How to plan a budget friendly trip to Manali

One of the most well-liked tourist spots in India is Manali. Everyone enjoys visiting Manali at least once in their lives. Whether on a lone quest for inner peace and adventure, a backpacking trip with your besties, or a honeymoon getaway with your significant other, Manali and its mountains will never cease to captivate you. The budget-friendly trip to Manali will ensure you get a taste of the area's well-known tourist attractions, and its friendliness will compel you to return. It is the most popular vacation spot for first-timers and regular tourists who frequently travel here use the Manali taxi service. Here is a budget-friendly travel itinerary for Manali.

Budget friendly travel option

By Bus: This is the least expensive and fastest way to get to Manali. The greatest time to take a bus is after 9 PM because you won't miss the light of day. An average state bus will only cost you Rs. 800, but you will have to make some compromises in terms of comfort. A Volvo luxury bus will cost you between Rs. 1200 and Rs. 1500 per person.

By Air: The closest airport to Manali, Kullu Manali Airport (Bhuntar), is reachable by direct flights at reasonable rates, and you can generally find discounts on flights. Since there aren't any commuting services like Ola and Uber in this area, you can rent a car in Manali when you get there to get to your accommodation.

By Rail: There is no direct rail that goes to Manali. Manali's closest railway station, Jogindernagar, connects the mountain town to several significant cities. You can also go to Manali by train from Chandigarh and Ambala. From the railheads, you can opt for either buses/taxi services in Manali.

Tips and tricks for an unforgettable budget trip to Manali!

Hostels staycation



When travelling on a budget to Manali, it is best to stay in hostels because hotel rates will be higher. You will get the opportunity to engage with other guests while staying at the hostel and be amazed by the cultural diversity and ethical standards. Any hostel stay would start at Rs. 250.

Food

To make your 3 to 4-day vacation to Manali on a budget more enticing and refreshing, you must try the local cuisine. You will pay INR 400 daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Check out these Manali specialities to awaken your taste buds: khatta, sidu, babru, trout, patande, bhey, aktori, and tudkiya bhat.

Rent a vehicle for travelling

One of the best options is to rent a bike because it is less expensive. Depending on the sort of bike, you'll pay anywhere from Rs. 600 to Rs. 1500 a day. Alternatively, you can pay between Rs. 1500 and 2500 per day OR about Rs. 400 for a one-way trip from Old Manali to New Manali from an affordable Manali taxi service (approximately 2 to 3 km).

Budget friendly tourist attractions for Manali trip

Mall Road



Manali's Mall Road is the busiest tourist destination for visitors to Himachal Pradesh and is frequently referred to as the city's centre. There is plenty to keep you busy for the day on Manali's Mall Road, which is well-known for its street shopping explorations and is bustling with a variety of activities.

Visit the Nyingmapa Buddhist Temple before continuing down the Mall road. It has the ideal fusion of architectural styles and vibrant tones to capture on camera. The main shrine's focal point is the Sakyamuni shrine. The Tibetan-style crafts on display are simply amazing, and they make the ideal gift that will fit the bill and not detract from your low-budget trip to Manali.

Winter Carnival

How about an affordable carnival? You're correct, of course! Winter Carnival is one of the best destinations for your inexpensive trip to Manali. Manali, one of the most exciting tourist destinations in Himachal Pradesh, gets ready to ring in the new year with aplomb and celebrations each year around New Year's Eve.

Himachal Winter Carnival is the event's official name and is undoubtedly one of the most distinctive and exciting cultural experiences. The Manali Winter Carnival, the biggest tourism occasion in Himachal, promotes regional culture and winter activities to draw visitors during the slow winter season.

Old Manali

The tourist path crosses the Manalsu River bridge into Manali's "Old Manali" neighbourhood to see a different side of the town. The village's unusual charm will make you feel like you've entered another world. Visitors, especially lone travellers, who frequently praise the city as a place to unwind and relax. Old Manali is among the best places to visit on a limited-budget trip to Manali.

The Jogini Falls

Jogni Falls, another name for this magnificent cascade, is located 7.5 kilometres from Manali's bus terminal and 4 kilometres from Vashisht Temple. From the Vashisht temple, a 1.5-hour climb will take you to the waterfall. The entire stroll is gorgeous, offering breath taking vistas of Manali.

Solang Valley

Solang Valley is one of the incredible places to visit in Manali on a tight budget and is located between Beas Kund and Solang Village, 13 kilometres from Manali. The adventure activities in the Solang Valley, such as skiing, river rafting, and paragliding, are truly unique experiences.

