A much awaited holiday at some hill station we decided tocelebrate at Manali, since I was hit byrecession and had unlimited time off :-)considered as positive indication for vacation.
Thankgod, we have this forum here to talk about anythingbefore taking any action, I too had thoroughly gone through this. Since my tripwas in the month of June and I was going with my 1.6yr old son, One thing I hadunderstood about Advance booking for hotel and bus journey.
Onward and Return Journey :
After various option I decided to book the online ticket. I booked VOLVO Bus ticket from Delhi to Manali and return.And guess!! the queue & crowd at ISBT, just two stop comfortable journey, proved methat accidently I had made very clever decision, and the best part is that youcan even select seats you desire. Both of the journey were gud, Delhi to Manaliwe took 16hrs and return 14hrs.
Stay at Manali:
Again I had surfed lot on net and MS finally decided to bookhotel at below address :
After reaching there, few points I did not like :
1) - It was 3 km from Mall road (central manali)therefore walking was not possible and by CAR we use to stuck in traffic jam often to reach upto mall road.
2) - The food was just average and non-veg was not gud at all.
3) - Their credit card machine was not working, I hadhuge problem while checking out and getting money from ATM almost had missedthe bus.
Except above, it had some great picturesque view, small but cozyrooms, far distant from Crowd, Staff were friendly too etc.etc.
Some do’s and dont’s
1) - Please carry sufficient cash else at emergencyyou will regret, because ATMs at Manali are always full of crowd some time morethan 20 ppl at a time.
2) - I would suggest not to take your car, especially to Rohtang, If driving your own, please drive slow andmaintain left lane only.
3) - Do not carry too much winter cloths, notrequired, especially when you go to Rohtang for skiing you ll be using onlyrented cloths whole day.
4) -Do not indulge into any fight, I saw two fist fightsbetween locals and CHG boys, (the same mentality of Indian boys when four ormore together do not see right or wrong ‘bus choda hona hain’) grow up boys.)
5) -Generally locals are nice and tourism is theirbread and butter, still avoid getting into any arguments.
6) -As far as I feel Manali is safe for late nighttravelling, carrying cash, wearing jewellery etc but decision at your owndiscretion.
7) - Try to go soon after snow fall else the entire snow becomes dirty with dust and pollution and it will not have pleasant view you expect.
8 - Plan your vacation in advance, try to cover Rafting at Kullu, Skiing at Rohtang, Para gliding at Solang Valley, hot water bath at Manikaran etc.
Overall it was a very nice vacation at the heart of Himachal Pradesh, Manila. Wish you all gud luck and do visit Manila once in life time.
regards,
TOM