Manali 1-day itinerary

Start in Old Manali, the charming original village on the hillside above the modern town, where traditional Himachali stone-and-wood houses cluster around narrow lanes lined with backpacker cafes, craft shops, and apple orchards. Walk downhill through the cedar forest to Hadimba Devi Temple (Dhungri Temple), a remarkable 1553 wooden temple built around a natural cave. The four-tiered pagoda roof rises from the forest floor among towering deodar cedars, and the carved wooden doorway features elaborate panels of animals, dancers, and deities. The forest setting, the ancient architecture, and the absence of modern construction make this one of Himachal Pradesh's most atmospheric temples.

Drive 14km north to Solang Valley, Manali's adventure sports hub set in a wide alpine meadow surrounded by snow-capped peaks. Depending on the season, activities include paragliding (tandem flights soaring over the valley with Himalayan panoramas), zorbing (rolling downhill in a transparent inflatable ball), zip-lining across the valley, and in winter, skiing and snowboarding on the gentle slopes. The Solang ropeway carries you up to 4000 metres where the air thins and snow-covered peaks fill every direction. The valley floor is a natural amphitheatre of green meadow, pine forest, and glacial streams.

Walk Manali's Mall Road, the main commercial street lined with shops selling Kullu shawls, Tibetan handicrafts, dried fruits, and woollen goods. The evening atmosphere is lively with families, honeymooners, and backpackers browsing the stalls and eating roasted corn and momos from street vendors. Afterwards, drive or walk 3km to Vashisht village for a soak in the natural hot springs — sulphurous water at 40°C fills stone baths inside the ancient Vashisht Temple complex and at the public bathhouse. The hot springs have been used for thousands of years, and soaking in the steaming water with snow-capped mountains visible above the village rooftops is deeply restorative.