shopping during Manali Kasol Package  in Kasol

Kasol (“Mini Israel of India”) is a picturesque village in Himachal Pradesh known for its serene landscapes and vibrant flea markets. Situated between Bhuntar and Manikaran, Kasol attracts hippies and solo travellers with its budget-friendly charm. The town offers a variety of activities, from exploring the old town centre and walking along the Parvati River to hiking trails leading to Chalal, Choj, Tosh, Kheerganga, Malana, Grahan, and Rasol. The flea market in Kasol is a shopper’s paradise, offering items like chillums, bongs, handcrafted stones, dream catchers, Himachali caps, night vision glasses, neon trinkets, and accessories. Popular souvenirs include semi-precious stones, Bob Marley t-shirts, and hand-knitted woollen clothes. Bargaining is a must to get the best deals.

Eating during Manali Kasol Package 

Restaurants and cafés during the Manali Kasol Package: The following places are open daily between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m.

Manali Sweets: Manali’s favourite dhaba serves Indian sweets, hot chai, samosas, and hot vegetable snacks from early morning to late at night.

Café Amigos: An old-fashioned traveller café with cakes, pizzas, Tex-Mex, Tibetan, Chinese and hot apple crumble, plus decent coffee.

Chopsticks: Facing the bus station, this is Manali town’s most famous traveller choice, with Buddhist chanting on the stereo. It has Tibetan and Chinese food, cold beers, fruit wines and tea in metal teapots.

Mount View: The Mount View resembles the Chopsticks next door.

Mayur: A popular Indian restaurant catering to a mix of locals and holidaymakers, which is always a good sign. The menu runs from veg curries to continental sizzlers.

Mom’s Kitchen: The name says it all – this place serves wholesome Indian and continental food with the taste of home.

Kwality Sher-e-Punjab: A bright, fast food–style cafeteria serving pure-veg Punjabi and South Indian food.

Original Sher-e-Punjab: A few doors down from its Kwality relative, this place fills the gap with meaty dishes from the Punjab. It’s a bit less fast foody, and everything is freshly made.

Khyber: Upstairs by the main junction, this upmarket bar and restaurant feels like an Indian version of TGI Friday. It serves good meaty mains, and the drinks menu includes cold beers, local cider, and Himachal fruit wines.

Johnson’s Café: The restaurant at Johnson’s Hotel serves excellent Indian and modern European cuisine, including roast lamb with mint sauce and Himachal trout with almonds. There’s an outdoor terrace for warm summer evenings.

Pizza Olive: A surprisingly modern place in Old Manali, this pleasingly international restaurant serves convincingly done pizzas and pasta. You can eat indoors or out in the garden.

Tibet Kitchen: On the road to the Club House, this is a decent Tibetan and Chinese place with the feel of an authentic restaurant.