Manali - Getting there!

sabby80

no probs at all! feel free to ask for any more info that u may need.

cheers!
sabby

raqib

hi all. i am new here. i am from dhaka , bangladesh.the info in this site seems really helpful which attracts me to register.ne way, i am going on tour from delhi 2 shimla,shimla 2 manali and manali to delhi.from the net, i found the VOLVO service preferable though dont ever avail it. Thats why i'm asking is it a nice idea to travel all those root by Volvo?plz ans the following que:
1)Is the bus comfortable for long journey?
2)Is the ticket available always?
3)since i'll back to kolkata by rajdhani, would it be wise to start from manali on just the day b4 my train journey?bcos some ppl say the bus delay.the train would be at 5 pm and the bus arrives generally at 10.30 am(according to shedule).if it delays ,is there ne chance to miss the train?

it'll be very helpful if u suggest me.its really nice to meet u guys.thanx.
raqib

daresendez

If you use the Himachal Tourism Development Corporation buses to get from Delhi to Manali, save yourself the trouble and avoid sitting in the back seats. The engine will roar in your ear the entire trip. Also, if it rains on any point in the trip, then water will be leaking all over you the whole trip. Other than that, the ride is fun, fast, and bumpy! Woo hoo!

sabby80

1. Volvo is the best option anyway - so u might as well opt for that!
2. Whether tickets are easily available depend on what time of the year ur planning ur trip - In the so called off season u'll get the tics easily & also get good discounts on hotel acco. Other times, one needs to book pretty much in advance

3. u'll hav enough time to catch ur train the same day for sure

cheers

raqib

thanx guys for the reply.
i will reach delhi on 24th of dec.What will be the condition at that time of tickets and rush?
another thing i heard 2day that it becomes impossible to get hotel in shimla btn 24dec to 3rd jan bcos of Christmas and New year. Is it true that the condition is such bad that ppl may need to sleep in the car at this time of year?if so i may need to change my plan.
plz reply as soon as possible,cos i am going 2 kolkata on 21st.so i need to know the situation urgently.

SANJAY_DEL

Shimla is an extremely popular holiday destination during this period. Hordes of domestic tourists from Delhi and Punjab are likely to be in Shimla at this time. You cannot go there without prior bookings.

sabby80

Hi raqib,
both manali & shimla will be jam-packed with tourists. I wouldnt advise on going there without prior bookings - both bus & acco. Why dont u postpone ur trip to after 1st week of jan? The crowds wld hav left the hill stations & u'll get pretty good discounts on ur acco.

cheers
sabby

raqib

thanx for the suggestion.but unfortunately i cannot go on january.But is it possible to book a hotel from Delhi and then go to shimla?can u ppl suggest me some good hotel in shimla within 500-800Rs range and some travel agency from where i can make the reservetion of the hotel?plz provide me some good and reliable travel agency in Delhi,cos previously i was frauded by a travel agency and now i am scared of it.many many thnax ppl for the help.
raqib

AtlantaDesi

Hey Sabby,

We are trying to decide between the 3 Volvo bus options that you mentioned b/w Delhi-Manali. Had a couple of specific questions:


1) In the HPTDC's A/C Sleeper - how does one SIT if they wanna just sit upright for a few hours and enjoy the scenery outside? Does it have any backrest at all? If not, isnt it uncomfortable to sit?

2) Again, in the HPTDC's A/C Sleeper - are the bunk-beds/berths wide enough? I mean - we dont wanna be constantly rubbing against or worse yet - thrown on top of the strange passenger occupying the adjacent bed every time the driver makes a rash turn on the mountain ghaat roads Any feedback?

3) Timing / Punctuality wise - any idea which agency - HPTDC or HRTC is better? HPTDC leaves earlier (though i heard its often delayed?) - they *claim* to reach Manali around 9AM. In reality though, does HPTDC reach Manali much earlier than HRTC ? Or do they both reach around 11AM-noon?

4) You said that the HPTDC Sleeper is NOT a real Volvo - does that mean that the shocks are poorer than the semi-sleepers? And is the HPTDC semi-sleeper a real Volvo atleast?

Sorry for so many questions - but since i am 15000 miles away & havent really seen any of these buses in person - i cant make up my mind! If you can answer any of these - i would really appreciate it Thanks!

rishabh6296

Hi,
i have travelled in all the 3 buses you are talking about the hptdc sleeper is not a volvo but the other two are volvo.The sleeper would be like a train berth and sitting wouldnt be very comfortable.
I personally prefer either of the two volvoes as there isnt much of a difference between them.I had no problems about punctuality in both the volvo's even in winter's.

sabby80

Hi AtlantaDesi,

1. The sleeper bus run by HPTDC does have a backrest & my personal experience is its a great way to travel - except in summers when the cooling isnt very effective & as u already know theres no heating at all so u need to carry ur own blankets...
To get the best of the scenery book an upper window berth - it has a huge window and u can even lie down & catch all the scenic beauty!

2. The bunk beds are wide enough so u dont have to worry abt that - if u r travelling alone u can take a single berth so that u dont have to share the berth with anyone!

3. HRTC has a few stops on the way so it will take maybe an hour or two more than hptdc - timing wise both are pretty much the same!

4. Well a Volvo is a Volvo & even tho the guys at hptdc will tell u the sleeper bus is a volvo - they'r just plain bluffing - the airconditioning in a volvo is excellent & the seats are reclining type & the shock absorbers are great too - also abt $60 cheaper than the sleeper - only prob - cant get any sleep!!

Hope that helps u decide

cheers!
Sabby

AtlantaDesi

Sabby & Rishabh - thanks to you both for the replies! Now i know all the comfort-related related facts on the 3 buses. Just had a timing-related question -

We are planning to fly in to Delhi on a domestic flight which arrives at 4:45pm. HPTDC leaves at 6:30pm from central delhi - might be cutting it too close? We guess HRTC might be the safest option?

Also, generally, HPTDC has fewer stops than HRTC ? When you guys travelled on these - what time did you touch Manali? Does the HRTC bus reach around noon ?


With HRTC - we are trying to figure out if we will be able to do much sight-seeing on the day we arrive. With all the fatigue; and hotel check-in; and freshening-up & lunch break - i guess it might be 3pm before we can actually start the day. To that effect - i wondering if HPTDC has better timing - since it would reach by .. say 9.30AM versus ~Noon for HRTC ? Any ideas? Thanks again!

manuraman

it helps when information is provided in such a systematic way.. ..reading this thread one gets all the info one would require to set out for Manali.. ..Nowadays even though the means of transprtation & communication have grown by leaps and bounds.. ..what is seen lacking a number of times is that handling of info in a methodological manner..

,,this is a good effort in that direction..

..keep posting

manu raman

mani

the arrival time the Hptdc bus is better as you can do the local sightseeing on the same day.

You must consider a travel time of atleast 1 1/2 hour from airport to CP from where this bus departs. with your flight arrivaing at 4:45PM I think its cutting it too short.

Have a good trip
mani

rishabh6296

well the hrtc bus starts 8:30 p.m and reaches at 9:30 a.m if its not delayed,last feb i took the hrtc bus and it reached at the right time but you never know about weather conditions in hills,moreover hptdc would be really risky coz if your flight is delayed or you get stuck in traffic you'll miss your bus.
Rishabh