Kullu Valley - Manali

ravips29 · Jan 14th, 2007, 00:27

Hi All, Happy New Year! I'm off to Manali in March/April for 2-3 months and wanted to get some advice as to where to get decent backpacking style accomodations or apt rentals/shares. Also what is my best bet for getting there from New Delhi? I'm open to taking a bus/train/plane...whatever is inexpensive and reliable. Thanks!

SANJAY_DEL · Jan 14th, 2007, 00:31

Vashishta village near Manali is a popular place with backpackers.
If you want to go by plane: Indian Airlines and Jagson Airlines operate flights from Delhi to Kullu & back and Shimla to Kullu & back. It takes 90 minutes to reach Kullu from Delhi. Only an 18 seater (Dornier) aircraft is able to land in Kullu Manali Airport at Bhuntar, which is at a distance of 10 km from Kullu town.

ravips29 · Jan 14th, 2007, 02:28

Thanks Sanjay Del! Any idea on where I might look at hiring a driver to take me there and how long do you think that ride would be, just in case I want to take the scenic route?

SANJAY_DEL · Jan 14th, 2007, 02:32

Here is some basic info on Manali:

http://wikitravel.org/en/Manali

rishabh6296 · Jan 15th, 2007, 16:47

Quote:

Vashishta village near Manali is a popular place with backpackers.
If you want to go by plane: Indian Airlines and Jagson Airlines operate flights from Delhi to Kullu & back and Shimla to Kullu & back. It takes 90 minutes to reach Kullu from Delhi. Only an 18 seater (Dornier) aircraft is able to land in Kullu Manali Airport at Bhuntar, which is at a distance of 10 km from Kullu town

I'd like to correct you sanjay,only jagson and deccan airlines goes to bhuntar,there is no indian airlines flight as yet.Please dont provide confusing information to people.
Rishabh

rishabh6296 · Jan 15th, 2007, 16:51

Quote:

Thanks Sanjay Del! Any idea on where I might look at hiring a driver to take me there and how long do you think that ride would be, just in case I want to take the scenic route?

hey Ravips,
you can get a qualis for 8 rupees km. and an indica for 5.50 rupees km..If you wanna take cabs from a trusted reliable place PM me as i take cabs regularly to mountains.
Rishabh

K_2 · Jan 21st, 2007, 08:52

Manali has the highest concentration of hotels of any place I have seen in my life. There are literally dozens of them within a hundred yards from the bus station. I arrived in Manali last April without a clue where to stay. And found a hotel (250 Rps/night) within 2 minutes.

himadventures · Jan 21st, 2007, 09:16

I found VASHISH- a area popular with drugs. You have to have some transportation to come to MANALI or go anywhere. I found that budget hotels are filled up with smoke smell...and it is hard to find peace as someone is having full volume music on....

I think when you come to mountains-you expect some peace...

2. It is hard to say what a driver will charge- there are NO rates in this area. They charge what they charge...
You can borad bus also which is in plenty...and you donot have to walk much for this.

ranjan154 · Jan 21st, 2007, 09:50

I guess for backpackers, once you land in manali you will have enough options, when i landed thier i was regretting my decision of advance booking as there many option in less price than i had opted for..

For reaching thier, my choice would be a volvo bus.. the journey is quite gud with river beas flowing along way..

kullukid · Jan 22nd, 2007, 00:25

[quote=himadventures]I found VASHISH- a area popular with drugs. You have to have some transportation to come to MANALI or go anywhere. I found that budget hotels are filled up with smoke smell...and it is hard to find peace as someone is having full volume music on....

I think when you come to mountains-you expect some peace...

Not strictly true Him, there are quite a few drug free quiet hotels in Manali, although probably not as many in Vashisht. Here's some pics of a very peaceful one i use called Sunshine G/H at RS300 http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/kulluk...=WMQzseN zOfk

KK

himadventures · Jan 22nd, 2007, 00:42

YA ! In Manali...I agree but VASHISHT has reoutation for this kind of atmosphere.I myself do not feel comfortable there and this is why I wrote that better to stay in MANALI or SOLANG VALLEY but avoid VASHISHT.

if someone is coming from NY- I do not think that VASHISHT will be fine for him.

You are right...about MANALI. Not every hotel in MANALI ha same scene...I agree but VASHISH !....I have strong reservations as I am frequent there-this is why can not recommend to stay.

monkgonemad · Jan 26th, 2007, 01:50

hi -

id have a back up plan for manali. i dont really care if people smoke, i just dislike the travelers and the vibe. its ok for picking up supplies, but its far too much 'a scene' for me. even on the indian side its very geared toward fast-buck tourism.

manali and vashist are very tired and dull.

it is a base from which to lauch yourself futher afield though...head up north or do some treks. id also stay in the city, its more central and more options for eating and walking about.

volvo bus is poor value but its best game perhaps. directions aplenty on the board.

no worries about a roof, there is always somewhere to sleep.

haddojetty · Jan 26th, 2007, 02:07

I stayed in Vashisht in 1999 and although it is more beautiful than Manali, there was a real attitude there. Everyone was stoned and if you weren't stoned too-they froze you out. The location is stunning so it was a shame that the travelling population spoiled it for me.

ravips29 · Jan 26th, 2007, 02:49

To all of you that have replied, THANKS A MILLION!!! You are truly a wealth of knowledge. I myself do not have a problem with smokers as I have been known to partake on occasion. I am really looking to have a base for jumping off on furhter trekking adventures to the north and will heed the advice of looking outside of the main Manali area. Thanks again to all for your advice and recs!

rishabh6296 · Jan 26th, 2007, 18:59

good treks near manali are beas kund trek possible april onwards and bhrigu lake trek which is doable from may.

