Manali Trip with children..........Plz advice!!!!!!!

poonamgoel05 · Aug 30th, 2009, 02:19

Hi frnds,
We r planning to visit Manali October Ist week. I have some questions to ask?

1). As we have two small children aged 4 and 1 yr. Is it good time to go there?

2). which is the best option to reach Manali from Delhi - by taxi(Indica) or volvo? I just now read bout some volvo with sleeper.Shud we go for it?

3). shuld we opt for some volvo packages/tour operator packages or plan on our own?

4). Weather/Snow fall in Manali by that time ?

Plz advice me at the earliest
Thanks
Poonam

nayan · Aug 30th, 2009, 02:25

I will just remark on point 2.

You are extremely brave to even think of doing a 14 hour bus jouney with a 4 and a 1 yr old.

paulaurora · Aug 30th, 2009, 02:49

Re Point 2 :Our flight from Kullu to Delhi at Easter was cancelled at the last minute so we took a taxi to Delhi. It was the most hair-raising journey of my life as well as the most travel-sickness inducing. It was absolutely breath-takingly beautiful though. We were travelling with our son who at 10 is older than your kids...he was the most mellow of us all. Even so I would have hated to have done that in a bus with him with no control over stopping to get fresh air or stretch our legs, enjoy a particularly lovely view. We did the bus-trip with seats adapted for "sleep" when we were without child and I certainly preferred the taxi!

Make sure you go to Naggar...its wonderful, the Bee temple at the castle is so special.

sriprakash74 · Aug 31st, 2009, 16:47

1) Oct will be the best season for Manali even with little kids if you are not looking for snow and want to enjoy the greenary and flowers and views including Rohtang.
2) I would prefer Volvo. Semislipper volvo are available through HRTC and HPTDC which I prefer. I have done it with a 2 year kid in January. The busses stops every 3 to 4 hours and can also stop on request.
3) Better to go for individual booking. Packages are expensive and have a lot of fancy stuff which one does not need actually.
4) There would be no chance of snowfall in Manali during first week of Oct. There might be a rare chance of snowflakes mixed with rain at Rohtang. Weather will be pleasant though woolen would be required. Day temp would be around 20 and night around 10.

THEQUEST · Sep 1st, 2009, 13:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by sriprakash74

1) Oct will be the best season for Manali even with little kids if you are not looking for snow and want to enjoy the greenary and flowers and views including Rohtang.
2) I would prefer Volvo. Semislipper volvo are available through HRTC and HPTDC which I prefer. I have done it with a 2 year kid in January. The busses stops every 3 to 4 hours and can also stop on request.
3) Better to go for individual booking. Packages are expensive and have a lot of fancy stuff which one does not need actually.
4) There would be no chance of snowfall in Manali during first week of Oct. There might be a rare chance of snowflakes mixed with rain at Rohtang. Weather will be pleasant though woolen would be required. Day temp would be around 20 and night around 10.

Thanks Sriprakash, I think u r always there as far as any suggestions needed on Manali.. Please tell me If I can see snow during 4th Week of Oct ,09.. I will be there on 26th October.

sriprakash74 · Sep 1st, 2009, 13:49

Snowfall in end of October. Who knows? Rains has again returned to hills and if it remains till that time then it will defenitely snow at Rohtang.

However, rain and snow in upper reaches of Himalaya occurs due to Western Distrubance which are frequent in the month from December to March. Though there are instances of its rare occurance in Month of Oct also. Keep your finger crossed. Weather god might have some good news for you.

In Manali there will be no chance of snow during the period of your travel.

THEQUEST · Sep 1st, 2009, 15:56

Thanks Sri

poonamgoel05 · Sep 9th, 2009, 14:53

Thanks a lot.. u all guys for guiding me.........I have now changed the mode of travel.
plz suggest whether i m going right or not....

1. Take the train Kalka mail from Delhi at 21:40 and reach Kalka at 04:40 in the morning. Afterwards take taxi from Kalka to manali. Which will be better a taxi or volvo??

2. I want to hire a taxi for the complete stay in manali taking into consideartion the comfort of children?? Is this a better option??

Poonam

sriprakash74 · Sep 9th, 2009, 16:09

1. I do not think this is a good idea. Why you have dropped the idea of direct Volvo to Manali? HRTC has AC Buses (Not Volvo)from Chandigarh and Shimla. No idea of any Volvo to Manali from Kalka. However, journey by bus from Kalka will be around 10-11 Hours and 9-10 Hours by Taxi.

