There is only one best way to reach Manali among the many ways you could take. Manali is a very famous hill station in Himachal Pradesh and one of the best places near Delhi for a weekend trip that receives tourists throughout the year. Many people visit the place, but most don’t know the best way to reach Manali from Delhi. You are lucky since you are reading this post, and it would save a lot of your precious time and money the next time you travel to Manali. Make your next trip to Manali more fun, exciting, and memorable, thanks to the excellent travel route and mode you choose. Discover the best way to reach Manali from Delhi.
Which is the Best Way to Reach Manali from Delhi?
Travel plays a preeminent part in any trip to be successful. It can easily make or break the trip. Make sure you take the best way when you go for your next trip to Manali so that your trip goes well and you create some incredible memories to cherish forever. Please don’t make the mistakes others make to choose the best way to reach Manali from Delhi. Worry not, as we bring various ways for you to choose the best way to reach Manali from Delhi.
1. Best Way to Reach Manali from Delhi is by Hitting the Road
Hitting the road with your vehicle is the apparent first thought we have when we think of the question, “how to reach Manali from Delhi?” Manali is around 530 km away from Delhi, and it would take you nearly 12 hours to reach the place by your vehicle. The most reliable route from Delhi is to take state highway 4 that connects to the national highway 21.
While it may not be the most economical way to reach Manali, it is undoubtedly one of the most fun ways to reach it. You can take your gang, along with you, and have loads of fun. You can also plan to stay in Chandigarh for a night and then continue your way towards Manali.
Hilly roads, your favorite songs, tasty snacks, and your bellowed friends and family, what else do you expect from a road trip? All this is what makes reaching Manali by road a very lucrative option. Road trip in your vehicle also gives you a lot of flexibility and freedom.
However, one must consider the costs involved, the trouble the driver among the group would have to take, and the occasional bad roads. Traveling by road is also very time-consuming and monotonous. If all these problems don’t concern you, you should hit the road and conquer the hills with your group.
Manali is one of the best places near Delhi for road trips, and you can also plan a full-fledged 3-5 days road trip with stops in significant tourist places like Chandigarh, Kasauli, Shimla, Bilaspur, and Mandi. Overall, taking your vehicle is an enjoyable option that you can take to reach Manali. If you do not get tired of sitting in the car and time is not a constraint for you, we suggest you hit the road.
2. Reach Manali by Boarding a Bus, the Cheapest Way
Well, we have talked about hitting the road with your group, and now it’s time to talk about the second way you could hit the road, i.e., by boarding a bus. Many buses travel between Delhi and Manali. If you have difficulty finding one, you can always board a bus to Chandigarh and change your bus from there.
While boarding the bus might not be the most comfortable option, it is the easiest and cheapest. With so many online booking platforms, you can easily plan your bus trip way before. There are various types of busses available, and you can book whichever suits you the best.
You can also find many other travelers like you, and maybe you can strike a good friendship with some of them. Knowing and talking to new people is a big part of traveling, and a bus trip would let you interact with new people for sure. If you are someone whose little part is an environmentalist, you would know that traveling by bus is an environmentally safer option.
The time required to reach Manali would be the same as traveling by vehicle. You would save a severe amount of money. You would be surprised to know that a round trip from Delhi to Manali via bus would cost you way less than a one-way trip from Manali to Delhi! So, if you have a strict budget, then boarding a bus would be the best way to reach Manali from Delhi for you.
However, there are some things that you should keep in mind while traveling on the bus. You would have zero freedom and flexibility as the bus has its route and timings and would not stop at any place it is not supposed to.
3. Reach Manali by Railways, a Unique and Exclusive Experience
If you are planning to visit Manali by train then I must let you know that Manali doesn’t have its own Railway Station. You can only reach Manali by train through the nearby Railway station of Manali. The nearest railway station to Manali is Joginder Nagar Railway station which has a distance of 162.6 km from Manal.
One more thing about Joginder Nagar Railway Station is that this railway station does not have direct connectivity to the major cities of India. So, if you want to reach Manali by train then you have to first take a train to Pathankot Railway Station and get down at Pathankot railway station and then catch another train from there to Joginder Nagar railway station. After reaching the Joginder Nagar railway station you can hire a taxi from there to Manali and the time will take approx 4-5 hours to reach.
If you think that by using this way it will become a little struggling then we have an alternative for you where you can enjoy your journey to Manali by train and by road. Yes, by this you can have the experience of both ways of the journey. So, first, you have to take a train to Chandigarh Railway Station which is around 292 km away from Manali hill station. This railway station is well connected with all the major cities in India such as Delhi, Indore, Jaipur, Kolkata, Chennai, Lucknow, Madurai, and many more.
From Chandigarh Railway station you can book a cab, taxi, or bus as there are a number of options by which you can reach Manali from Chandigarh Railway Station. The Journey by road from Chandigarh railway station to Manali will take approx 8-9 hours. If you love train journeys and want to reach Manali by train then as per your convenience, from both the given suggestions, you can choose which one would be the best way to reach Manali from Delhi for you.
4. Reach Manali by Air, the Fastest and Best Way to Reach Manali from Delhi
Traveling to Manali by air is the fastest and best way to reach Manali from Delhi among all other ways. So if time is a concern for you, we would suggest that you definitely consider traveling to Manali by air. There is no airport in Manali. The nearest airport to Manali is around 50 km away from the hill station. Bhuntar in Kullu is the nearest airport to Manali. You can hire a taxi and easily reach Manali within an hour and a half.
It must be noted that flights to Manali are very inconsistent and expensive. It is undoubtedly the most expensive way to reach Manali. Himalayan Bulls airlines is the company that offers flights to Manali from Chandigarh. The flights are very irregular and on some good days run three times a day. However, taking a flight is the most convenient, comfortable, and time-saving way to reach Manali.
If you are someone for whom money is not a big issue and time and comfort are deal breakers for you. Taking a flight from Chandigarh to Kullu is the best way to reach Manali from Delhi for you.
Well, we have reached Manali. What now? How to commute within Manali
We have discussed the best way to reach Manali from Delhi. Now it’s time to discuss what to do and which mode of transportation to take after reaching Manali. After reaching Manali, it is very easy to travel and navigate around the city even if you don’t have your personal vehicle. You can choose to hire a taxi that would charge you anywhere between Rs 1700 per day and Rs 3000 for three days.
A big plus point of hiring a taxi is that the taxi drivers know the in and out of the city and can take you to the best places without you having to put much effort. Another mode of traveling within Manali is the bike. Manali is considered to be a paradise for bikers and motorcyclists. Hiring a bike is a very common thing to do in Manali. You would find various places that offer motorcycles for rent. You can definitely rent one and hit the roads in Manali, and accomplish that motorcycle trip dream of yours.
Another option is to use public transport. Some buses run in the city. However, you must note that these buses are not consistent and thus not very easy to find. Instead, if you are looking for something local and pocket-friendly, hire a rickshaw.We are sure that this post would have helped you find the best way to reach Manali from Delhi. We tried to cover each possible way to reach Manali and make the trip a little easier and merrier for you. Do let us know about your Manali experience. And by the way, did you know that a trip to the famous hill station of Manali is incomplete without the best places to visit in Manali.