Manali 3-day itinerary

Explore Old Manali in the early morning when the village is quiet and the apple orchards are draped in mist. The original settlement sits on a steep hillside above the Manalsu stream, with traditional Kath Kuni houses (stone walls with timber beams, a earthquake-resistant Himalayan construction technique) interspersed with guesthouses, bakeries, and craft shops. The village has been a backpacker hub since the 1970s but retains its Himachali character in the lower lanes where local families still live in ancestral homes. Walk to the old village temple, cross the wooden bridge over the stream, and follow the path up through the orchards for mountain views.

Visit the Hadimba Devi Temple in the Dhungri cedar forest — a masterpiece of Himachali wooden architecture with a four-tiered pagoda roof, intricately carved doorframes, and animal horn trophies decorating the exterior (Hadimba was a forest goddess). The temple sits on a natural cave believed to be where the Mahabharata demoness Hadimba meditated, and the forest clearing around it feels sacred and timeless. After the temple, walk downhill to the Manali Club House on the Beas River for a riverside lunch. The club house sits where the Manalsu meets the Beas, and the turquoise glacial water rushing over boulders creates a beautiful natural setting.

Walk or take an auto to Vashisht village, 3km from Manali, for an evening soak in the natural hot sulphur springs. The ancient Vashisht Temple houses the original stone baths fed by hot springs that emerge from the hillside at 40°C — pilgrims and travellers have bathed here for centuries. The village itself is a steep cluster of traditional houses, guesthouses, and small restaurants perched on the hillside above the Beas Valley. On clear evenings, the snow-capped peaks of the Pir Panjal range glow orange and pink in the sunset light visible from the village terraces. Dine at a Vashisht rooftop restaurant with mountain views.

Drive north through the dramatic Solang Valley, a wide alpine meadow ringed by glacial peaks that transforms from green adventure playground in summer to snow sports destination in winter. Continue through the Atal Tunnel (Rohtang Tunnel) — at 9.02km, the world's longest highway tunnel above 3000m — which punches through the Pir Panjal Range and emerges in the Lahaul Valley on the other side. The sudden transition from the lush Kullu Valley to the arid, high-altitude Lahaul landscape is dramatic. Stop at the tunnel's north portal for views of the barren, moon-like Lahaul terrain and the distant snow peaks of the Greater Himalaya.

Return to Solang Valley for a tandem paragliding flight — one of the most exhilarating experiences available in the Indian Himalayas. Launch from the high meadows above the valley and soar for 10-20 minutes over a landscape of pine forests, alpine streams, traditional villages, and snow-capped peaks stretching to the horizon. The sensation of silent flight above the Himalayan landscape, with nothing but the wind and the harness between you and the valley floor thousands of feet below, is profoundly liberating. Licensed operators provide all equipment and experienced pilots who handle the technical flying.

Spend the evening on Mall Road, Manali's main commercial street that comes alive after dark with shops, street food vendors, and families strolling in the cool mountain air. This is the place to shop for Kullu shawls — the handwoven woollen shawls with distinctive geometric borders in vivid colours that are Himachal Pradesh's most famous craft. The Bhutico and Himachal Emporium shops sell certified handloom shawls at fixed prices (a useful benchmark for bargaining elsewhere). Street food highlights include steamed momos (Tibetan dumplings) with fiery red chutney, roasted corn, and trout from the Beas River.

Hike from Vashisht village to Jogini Waterfall, a beautiful 3km trek through apple orchards, pine forest, and small Himachali hamlets. The trail climbs steadily along a stream valley, passing traditional stone houses and terraced fields where locals grow apples, plums, and walnuts. The waterfall drops 40 metres into a rock pool surrounded by moss-covered boulders and overhanging trees — the spray creates rainbows in the morning sunlight. The trek is moderate difficulty and takes about 1.5 hours each way, making it perfect for a morning excursion. The views back down the valley towards the Beas River and the Pir Panjal Range expand as you climb.

Drive 20km south to Naggar, the former capital of the Kullu Kingdom, to visit Naggar Castle — a 500-year-old stone and timber fortress converted into a heritage hotel with sweeping views over the Beas Valley. The castle's Kath Kuni architecture (alternating layers of stone and deodar wood) is a masterclass in traditional Himalayan building. Nearby, the Nicholas Roerich Art Gallery in the Russian painter's former home displays his luminous Himalayan landscapes — Roerich lived in Naggar from 1929 until his death in 1947 and his paintings capture the mountain light with an almost spiritual intensity. The gallery gardens offer one of the finest panoramic views in the Kullu Valley.

Return to Old Manali for a farewell dinner at one of the village restaurants perched on the hillside above the stream. The cafe culture here is unique — a blend of Himachali, Tibetan, Israeli, and international cuisine reflecting decades of backpacker influence. Order a farewell thali or try the local trout — rainbow trout farmed in the cold Beas tributaries is Manali's signature dish, typically grilled whole with lemon and spices. The evening atmosphere in Old Manali is mellow and social — travellers share tables, swap stories, and plan onward journeys over masala chai and apple cider.