2. Not a better option even with little kids. You do not need any taxi in Manali itself. Autos ply on point to point basis and you can avail their service. Book taxi only for excursions. HPTDC also operates buses for sightseeing for Rohtang, Manikaran, Nagar etc.

nayan · Sep 9th, 2009, 21:08

SriPrakash - a 14 hour overnight journey in a bus with 2 kids(one of then just 1 year old) is going to be extremely difficult. You may have felt comfortable doing it. Many people wont. At least in a train, if the baby fidgets then you can walk with him in the corridor. In a bus you are stuck in your seat.

There is no comparison between the convenience level of a 14 hr overnight bus journey and a train journey + 9 hr taxi ride.

sriprakash74 · Sep 11th, 2009, 19:27

Nayan : Pack the luggage go the station, wait in platforms. Get dropped at early morning hours, then either search for the bus or catch the taxi. Unloading and loading the luggage. Then

Option 1 : In a taxi for 9 Hours with not much space to straighteen your back muscles and keeping one kid on your lap when the other sleeps, or taking frequent breaks, with the twists and turns of mountains. Will it be relaxing?

Option 2 : In a volvo bus,(I have no idea of govt. volvo from Kalka or Chandigarh. I will not suggest private). Still a 10-11 hour journey during day time. Just 3-4 Hours less than direct Manali Bus.

Option 3 : Bus other than volvo.........

And one more day is gone.

I had given my opnion. Its Poonam to decide.

Bluginger · Sep 11th, 2009, 19:28

Why dont you break your journey. I did that when I visited Manali with my wife and kids (11 & 14) last year.
We drove from Delhi to Mandi. Stayed at a hotel (just near the Bus Stand, cant remember the name, It was a good place. and one of Government run Hotel). Then early next morning we moved on to reach Manali by evening. We even hlted for a few hours at Kulu. For me it was quite a comfortable ride.

nayan · Sep 11th, 2009, 19:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by sriprakash74

I had given my opnion. Its Poonam to decide.

I think she has already decided

poonamgoel05 · Sep 19th, 2009, 15:29

Thanks a lot guys for active participation in my decision for the trip......but u know my husband is very scared now seeing the news of heavy snowfall in rohtang and now he is planning for a shimla trip. I m really confused to wat shuld i do. He has the opinion that We havnt visited shimla also so y not shimla, it is a short journey too as compared to manali.

plz suggest!!!

If Shimla then wat shuld be route of tour......

sriprakash74 · Sep 21st, 2009, 16:01

Recent snow at Rohtang was not heavy at all. However the weather is again back to normal and all road beyond manali is also open. I do not think of a reason on why you want to skip it.

However, how much time do you have for Shimla?

Aug 30th, 2009, 02:19	#1
poonamgoel05 Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Delhi Posts: 5	Manali Trip with children..........Plz advice!!!!!!! Hi frnds, We r planning to visit Manali October Ist week. I have some questions to ask? 1). As we have two small children aged 4 and 1 yr. Is it good time to go there? 2). which is the best option to reach Manali from Delhi - by taxi(Indica) or volvo? I just now read bout some volvo with sleeper.Shud we go for it? 3). shuld we opt for some volvo packages/tour operator packages or plan on our own? 4). Weather/Snow fall in Manali by that time ? Plz advice me at the earliest Thanks Poonam

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Aug 30th, 2009, 02:25	#2
nayan Forum Leader Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: hyderabad/tokyo Posts: 1,930	I will just remark on point 2. You are extremely brave to even think of doing a 14 hour bus jouney with a 4 and a 1 yr old.

Aug 30th, 2009, 02:49	#3
paulaurora Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: ireland Posts: 51	Re Point 2 :Our flight from Kullu to Delhi at Easter was cancelled at the last minute so we took a taxi to Delhi. It was the most hair-raising journey of my life as well as the most travel-sickness inducing. It was absolutely breath-takingly beautiful though. We were travelling with our son who at 10 is older than your kids...he was the most mellow of us all. Even so I would have hated to have done that in a bus with him with no control over stopping to get fresh air or stretch our legs, enjoy a particularly lovely view. We did the bus-trip with seats adapted for "sleep" when we were without child and I certainly preferred the taxi! Make sure you go to Naggar...its wonderful, the Bee temple at the castle is so special.

Aug 31st, 2009, 16:47	#4
sriprakash74 Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Ghaziabad Posts: 294	1) Oct will be the best season for Manali even with little kids if you are not looking for snow and want to enjoy the greenary and flowers and views including Rohtang. 2) I would prefer Volvo. Semislipper volvo are available through HRTC and HPTDC which I prefer. I have done it with a 2 year kid in January. The busses stops every 3 to 4 hours and can also stop on request. 3) Better to go for individual booking. Packages are expensive and have a lot of fancy stuff which one does not need actually. 4) There would be no chance of snowfall in Manali during first week of Oct. There might be a rare chance of snowflakes mixed with rain at Rohtang. Weather will be pleasant though woolen would be required. Day temp would be around 20 and night around 10.