Temple of Vashisht and Hot Springs

This 4,001-year-old temple, which lies 5 kilometres from Old Manali, is devoted to the ancient Indian sage Vashisht, who served as Ram and Lakshman's guru. This temple is well-known for its hot springs, which are revered and said to have healing effects on the skin. Both men and women have their own private, Turkish-style bathing cubicles.

Temple of Hidimba

Three kilometres from Old Manali, in the cedar-covered Dhun Giri Forest, you'll find a historic cave temple constructed in 1553. It is dedicated to Hidimbi Devi, a character in the Indian epic Mahabharata and the wife of Bhima. This temple is open every day from 8 AM to 6 PM, and there is no entrance fee.



Make sure to find a package deal for river rafting, bungee jumping, paragliding, and so on, rather than a single one if you're feeling adventurous or wish to try some of the sports. When compared to paying for individual sports, package deals give you more for a lower price. Manali's lush green valleys and adventure sports will elevate your mind and soul and are worth every penny.

Note: The pictures in this article are courtesy of wikipedia.org and have been borrowed under the Creative Commons license. Each photograph has been linked to its host page on wikipedia.org.

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Kunzum La: Scenic mountain pass connecting Lahaul and Spiti Valleys

Rohtang La, Lahaul valley and the highway to Leh lie to one side of it and to its other side lie the beautiful high altitude villages of Spiti valley. Standing tall between all these spectacular destinations lies Kunzum La, a 14, 931 feet high mountain pass in the Eastern Kunzum range of the Himalayas. The most special attribute about Kunzum pass has to be the journey to reach the top of the pass. If you are coming from Kaza, you will have to cross the semi-arid cold desert landscape of Losar and if you happen to be coming from Gramphoo, you will be crossing the treacherous Chenab river valley before you start the steep ascent from Batal.



Unlike the other mountain passes in the region, the Kunzum pass is the one that offers the toughest road conditions. Mountain streams overflowing onto the roads, huge boulders falling on to the roads, umpteen landslide zones and overall steep and rough terrain greet you on this route. Add to it the absolutely gorgeous Chandra Taal lake enroute and you have a dream rugged road trip.



Although it is not recommended to spend a lot of time on the top of high mountain passes, especially ones like Kunzum La, one can spend enough time to explore the Kunzum Mata temple, a small stupa like temple structure on the top of the pass. Visitors on this route usually stop their vehicles here for a short while to seek the blessings of the Kunzum Mata for a safe journey. One can also explore nearabouts and indulge in some photography. If you are one of those adventure lovers and if you have already acclimatized to the high altitude atmosphere, you can embark on the 15 km trek from Kunzum La to Chandra Taal lake, one of the more beautiful high altitude treks of Himachal Pradesh.

Kunzum pass is one of the more rugged, yet beautiful mountain destinations in India. If you can handle a bumpy road trip with raw nature around you, then Kunzum la is the ideal mountain holiday destination for you.

Note: Only thing to remember here is that the roads are at the mercy of mother nature here (floods, landslides, snowfall, falling rocks, etc.) and it is best to check in with the local authorities about the current state of the roads before embarking on your journey.



Other nearby tourist attractions:

1) Chandra taal lake: A magical family camping destination in the Himalayas

2) Keylong: Paradise for walkers in Lahaul

3) Rohtang pass: One of the most famous mountain passes in Himachal Pradesh

4) Kibber: The village of the snow leopard

5) Langza: The Himlayan village that is known for fossils of marine animals

6) Komic: One of the world’s highest villages with road connectivity

7) Dhankar: Prettiest village of Spiti

8) Pin valley national park: A spectacular mountain national park that is home to the iconic Pin Parvati peak

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Tabo: Himalayan Village famous for its delicious apples

It is referred to as the ‘Ajanta of the Himalayas’. It is home to a Buddhist monastery that is over a thousand years old and that is considered one of the holiest monasteries in all of India and the Himalayas. It is also the place where you can find some of India’s most delicious apples. I am talking about Tabo, the simple Himalayan village of mud huts that is situated in a bowl-shaped valley by the Spiti river in the Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh in India.



