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Old Manali

Old Manali

village · Himachal Pradesh

Old Manali is the laid-back, bohemian counterpart to Manali town — a riverside cluster of guesthouses, cafes and orchards above the Manalsu stream.

State
Himachal Pradesh
Type
Village
Best season
Summer
Things to do
2+

Old Manali is the laid-back, bohemian counterpart to Manali town — a riverside cluster of guesthouses, cafes and orchards above the Manalsu stream. While Manali proper is a busy hill-station hub, Old Manali draws backpackers and long-stay travellers with its slower pace, music cafes and mountain-village feel. It works as both a chilled base and an adventure springboard, with the Hampta Pass, Solang Valley and Jogini Falls within easy reach. Cobbled lanes lined with German bakeries, hostels and gear shops make it a favourite first stop for those heading deeper into Himachal or up to Spiti and Leh.

When to go

March to June for pleasant weather, October to November for clear autumn days. Winter brings snow and a cosy cafe scene.

Why visit

A bohemian riverside village with cafes, hostels and easy access to big Himalayan adventures, minus the crowds of main Manali. Good for backpackers, long stays, and as a base for whatever comes next.

Cultural notes

Manali sits in the Kullu Valley, rich in Himachali temple traditions like the Hadimba and Manu temples, overlaid with a long-running international traveller culture in the old village.

How to reach

Nearest airport: Bhuntar (50 km). Overnight Volvo buses run from Delhi and Chandigarh to Manali; Old Manali is a short cab/auto ride from the main bus stand.

Old Manali in 3 days

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3 days in Old Manali

Take the whole plan, or add any single stop.

Day 1

Day 1

Manu Maharishi temple

Manu Maharishi temple

Manali

Day 1

Manali

Manali is really two places, and knowing which one you booked matters more than anything else about the trip. Mall Road Manali is a busy Indian hill-station town — traffic, hotels, shops selling the same shawls. Old Manali, up the hill across the river, is quieter, low-rise and where most people actually want to be. Vashisht, on the other side, has the hot springs and a similar feel. Hadimba temple, in the deodar forest above town, is four hundred years old with a tiered wooden roof and is worth the twenty minutes. Solang and Rohtang are the standard day trips and both are congested in season; Rohtang needs a permit, which is capped daily and must be arranged in advance. The Atal Tunnel changed the geography here. Lahaul, which used to be a full expedition, is now well under an hour away, and going through it for the day gives you a completely different landscape. May and June are the peak and are crowded. October and November are clear, cold and quiet. Do not expect snow in town below about December, whatever the photographs suggest.

Day 1

Hadimba cedar temple & Van Vihar

Hadimba cedar temple & Van Vihar

Day 2

Day 2

Jogini waterfall hike via Vashisht

Jogini waterfall hike via Vashisht

Day 2

Vashisht hot-spring temple

Vashisht hot-spring temple

Day 2

Riverside sunset

Riverside sunset

Day 3

Day 3

Solang valley activities

Solang valley activities

Day 3

Atal Tunnel crossing

Atal Tunnel crossing

Day 3

Sissu waterfall & Lahaul views

Sissu waterfall & Lahaul views

Old Manali guide & itineraries

Old Manali is perfect for

backpackercouplesnature

Popular attractions

The places in Old Manali most people come for.

Jogini Falls Trail

Jogini Falls Trail

Experience

Old Manali Cafe Strip

Old Manali Cafe Strip

Food

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