Sep 1st, 2009, 13:49	#6
sriprakash74 Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Ghaziabad Posts: 294	Snowfall in end of October. Who knows? Rains has again returned to hills and if it remains till that time then it will defenitely snow at Rohtang. However, rain and snow in upper reaches of Himalaya occurs due to Western Distrubance which are frequent in the month from December to March. Though there are instances of its rare occurance in Month of Oct also. Keep your finger crossed. Weather god might have some good news for you. In Manali there will be no chance of snow during the period of your travel.

Sep 1st, 2009, 15:56	#7
THEQUEST THEQUEST Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Chennai Posts: 57	Thanks Sri

Sep 9th, 2009, 14:53	#8
poonamgoel05 Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Delhi Posts: 5	Thanks a lot.. u all guys for guiding me.........I have now changed the mode of travel. plz suggest whether i m going right or not.... 1. Take the train Kalka mail from Delhi at 21:40 and reach Kalka at 04:40 in the morning. Afterwards take taxi from Kalka to manali. Which will be better a taxi or volvo?? 2. I want to hire a taxi for the complete stay in manali taking into consideartion the comfort of children?? Is this a better option?? Poonam

Sep 9th, 2009, 16:09	#9
sriprakash74 Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Ghaziabad Posts: 294	1. I do not think this is a good idea. Why you have dropped the idea of direct Volvo to Manali? HRTC has AC Buses (Not Volvo)from Chandigarh and Shimla. No idea of any Volvo to Manali from Kalka. However, journey by bus from Kalka will be around 10-11 Hours and 9-10 Hours by Taxi. 2. Not a better option even with little kids. You do not need any taxi in Manali itself. Autos ply on point to point basis and you can avail their service. Book taxi only for excursions. HPTDC also operates buses for sightseeing for Rohtang, Manikaran, Nagar etc.

Sep 9th, 2009, 21:08	#10
nayan Forum Leader Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: hyderabad/tokyo Posts: 1,930	SriPrakash - a 14 hour overnight journey in a bus with 2 kids(one of then just 1 year old) is going to be extremely difficult. You may have felt comfortable doing it. Many people wont. At least in a train, if the baby fidgets then you can walk with him in the corridor. In a bus you are stuck in your seat. There is no comparison between the convenience level of a 14 hr overnight bus journey and a train journey + 9 hr taxi ride.

Sep 11th, 2009, 19:27	#11
sriprakash74 Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Ghaziabad Posts: 294	Nayan : Pack the luggage go the station, wait in platforms. Get dropped at early morning hours, then either search for the bus or catch the taxi. Unloading and loading the luggage. Then Option 1 : In a taxi for 9 Hours with not much space to straighteen your back muscles and keeping one kid on your lap when the other sleeps, or taking frequent breaks, with the twists and turns of mountains. Will it be relaxing? Option 2 : In a volvo bus,(I have no idea of govt. volvo from Kalka or Chandigarh. I will not suggest private). Still a 10-11 hour journey during day time. Just 3-4 Hours less than direct Manali Bus. Option 3 : Bus other than volvo......... And one more day is gone. I had given my opnion. Its Poonam to decide.

Sep 11th, 2009, 19:28	#12
Bluginger Account Closed Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Delhi Posts: 26	Why dont you break your journey. I did that when I visited Manali with my wife and kids (11 & 14) last year. We drove from Delhi to Mandi. Stayed at a hotel (just near the Bus Stand, cant remember the name, It was a good place. and one of Government run Hotel). Then early next morning we moved on to reach Manali by evening. We even hlted for a few hours at Kulu. For me it was quite a comfortable ride.

Sep 19th, 2009, 15:29	#14
poonamgoel05 Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Delhi Posts: 5	Thanks a lot guys for active participation in my decision for the trip......but u know my husband is very scared now seeing the news of heavy snowfall in rohtang and now he is planning for a shimla trip. I m really confused to wat shuld i do. He has the opinion that We havnt visited shimla also so y not shimla, it is a short journey too as compared to manali. plz suggest!!! If Shimla then wat shuld be route of tour......

Sep 21st, 2009, 16:01	#15
sriprakash74 Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Ghaziabad Posts: 294	Recent snow at Rohtang was not heavy at all. However the weather is again back to normal and all road beyond manali is also open. I do not think of a reason on why you want to skip it. However, how much time do you have for Shimla?