Cabs
Manali sightseeing by cab

Manali in 2 days: what to see, in what order

Two days covers Manali well. Day one is the town: Hadimba Devi Temple, the Manu Temple, the Club House, Vashisht, Van Vihar and the Tibetan monasteries, about 16 km. Day two goes through the Atal Tunnel to Sissu and back to Solang Valley, about 77 km. Leave at 08:00 on day two, because the tunnel road jams later in the day.

10 places93 km by cabtimed against opening hours
Day 1

Hadimba, Old Manali, Vashisht and the Mall

The town day: Hadimba Devi Temple, the Manu Temple in Old Manali and the Club House, then the hot springs at Vashisht and lunch there. In the afternoon, Van Vihar and the Tibetan monasteries next to the Mall. About 16 km by cab, back by about 15:30, with the evening free for Mall Road.

09:00 to 15:356 places16 km by cab
  1. 1Hadimba Devi Temple
  2. 2Manu Temple
  3. 3Club House
  4. 4Vashisht Temple and hot springs
  5. Lunch
  6. 5Van Vihar
  7. 6Tibetan monasteries
  8. Back
  1. Leave Mall Road, Manali
  2. 1

    Hadimba Devi Temple

    1 h here
    Hadimba Devi Temple
    Photo: Kondephy, CC BY-SA 3.0

    A wooden temple with a four-tier roof, built in 1553 in a forest of tall deodar trees above Manali. It is for Hidimba, the wife of Bhima in the Mahabharata. Inside, the shrine is built round a rock. A short walk away, a small shrine to her son Ghatotkach sits round an old tree.

    Temples & monasteriesAbout 08:00 to 18:00, every day; free

    Tip: The car stops on the road below; the temple is a few minutes' walk up through the trees. In season the queue to go inside can take an hour, so come early.

  3. 2

    Manu Temple

    40 min here
    Manu Temple
    Photo: Vineet Timble, CC BY-SA 4.0

    A temple to the sage Manu at the top of Old Manali. The town is named after him. Around it are old wooden and stone houses, apple trees and narrow lanes.

    Temples & monasteriesAbout 09:00 to 17:00 (listings say 08:00 to 18:00 or 09:00 to 17:00); free?

    Tip: Cover your head and take off your shoes before going in. The lanes below are good for a short walk and a café stop.

  4. 3

    Club House

    1 h here
    Club House
    Photo: Ashish Gupta from Noida, India, CC BY 2.0

    A Himachal Tourism leisure club by the Manalsu stream, on the road to Old Manali. It has indoor games, small rides and a few outdoor activities. Families with children like it most.

    Walks & marketsAbout 10:00 to 20:00; small entry fee, each activity paid extra?

    Tip: Entry is cheap, but each game or ride is paid for separately. Skip it if you have no children with you.

  5. 4

    Vashisht Temple and hot springs

    1 h here
    Vashisht Temple and hot springs
    Photo: Sunberry1111, CC BY-SA 4.0

    An old stone temple to the sage Vashisht in a village across the Beas from Manali. Hot sulphur springs feed public baths next to it, with separate baths for men and women. The water is warm all year.

    Temples & monasteriesTemple about 07:00 to 21:00; the hot baths close 13:00 to 14:00

    Tip: The baths are free. Bring a towel and a change of clothes if you want to bathe. The path to Jogini Falls starts at the top of the village.

  6. Lunch, about 1 h. Your driver will know a place nearby. The times after this include it.
  7. 5

    Van Vihar

    45 min here
    Van Vihar
    Photo: बृहस्पति, CC BY-SA 3.0

    A park of very tall deodar trees right beside the Mall and the Beas. There is a small pond with rowing boats. It is a quiet break from the busy street next door.

    Valleys & snowAbout 09:00 to 17:00 (to 19:00 in summer); small entry fee

    Tip: Entry is about ₹50, and boating is paid extra. The gate is on the Mall, so you can walk here from your hotel too.

  8. 6

    Tibetan monasteries

    30 min here
    Tibetan monasteries
    Photo: Rohan Pinto, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Two Tibetan Buddhist monasteries sit a few minutes from the Mall: the Himalayan Nyingmapa Gompa and Gadhan Thekchokling Gompa. Both are bright with painted walls and prayer flags, and have rows of prayer wheels. Small stalls nearby sell Tibetan carpets and crafts.

    Temples & monasteriesOpen in daylight, about 07:00 to 18:00?

    Tip: Walk round the prayer wheels clockwise. Ask before you take photos of the monks.

  9. Back at Mall Road, Manali
Day 2

Atal Tunnel, Sissu and Solang Valley

Leave at 08:00 to get through the Atal Tunnel before the traffic. Stop past its north end, then at Sissu in the Lahaul valley. Come back through the tunnel to Solang Valley for the ropeway and lunch, and stop at Nehru Kund on the way home. About 77 km by cab. The routing says back by 14:30, but expect 16:00 or later in season. In heavy snow the tunnel road can close, so check that morning.

