Delhi to Manali by Indica Car

Originally Posted by travel_savvy

hi styler...thanx for being so informative...we will be travelling to manali in june 1st week..we will be in a convoy of 3 vehicles as we r 4 couples with kids ,and would love to take a night stopover ,as its gonna be very hectic to go all the way with kids..As chandigargh is too close to delhi..which place out of the two do u reccomend?..swarghat hilltop...or lake view bilaspur? or any 3rd option enroute...we wud like to reach manali around noon the next day....thnx in advance

Originally Posted by gurgaon_resident

Hi Styler,

Your info is really insightful. I am planning to drive to Manali next month. A couple of questions if you can help me:

My experience has been that I have managed to average about 60 km/hr on long drives and have done Shimla from Gurgaon in about 5 hours (I drive a Corolla). So is it possible to do Manali in about 8 hours? The constraint is traffic along the way or bad roads/ low speed? I have done upto 400 km at a stretch from Delhi but never been upto Manali.


Thanks in advance
Gurgaon_resident

Originally Posted by Styler

It's not possible to do Delhi manali in 8 hrs......

I think you should not think of how much time it takes, just enjoy the drive.......

..........8 Hrs is out of the question.
Styler

Originally Posted by amby

can u telle me whats so special about vashisht ......i've heard a lot bt manali nad rohtang pass but nothing much bt vashisht ....!! ny importance from adventure or historic point of view??? i've also hrd bt rave parties outta thr ......on full moon nite!!!! is it? wud be gr8 to kno more!!!!

Originally Posted by Styler

Hi,

I have driven to Manali 6 times in the last one year, I do it straight every time, and i am the solo driver. Don't think i'm mad, i set up a new office there last year and had to travel there often to get it started.
I have tried all routes and stopovers, and here is my recommendation.

Start at 5 am. Take the NH1, dont turn right for Chandigarh after Ambala. About 8-9 kms after Ambala, before Rajpura, there is a right turn just before the Toll Gate between Ambala and Rajpura. Infact you can see the toll gate 40 mtrs ahead at the point you have to turn right. This is a road which will take you to Banur, around 30 kms, and you will hit a red light where you will cross the Chandigarh -Rajpura Road. Keep going straight for another 25 kms, you will hit the Chandigarh Ropar Highway at a place called Kharar. This is around 14 kms from Chandigarh. Now you are on NH21 as you turn left and drive towards Ropar.

This routle bypasses the Chandigarh Mess all together.

Your first stop should be at either at Karnal, or if you can carry on, stop at Swarghat, whehere you should reach by 10.30-11.00 am. Take a 30 min break for breakfast here at HPTDC Hotel Hilltop. My first stop is always at Swarghat.

The bad winding stretch in the entire Delhi - Manali route is 100 Kms (Kiratpur -Swarghat - Bilaspur - Sundernagar).
So if you have people who get sick on winding roads, just drive very slowly with a few stopovers on this stretch.

The next stop that i take is Hotel Green Valley, on the left side, 5-6 kms before Sundarnagar. You should be here by lunch time. After sundarnagar the road is not winding till you reach Pandoh Dam. Pandoh is a good place to tank up fuel. With this the only next fuel stop you will need is on your way back.

After Pandoh the road is a little winding and is carved out of the hills, next to the river. You should reach the tunnel before Aut at around 3.30 - 4.00 pm. Once you cross the tunnel, you are in Kullu Valley. The road from here is really beautiful, next to the Beas. The tension of the long drive should be over. You should relax and enjoy the drive, taking stops whenever you feel like. You should comfortably reach Manali 6.00 - 7.00 pm

If you have any more questions....ask..

Styler