Jan 14th, 2007, 00:27	#1
ravips29 Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Marbella, Spain Posts: 45	Kullu Valley - Manali Hi All, Happy New Year! I'm off to Manali in March/April for 2-3 months and wanted to get some advice as to where to get decent backpacking style accomodations or apt rentals/shares. Also what is my best bet for getting there from New Delhi? I'm open to taking a bus/train/plane...whatever is inexpensive and reliable. Thanks!

Jan 21st, 2007, 09:50	#9
ranjan154 Amateur Photographer Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Greater Noida (India) Posts: 856	I guess for backpackers, once you land in manali you will have enough options, when i landed thier i was regretting my decision of advance booking as there many option in less price than i had opted for.. For reaching thier, my choice would be a volvo bus.. the journey is quite gud with river beas flowing along way.. __________________ Rakesh Ranjan -------------- http://www.flickr.com/photos/travinfoindia/

Jan 26th, 2007, 01:50	#12
monkgonemad Aimless Drifter, Shiftless Idler, Useless Waster Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: SoEastAsia/AsiaSubCont Posts: 468	hi - id have a back up plan for manali. i dont really care if people smoke, i just dislike the travelers and the vibe. its ok for picking up supplies, but its far too much 'a scene' for me. even on the indian side its very geared toward fast-buck tourism. manali and vashist are very tired and dull. it is a base from which to lauch yourself futher afield though...head up north or do some treks. id also stay in the city, its more central and more options for eating and walking about. volvo bus is poor value but its best game perhaps. directions aplenty on the board. no worries about a roof, there is always somewhere to sleep. __________________ 400 Photos of Asia (excluding Philippines) http://photobucket.com/monkgonemad

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Jan 14th, 2007, 00:31	#2
SANJAY_DEL Account Closed Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NEW DELHI, INDIA Posts: 1,351	Vashishta village near Manali is a popular place with backpackers. If you want to go by plane: Indian Airlines and Jagson Airlines operate flights from Delhi to Kullu & back and Shimla to Kullu & back. It takes 90 minutes to reach Kullu from Delhi. Only an 18 seater (Dornier) aircraft is able to land in Kullu Manali Airport at Bhuntar, which is at a distance of 10 km from Kullu town.

Jan 14th, 2007, 02:28	#3
ravips29 Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Marbella, Spain Posts: 45	Thanks Sanjay Del! Any idea on where I might look at hiring a driver to take me there and how long do you think that ride would be, just in case I want to take the scenic route?

Jan 14th, 2007, 02:32	#4
SANJAY_DEL Account Closed Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NEW DELHI, INDIA Posts: 1,351	Here is some basic info on Manali: http://wikitravel.org/en/Manali

Jan 21st, 2007, 08:52	#7
K_2 Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: St L Posts: 12	Manali has the highest concentration of hotels of any place I have seen in my life. There are literally dozens of them within a hundred yards from the bus station. I arrived in Manali last April without a clue where to stay. And found a hotel (250 Rps/night) within 2 minutes.

Jan 21st, 2007, 09:16	#8
himadventures Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: India Posts: 1,069	I found VASHISH- a area popular with drugs. You have to have some transportation to come to MANALI or go anywhere. I found that budget hotels are filled up with smoke smell...and it is hard to find peace as someone is having full volume music on.... I think when you come to mountains-you expect some peace... 2. It is hard to say what a driver will charge- there are NO rates in this area. They charge what they charge... You can borad bus also which is in plenty...and you donot have to walk much for this.

Jan 22nd, 2007, 00:25	#10
kullukid Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: u.k. Posts: 1,212	[quote=himadventures]I found VASHISH- a area popular with drugs. You have to have some transportation to come to MANALI or go anywhere. I found that budget hotels are filled up with smoke smell...and it is hard to find peace as someone is having full volume music on.... I think when you come to mountains-you expect some peace... Not strictly true Him, there are quite a few drug free quiet hotels in Manali, although probably not as many in Vashisht. Here's some pics of a very peaceful one i use called Sunshine G/H at RS300 http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/kulluk...=WMQzseN zOfk KK

Jan 22nd, 2007, 00:42	#11
himadventures Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: India Posts: 1,069	YA ! In Manali...I agree but VASHISHT has reoutation for this kind of atmosphere.I myself do not feel comfortable there and this is why I wrote that better to stay in MANALI or SOLANG VALLEY but avoid VASHISHT. if someone is coming from NY- I do not think that VASHISHT will be fine for him. You are right...about MANALI. Not every hotel in MANALI ha same scene...I agree but VASHISH !....I have strong reservations as I am frequent there-this is why can not recommend to stay.

Jan 26th, 2007, 02:07	#13
haddojetty Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: UK Posts: 48	I stayed in Vashisht in 1999 and although it is more beautiful than Manali, there was a real attitude there. Everyone was stoned and if you weren't stoned too-they froze you out. The location is stunning so it was a shame that the travelling population spoiled it for me.

Jan 26th, 2007, 02:49	#14
ravips29 Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Marbella, Spain Posts: 45	To all of you that have replied, THANKS A MILLION!!! You are truly a wealth of knowledge. I myself do not have a problem with smokers as I have been known to partake on occasion. I am really looking to have a base for jumping off on furhter trekking adventures to the north and will heed the advice of looking outside of the main Manali area. Thanks again to all for your advice and recs!

Jan 26th, 2007, 18:59	#15
rishabh6296 Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: new delhi Posts: 823	good treks near manali are beas kund trek possible april onwards and bhrigu lake trek which is doable from may.