08:00 to 14:224 places77 km by cab
  1. 1Atal Tunnel
  2. 2Sissu
  3. 3Solang Valley
  4. Lunch
  5. 4Nehru Kund
  6. Back
  1. Leave Mall Road, Manali
  2. 1

    Atal Tunnel

    20 min here
    Atal Tunnel
    Photo: Jagseer S Sidhu, CC BY-SA 4.0

    A 9 km road tunnel under the Rohtang Pass, opened in 2020. It takes you from the Manali side to the Lahaul valley in about 10 minutes, a trip that used to take hours over the pass. At the north end the mountains are snowy for most of the year.

    Valleys & snowThe road is open all day; tourists are asked to be back through by about 17:00?

    Tip: You cannot stop inside the tunnel. Cars stop for photos past the north end. There is no toll for the tunnel itself.

  3. 2

    Sissu

    1 h here
    Sissu
    Photo: Saad Faruque from Bangalore, India, CC BY 2.0

    A village in the Lahaul valley, on the Chandra river, about 13 km past the Atal Tunnel. A tall waterfall drops down the mountain across the river. The valley is drier and barer than the Manali side, and white with snow in winter.

    Valleys & snowOpen-air; tourists are asked to head back by about 17:00?

    Tip: A green tax or an e-pass may apply when you enter Lahaul; your driver handles it. In snow, the road past the tunnel can close for days, so check the road status in the morning.

  4. 3

    Solang Valley

    2 h 30 min here
    Solang Valley
    Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0

    A wide valley of open slopes 13 km north of Manali. A ropeway runs up the mountain for the view. In summer there is paragliding, quad bikes and zorbing; in winter the slopes are covered in snow for sledging and skiing.

    Valleys & snowRopeway about 09:30 to 17:00; stops in bad weather

    Tip: Ropeway tickets are about ₹500 to ₹750 return, bought at the counter. Agree any activity price before you start, and rent snow boots on the way up in winter.

  5. Lunch, about 1 h. Your driver will know a place nearby. The times after this include it.
  6. 4

    Nehru Kund

    15 min here

    A cold spring by the road to Solang. It is named after Jawaharlal Nehru, who is said to have drunk from it on his visits to Manali.

    Valleys & snowA roadside spring, open in daylight?

    Tip: It is a quick stop for a photo and a drink of water. In heavy snow, police sometimes stop cars here and go no further.

  7. Back at Mall Road, Manali

Drive times come from road routing without traffic. Manali's roads are narrow and winding, and the road to Solang and the Atal Tunnel jams badly in season and after snow. Allow much more time than the map shows: the Atal Tunnel day often ends at 16:00 or later. Opening hours marked ? are not yet confirmed, so check them before you go.

Book a cab for these 2 days

Call or message a local Manali operator with this plan. Tell them your hotel and dates, and they send a price for the car and driver.

2 × full day, 8 h / 80 kmSedan, SUV or InnovaPrice from the operator

We are still listing Manali operators. Write to [email protected] and we will put you in touch.

Opening times for this plan

The hours we planned around. Check before you go on a public holiday.

PlaceOpenBest timeVisit
Hadimba Devi TempleAbout 08:00 to 18:00, every day; freeMorning, before the queue grows.1 h
Manu TempleAbout 09:00 to 17:00 (listings say 08:00 to 18:00 or 09:00 to 17:00); free?Late morning, then walk down through Old Manali.40 min
Club HouseAbout 10:00 to 20:00; small entry fee, each activity paid extra?Late morning, on the way down from Old Manali.1 h
Vashisht Temple and hot springsTemple about 07:00 to 21:00; the hot baths close 13:00 to 14:00Any time; the baths are busiest in the evening.1 h
Van ViharAbout 09:00 to 17:00 (to 19:00 in summer); small entry feeAfternoon, before the Mall in the evening.45 min
Tibetan monasteriesOpen in daylight, about 07:00 to 18:00?Late afternoon, then walk on to the Mall.30 min
Atal TunnelThe road is open all day; tourists are asked to be back through by about 17:00?Early morning, before the traffic builds.20 min
SissuOpen-air; tourists are asked to head back by about 17:00?Late morning, after the Atal Tunnel.1 h
Solang ValleyRopeway about 09:30 to 17:00; stops in bad weatherMorning or early afternoon, while the ropeway runs.2 h 30 min
Nehru KundA roadside spring, open in daylight?On the way to or from Solang.15 min

More or less time in Manali?

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Manali in 1 day

Hadimba, Old Manali, Vashisht and Solang

See the 1-day plan →
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Manali in 3 days

Hadimba, Old Manali, Vashisht and the Mall · Atal Tunnel, Sissu and Solang Valley · Jagatsukh, Naggar Castle and the Roerich gallery

See the 3-day plan →

All 17 places in Manali

Every sight with what to see, opening times and how long to stay.

See all places →

Questions people ask

Is 2 days enough for Manali?

Yes, for the town and the Solang side. Add a third day for Naggar, or for Rohtang Pass in summer with a permit.

Which order should the two days go in?

Either. No stop closes on a weekday. Do the Atal Tunnel day on the clearer day, and if snow has closed the road, do the town day first.

Can I go to Rohtang Pass instead of Sissu?

Yes, from about May to November, with a permit booked online in advance. It is likely closed on Tuesdays. Rohtang takes most of the day, so Solang would be the only other stop.