Situated at an altitude of 10, 760 feet, Tabo village lives a quiet existence amidst the mighty Himalayas. People usually visit this laidback Himalayan village for its 10th century Buddhist monastery with its many beautiful murals and wall paintings. The Tabo monastery, is one of those rare Buddhist monasteries to be located in a valley than on top of a hill. Just above the monastery, there are a number of caves carved into the cliff and that were used by monks for meditation. These caves are also home to an assembly hall and some faded paintings. It is these caves that give Tabo the title of ‘Ajanta of the Himalayas’ as they bear an uncanny resemblance to the Ajanta caves near Aurangabad in Maharashtra. In addition to these caves and the monastery, one can see a whole bunch of stupas and chortens all throughout the Tabo rocky landscape. While the monastery, caves and stupas are certainly special, I love Tabo for its juicy and absolutely lip smacking apples. Tabo’s apple orchards, located in the fertile valley of the Spiti river, bear fruit every year between August and October and I think they are the best apples in all of India. The colder environment ensures that the apples are juicier and that they get fully ripe a good 45 to 60 days later than most of the other apple orchards of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir.

Tabo is also a lovely destination for a Himalayan village holiday. Fresh food, great hospitality, spectacular landscapes, lots of walking trails and lots and lots of sun make it the kind of place where you can completely de-stress and rejuvenate your physical and mental batteries.



Personally, I will always go to Tabo in September and October for its apples. The joy of biting into a fresh apple plucked straight from an apple tree and letting its juice fall on to your t shirt is something truly special. Not only are these apples simply outstanding, they are also available super cheap (like INR 40 per kg for the golden apples). Which means, during apple season, you can totally indulge in apples by having them throughout the day and in different forms.

If you are an apple lover, I would recommend that you visit Tabo during September and October. You can visit during the other times too and go about visiting its monastery, many walking trails and enjoying its pristine setting. It is an important pit stop on the Spiti valley trail and one that I would recommend heavily.



How to reach here:

The nearest airport would be Chandigarh, about 474 kms away.

The nearest railway station would be Shimla, about 362 kms away.

The nearest large bus station would either be Shimla or Kaza.

The only way to reach Tabo is by road. The route is a narrow mountain highway that is at the mercy of nature (landslides, snowfall, accidents, etc.) and hence one should budget in some buffer time to accommodate for delays.

It is best if you have your own mode of transportation. However, buses run by HPSRTC will also take you there, though the number of buses plying every day would be limited to a few.

Best season to visit:

Tabo is open all year round.

If apple season is on your mind, late September to early October should be the best time to visit.

The peak tourist season is between April and July, which also happens to be the summer season. As more people visit Spiti valley during this time, except roads to be busy and all hotels to be booked in advance.

Autumn, winters and early spring are best for people who can handle the cold, the difficulties that come with it, but love the peace and tranquillity as tourists usually avoid these months.



Other nearby tourist attractions:

1) Dhankar: Prettiest village of Spiti valley

2) Nako: A rustic Himalayan gem

3) Kalpa: A hill station that offers spectacular views of Kinnaur Kailash

4) Chitkul: Himalayan village with cleanest air in India

5) Baspa river trek: A scenic mountain trek in Himachal Pradesh

6) Sangla: Another village famous for its apples and views of Kinnaur Kailash

7) Sarahan: A village known for its apples and ski slopes

8) Pin valley national park: A remote himalayan wilderness known for sightings of the elusive snow leopard

9) Langza: The Himalayan village that is known for fossils of marine animals

10) Ki Monastery: A stunning monastery surrounded by snow capped mountains near Kaza

11) Kibber: The village of the snow leopard

12) Komic: One of the world’s highest villages with road connectivity

13) Hikkim: The Himalayan village with the highest post office in the world

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Nako: A Rustic Himalayan Gem

It is a gorgeous high altitude village located super close to the Indo-China border in the Trans-Himalayan region of Kinnaur district in Himachal Pradesh. It is famous for its apples, apricots, yaks, horses and a 11th century monastery. I am talking about the rustic Himalayan gem called Nako that is situated at the end of Kinnaur and at the start of Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh.

Located at an altitude of 11,893 feet and under the backdrop of the mighty Reo Purgyal mountain (22,362 feet), Nako is a small village of about a thousand people in the Hangrang valley. Farming, fruit orchards and cattle rearing are the main sources of livelihood here. Not many tourists stay here. Rather, they continue to Spiti valley for the more famous tourist attractions. But, there is more to Nako than what meets the eye.



For starters, there is the Nako lake whose periphery has willow and poplar trees. During the winter months, when it freezes completely, it becomes a skating rink. At other times, it offers some of the best views of the village and offers oodles of mountain peace and quiet. Then, there is the Nako monastery that was founded in the 11th century by a renowned ancient translator Lochen Rinchen Zangpo. Also known as Lotsava Jhakang or complex of the translator, the serene Nako monastery is built along the lines of the famous Tabo monastery in Spiti valley.

