We normally fly into kullu from delhi and drive upto manali by road which takes us 1 and half hours on an average depending on the traffic.the drive is lovely and the road condition is pretty good.it is always a better idea to hire a car on a km basis when ur in any part of the himalayan india if you are not travelling on a certain budget.we usually put up at the johnson’s lodge.its a fantastic property located right in the middle of old n new manali.has a excellent continental restaurant and houses some of the best wines in town.my personal favourite is the family cottage.has a private lawn and a open air fire place and the staffs are excellent and the cottage comes with a dedicated butler aswell(a rare feature in hotels these days).
the hatimba temple is a must go.1 must try a fresh trout at 1 of the many cafe’s pacing the beas in old manali.it is also a perfect place for a lazy evening coffee and a chance to catch up with fellow travelors from around the world.
my favourite restaurants however remain La Plage. its mainly french food. and the johnson’s bar and restaurant.
y I dont like manali as much as I would is because its so touristy.there are times when you can be stuck for hours on the way to rotang pass.it u want a quite vacation I wouldnt exactly recommend manali but other than that its fantastic.
fyi the addidas n nike showroom have some amazing collection of jackets.and dont forget to my junk jewelry and souvenirs for the little shops on the streets of old manali.
manali is 100% safe and I have been there on my solo girl trip aswell.
btw if you like adventure sports you can try paragliding on the way to rotang and zip lining on the beas river.