Getting to Manali from Delhi

Hiya folks,

This is kinda urgent since I'm leaving for India in about 4 days & have always pushed this all important issue on to the back burner.

I want to head to Manali from Delhi and I have heard that I have 2 options (apart from flying to Kulu, which I can't afford ):

a) Take a night bus from Delhi to Manali which takes 16hrs

b) Take a train from Delhi to Chandigarh & then bus or taxi to Manali.


Can someone please advise on what is the better option? If I were to take a taxi from Chandigarh, how much you reckon would it cost?

Further, why bus it from Chandigarh if I can bus it from Delhi?

Cost & comfort are my two main criteria.

Cheers for your help folks!

We have done the Delhi to Manali journey by bus a few times. HPTDC (Himachal Pradesh Tourist Development Corporation) has an office in Delhi at Chanderlok Building, 36 Janpath, the big main road that runs south from Connaught Place. They run a luxury bus service and the price was about 500 R's last year. You can also take an ordinary bus for just over half that price.

As it's a pretty long journey I would go for a comfortable seat. I don't see any advantage in going to Chandigarh and then changing. Others may disagree but trying to make connections is always a wee bit stressful.

If the monsoon suddenly hits the area, which it hasn't as yet, then travel becomes difficult but the HPTDC office will be able to tell you the current situation when you reach Delhi. Booking can usually be done a day in advance. I imagine you will want to have a look around Delhi when you arrive. Unlike others we actually like the place.

This website might be useful

[url]www.kullu.net/traveltourism

click on "how to reach"

Good travelling

I agree, take the bus directly to Manali from Delhi. Only justification I could possibly see for taking a train to Chandigarh first is if you really hate night buses.

Fnm better u get bus for manali from delhi because at chandigarh u will face problem to get taxi so its better u use bus from delhi to manali.

Hiya Alan D, anonymous & Akuij,

Thank you so much for the brilliant bit of help! That was one helluva niggling doubt put to rest. Thank you again!

If I may now take the liberty, be greedy and ask another question off of you, I hope you will not mind..

I'm trying to figure out which would be the most strategically placed Hotel to put up in for the night of July 31 (the night I arrive in Delhi 0035 hrs)

My strategic imperatives, if I may use that term are:

- the Hotel should be inexpensive- Rs. 600- Rs. 700 max
- AirCon endowed
- close to the HPTDC office and/or the bus termianal through which I will depart for Manali (that same evening, July 31).

I'm torn between the Metropolis Tourist Home, RAK International, Prince Polonia & ITDC .

Further, in Manali I'm torn between Hotel Kalpana & the Mayflower. Both sound superb.

I think I'm overstretching my bandwidth with you guys.

I'd be most grateful for any insights.

cheers,

Patton

P.S. This is truly a fantastic board.

For the Hotels, Metropolis and Prince Polonia would be probably slightly above your budget that you listed. Though I like Prince Polonia best out of the ones you listed. RAK is an okay place and would be right in your budget.

As far as getting the bus, someone correct me if I am wrong, but the deluxe bus to Manali has a pick up at the end of Main Bazaar in Paharganj. If you by a bus ticket in Paharganj the "boy" from the agency will walk you to the bus. Pretty sure it leaves around 4:30 in the afternoon arriving in Manali around 9 in the morning.

Check out this link
http://www.indiamike.com/india/showt...ght=bob+travel for info on my travel agent pick in Paharganj. Ask for Andrea, she will hook you up with the Manali bus tickets and take care of you, and won't overcharge.

As for Manali, the Mayflower rocks if you can afford it.

Cheers
Mike

I've been thinking about this. I still think the best bet is to take a night bus. As archits has just posted on the shout box, it looks like the monsoon may fail in North-West India this year. This means that Delhi will still be very hot. You may feel like getting out of the city asap and travelling at night would be more comfortable. I would suggest you do the return journey by day as the scenery is pretty amazing.

Delhi has been experiencing power cuts for some weeks now so make sure your hotel has its own generator. We normally stay at the RAK in Paharganj but I don't think they do pick-ups from the airport in the early morning. If it's your first time in Delhi, to save any hassle, best to find a hotel that does. The cost of a hotel pick-up from the airport is usually around 500 R's.

Also, the bus used to go from beside the HPTDC office but there have been new traffic regulations brought in banning most buses from the centre of Delhi. It's possible that it now leaves from ISBT (Inter State Bus Terminal).

Can anyone else advise on this?

We usually stay at Sunshine Guest House in Manali but there are 100's of places to choose from. If you are going to be there for some time suggest you book in somewhere and then have a good explore around town to see if there is somewhere else you prefer.

For eating, if you are not vegetarian, try the Mountview opposite the bus station for Tibetan and Chinese food. It's been there since the early 70's and so have their music tapes! The Mayur is good for non-veg Indian food and is a hang-out for some of the old travellers. Not many left now! Good vegetarian places along the main street. Enjoy your stay.

Good travelling

Didn't see Mike's post as we were posting at the same time.

That answers my doubts on the catching the bus problem.

Pretty sure RAK will do pickups. When I asked the assistant manager he said "no problem", since they use an outside driving service. I used them going to the airport and it was a reasonable 300 rupees.


Mike

I wasn't sure about this Mike as in recent times we have flown with airlines that get us into Delhi about 5-6am. Then we just take a pre-paid taxi from the Delhi Police booth just outside the arrivals hall for about 200R's straight to Paharganj, stroll down the street, have our first chai at a little night stall near the veg market and then book into the hotel. We have usually pre-booked by phone.

I know their service to the airport is reliable as we have used that a few times now.

Hi Fnm,
Sorry about hotel i am not able to tell u anything cuz i never stayed at hotel in delhi so i dont have anything potential for u.
wish u all the best.
bye

Wow!!

You guys (Alan,IndiaMike Akuij) have been fantastic!
This is the best bit of travel advice, I've ever recieved.
Less than 24 hrs to go before I board my flight to India.
I'm so unbelievably excited..

Thank you ever so much guys!!

I'll tell you how it all went..

cheers,

Patton

Hii Fnm ,
Your welcome.Wish you a very very happy and memorable joureny.
Akuij