Nako is also the base camp for the trek to Pargial peak and is enroute to the Thashigang monastery. There are also many shepherd trails that connect Nako with the villages of Chango, Hango and Tashigang. In addition to these trails, there are many day walks behind the Nako lake that will take you to view points in the east and that looks into Tibet.

If you feel like relaxing, you can spend time walking around the small village absorbing its traditional atmosphere and architecture. My favorites are the gates in the village streets built from stone and wood and that are painted in the inside with colourful Buddhist religious paintings. Then, there are the walks around the farms and the orchards.



I see Nako as a fantastic rustic holiday destination in the Himalayas. It has oodles of quiet, stunning panoramas, a bit of culture and traditions, lots of avenues for walking and trekking, kind people and delicious locally sourced food. If such rustic places are your thing, then I would highly recommend Nako to you. It is definitely more than a pit stop on your trip to Kinnaur and/or Spiti valley in Himachal Pradesh. It’s beauty deserves at least a couple of days on its own. Do remember to visit this place on your next holiday to Himachal Pradesh. And don’t forget to taste their apples if you happen to visit during the late autumn season. They are truly special!



How to reach there:

The nearest airport would be Chandigarh, about 410 kms away.

The nearest railway station would be Shimla, about 311 kms away.

The nearest large bus station would be Shimla or Kaza.

The only way to reach Nako is by road. The route is a narrow mountain highway that is at the mercy of nature (landslides, snowfall, accidents, etc.) and hence one should budget in some buffer time to accommodate for delays.

It is best if you have your own mode of transportation. However, buses run by HPSRTC will also take you there, though the number of buses plying every day would be few.

Best season to visit:

Nako is open all year round. Winters can get really cold. Summers can get quite busy. Spring and Autumn would be the best seasons to visit if you wish to enjoy the landscape at peace. September and October would be perfect if you like to taste fresh apples from the local farms.



Other nearby tourist attractions:
1) Tabo: A village that is home to some of India’s best apples and a beautiful monastery

2) Kalpa: A hill station that offers spectacular views of Kinnaur Kailash

3) Chitkul: Himalayan village with cleanest air in India

4) Baspa River Trek: A scenic mountain trek in Himachal Pradesh

5) Sangla: Another village famous for its apples and views of Kinnaur Kailash

6) Sarahan: A village known for its apples and ski slopes

7) Dhankar: Prettiest village of Spiti valley

8) Pin Valley National Park: A remote Himalayan wilderness known for sightings of the elusive snow leopard

9) Langza: The Himalayan village that is known for fossils of marine animals

10) Ki Monastery: A stunning monastery surrounded by snow capped mountains near Kaza

11) Kibber: The village of the snow leopard

12) Komic: One of the world’s highest villages with road connectivity

13) Hikkim: The Himalayan village with the highest post office in the world

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Kibber: The Village of the Snow Leopard

It is one of the highest villages in the world. It was once the highest polling station in India, before losing the numero uno position to Tashigang. It is one of the highest motorable villages in the world. Spiti valley’s Kibber holds many such accolades, but the one that makes it really special is the fact that it home to the endangered snow leopard.

Located in the high Himalayas of Himachal Pradesh at an altitude of 14, 200 feet, Kibber is primarily an agrarian village. The famous Ki monastery of Spiti valley is located just a few kilometers away and the high altitude villages of Tashigang, Langza, Komic and Hikkim are located close by. Kaza, the main city in the region is located about 20 kms away.

To a first timer, Kibber is special for its Tibetan style stone and brick houses, its high altitude landscapes, its pretty little meadows that come to life during the summer months and the star studded night sky.  But, if you look closer, you will see the wild riches of Kibber. Surrounding the village is the Kibber wildlife sanctuary that is home to high altitude animals such as the Ibex, Blue Sheep, Himalayan Wolf, Tibetan Wild Ass and the elusive snow leopard. Kibber wildlife sanctuary is one of India’s few wildlife sanctuaries that is located in a cold desert. This terrain is not only amicable to wildlife enthusiasts and photographers, but also to trekkers and mountaineers.

If you like remote high altitude villages with pure air, simple homestays, simple food and are into star-gazing, wildlife sighting and trekking, then Kibber village is for you. Like Langza, Kibber is also home to many marine fossils. Overall, Kibber offers a solid package to its visitors. I cannot stop raving enough about its beauty.

Other nearby tourist attractions:

1) Langza: The Himalayan village that is known for fossils of marine animals

2) Dhankar: Prettiest village of Spiti

3) Komic: One of the world’s highest villages with road connectivity

4) Pin valley national park: Heaven for trekkers and nature lovers

5) Chandra Taal Lake: A magical family camping destination in the Himalayas

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