Suggestions for travelling to Manali, Shoja, Sangla etc with kids

sohamash

We are planning to visit Himachal for 14 days with our 2 children (ages 4 n 8), during 1st week of May 2007 and have a few queries regarding our itinerary etc:

1. I would like to visit Kufri and Manali and also thinking of visiting either one or more of Shoja,Gushaini, Thanedaar or Sangla. Looking for scenic and non-touristy places and since I've already been to Shimla, would like to avoid it. I'm a bit reluctant to take too long car travels over mountainous roads etc with the kids and hence would prefer to go from one place to another in less than 6 hrs car journey. Could you suggest an itinerary starting from Manali upto Delhi?

2. Since there's probably no snow in Kufri in May, what would be other sightseeing options/activities in Kufri which would appeal to children (my kids would actually like to play in snow)? Should I drop Kufri completely instead?

3. Similarly for Manali, I think Rohtang and Solang would be inaccessible. So since there's no snow or skiing that my kids can possibly try, is there anything else of interest for them in Manali?

4. I'm thinking of Sangla because of the campsite options by Baikunth Travels and Banjara. Any feedback about these two campsites?

5. Is it too difficult to reach Shoja or Sangla; like are there long winding mountain roads and therefore avoidable with kids on board?

6. Any feedback about Thanedar?

mani

Similarly for Manali, I think Rohtang and Solang would be inaccessible. So since there's no snow or skiing that my kids can possibly try, is there anything else of interest for them in Manali?


We were in manali in may 2006 with our 6 year old. even if rohtang is in accesible at that time you can go upto madhi, rani nalla and find snow.

Manali delhi is best done as a night journey on the volvo bus or the sleeper bus. The children can go to sleep and they get up in the morning and you are in town so its easier on them and you.

Also if snow is the concern then we enjoyed sikkim better in may 2005.

Hope this is of help

mani

sohamash

Dear Mani,

Thanks so much about the tip on Madhi and Rani Nalla! Will definitely check them out. Could you tell us how far is Madhi and Rani Nalla from Manali by car and would you know of any websites with more info about these 2 places? I couldn't locate these 2 places on any map of HP also.

Thanks a bunch!

mani

hi sohamash,

madhi & rani nulla are on the way to rohtang. Infact rani nulla is one of the places that the tourist companys list in the points to visit. Madhi is the last town before you climb up to rohtang.

is your trip 14 day ex mumbai here are some tips regarding what we did

Our trip was 12 days ex mumbai with two days in delhi with work.

Day 1 rajdhani to delhi
Day 2 Delhi
Day 3 Delhi departure by HPTDC volvo to manali
Day 4 manali -morning arrival speant the day just walking around manali and sleeping, evening we spent at the garden on the banks of beas , play equipment for kids also as you go towards the bank of the river you will find small time operators offering river crossing. Our son enjoyed this.
Day 5 Manali - rohtang pass we took the share jeep.
For you if you decide to take the share jeep book the middle seat. the usually configuration in the jeep is driver + 2 in the front, 4 in the middle and then 4 in the back. It gets extremly uncomfortable. also these guys are absolutely terrible and will scam you into sharing the seats you have paid for so stay firm if they say "adjust kar lo" the best fun we had was the snow, snow mobile trip, hot air balloon trip.
Day 6 Manali - walk to hidimba temple and manu mandir shopping etc
Day 7 Manali - shimla - hptdc deluxe bus.
Day 8 Shimla - walk around shimla to the viceroys lodge, mall etc.
Day 9 Shimla - we stayed back in the hotel due to strike and our son was unwell.
DAy 10 Shimla - half day sightseeeing to the various points and the zoo ( this one is near the indra gandhi garden near the point from where you have to go by horse to see the vrious points). this is very good and almost natural setting . was a different experiance from the usual
Departure to kalka by the shimla - kalka mail ( toy train) took 8 hrs and 107 tunnels and we counted each one. the train gets very crowded and is a good experiance. night halt at kalka
Day 11 & 12 on the train from kalka to mumbai.

hope this is of help

if you have nay questions & we will try to answer

regards
mani

himadventures

As you wish to go to SANGLA also. You can hire jeep from SHIMLA. start early in morning and you can reach SANGLA in late evening. otherwise, I would suggest to stay at RECONG PEO.

Sangla is good place but do not miss to visit CHITKUL which is further deep in valley and if you could afford a walk in mountains- try walking to NAGASTHI.

This will be worth a visit !

NOTE: CHITKUL IS REAL GOOD PLACE !

rishabh6296

Hey Mni i've been to all these places that you are talking about,i was in sangla valley and chitkul 15 days back.First of all avoid a touristy place like kufri or shimla.You can go straight to manali and even upto rohtang as sometimes the pass opens early,last year it was 30th april.Yuo can enjoy skiing as well if you are lucky and aprt from that you can enjoy short treks,river rafting,paragliding and zorbing in manali area.from manali you can go directly to shoja via aut,the area would be full of blue irises in may.then you can cross jalori pass and cross narkanda and halt in sarahan(approx 6-7 hours).from sarahan you can head to kalpa and visit areas like nako,hangrang valley,puh etc and then go to sangla valley and enjoy the beauty of sangla,rakcham and chitkul.Sangla valley is amazingly beautiful trust me.
Rishabh

sohamash

Thanks mani, himadventures and rishabh! All your posts have been so helpful and the possibilities at all these offbeat places look so great! Yes, we plan to stay in Sangla for 3 days and will definitely go upto Chitkul. So long as my kids can manage (they're 4 n 8 yrs), I would really love to try some easy treks in that area. SO tentatively we start with Manali and then halt for 3 nights each at Shoja or Gushaini, Sangla and Thanedar. Hope Rohtang opens early and my kids can try skiing. Thanks a bunch again!

rishabh6296

Hey sohamash,
no probbs if u'd like to know any more details then u can PM me.
Rishabh

nupursista

Gushaini village is nice. Very doable if you have kids in tow. Sairopa is also another village closeby. The people a friendly and very hospitable. Summer finds a lot of school kids going trekking and mountain biking. Was there last year for a ten day trek.

vasuki

Best route would be Delhi - Manali - Shoja - Sangla - Thanedhar and back to Shimla. Thanedhar is a nice place. The Banjara property at Thanedhar is under renovation presently and should be ready by the time you plan to visit. You can call the owner directly at Thanedhar 01782-222265 or pm me and I can give his cell number. Traveling with kids on hill tracks could be a problem..

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rishabh6296

Shoja and Jalori pass would be amazing in may as its the bloom time of blue irises.Sangla valley would be emerald green.

gekko

Dont forget winter clothings. Chitkul is at high altitude and it can potentially snow in June also.
Also you can see Mount Kailash from Sangla valley side too. So ask for folks about it. Usually it is visible from the entrance to sangla valley which is Chasu village(where the Jai Prakash dam is located on road side and you will see it).

rishabh6296

Light winter clothes wud be required in sangla valley and chitkul,and u can try small treks like the sangla kanda trek.

monkgonemad

thanks for the tips on stops/villages.