Whenever planning a trip to any place, several questions come to mind. When I was planning my trip to Manali, I had a lot of queries about how I would reach there and what I would do. Exploring the place is quite easy, but the key question is how to get there. In case you are also a Delhiite and planning a Manali Trip, here is a complete guide, including How to Reach Manali from Delhi.
Transitioning from the busy streets to the silent and serene mountains was a visual treat. This trip was a mix of both, beautiful moments and lots of memories.
By Road
The road trip from Delhi to Manali is one of the most beautiful routes with all the mountains, valleys and rivers. The Delhi to Manali distance is 523 km approx. It will be a journey of 10 to 12 hours depending on factors like traffic and road conditions. This is the most common route from Delhi to Manali:
Route: 1– Delhi-Panipat-Kurukshetra-Ambala-Chandigarh-Bilaspur-Mandi-Kullu-Manali
Route: 2 – Delhi-Rohtak-Jind-Kaithal-Pehowa-Ambala-Chandigarh-Bilaspur-Mandi-Kullu-Manali
Here are a few options that you can choose to travel:
By Car
If you are travelling by road, that too by car then you must know driving very properly as you will be travelling through the mountain roads, where it is quite hard to drive. Travelling with your car or hiring a car on rent both are great options so you can choose according to your preference and budget. The drive is smooth till Kullu with plenty of places to stop and see along the way. Start early in the morning to avoid traffic.
Places that you can make stops at while travelling: Murthal in Delhi, Chandigarh, Mandi, Kullu.
Around Cost: ₹6,000 to ₹10,000 one way depending on the vehicle. This price includes the price of fuel but not the trip cost. That depends on how long you will be staying and the things that you will do.
By Bus
Buses are always affordable options and you can choose one that you can choose according to your budget. We were a quite large group so we decided to go by Bus from Delhi to Manali. For budget travellers, buses are the best and cheapest option. There are several government and private bus services daily from Delhi to Manali.
Types of Buses:
- Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) offers types of buses like Volvo and ordinary buses. These are very budget-friendly buses that run regularly so if you ever make a spontaneous plan then these are the perfect option for you. The price for HRTC Ticket for Manali starts from:
- Non-AC/Sleeper: Starting from Rs 900
- Ac Volvo: Starting from Rs 1600
- Private Operators have luxury and semi-luxury buses including Volvos and sleeper buses. We also chose Bus on Rent in Delhi for Manali. It was quite a comfortable journey, of course, a long one but when travelling with such big group how can get bored. We booked our tickets with a very simple online booking process only.
Bus Departure Points: ISBT Kashmiri Gate, Majnu Ka Tilla in Delhi, Anand Vihar ISBT etc.
Tip before travelling:
- Always Book in advance, especially during peak season.
- One mistake that we made was not opting for a tour package that would have made our trip more memorable and budget-friendly. I suggest if you are travelling with a large group then definitely go for Manali Group Tour Packages which would include a customizable itinerary with the best offers.
By Air
If you are short on time or don’t want to take the long road journey, flying is the fastest way to reach Manali. But one thing that you should know is that there is no direct flight, the nearest airport to Manali is Bhuntar Airport in Kullu, 50 km away from Manali.
Delhi to Kullu Air Travel Time: 1.5 hours
Road Travel Time from Kullu to Manali: 1.5 to 2 hours
Airfare Per Person: ₹4,000 to ₹7,000 for one way (The price of the ticket depends on the season and booking time).
Delhi to Manali By Train
There are no direct trains to Manali, the nearest railway station to Manali is Jogindar Nagar which is located 50 km away from Manali. Other than this you can take a train to Chandigarh and then reach Manali by cab or bus. You can take a train from Delhi to Chandigarh or Ambala and then continue your journey to Manali by road. There are several trains between Delhi and Chandigarh like Vande Bharat, and Shatabdi Express that take 4 hours. So if you are taking the Chandigarh or Ambala train then you should know:
Delhi to Chandigarh by Train Travel Time: 4 Hours,
Chandigarh to Manali distance: 265 km
Travel Time: 5 to 6 Hours by road
Ambala to Manali distance: 305 km,
Travel Time: 6 to 7 hours by road,
Trains to reach from Delhi to Ambala are Vande Bharat Express which takes 2 hours, while other trains such as Amritsar Express take 3 hours. After reaching to both places you can start your road journey.
Manali Tour Packages from India Tourism Package
For a convenient and well-designed trip plan, we offer budget-friendly and customizable tour packages from Delhi to Manali. Our Delhi to Manali Volvo Tour Package include travel by luxury Volvo Sleeper bus, comfortable stays as per your choice of hotel, meal plan, transfers in a private cab and guided sightseeing tours. You can choose from a variety of packages such as the 3N/4D Kullu Manali Tour Package at ₹11,099 per person, which covers:
- Travel in Swift Dzire Car
- Stay in a Standard hotel
- 3 breakfasts and 3 dinners
- Sightseeing tours to famous places.
Final Words
The journey to Manali is as beautiful as the destination itself. As I chose to go by bus with my group, you can find transport according to your needs as each mode of transport has its unique advantages. No matter form where you are starting your trip, or how you choose to travel, one thing is for sure, Manali will welcome you with open arms and leave you with memories to cherish forever.