The other day, one of my friends told me how she would want a quick escape to a hill town, and I immediately blurted out, “You should go to Manali. ” She smiled and said, “No yar, I only have two days.”
Then the discussion moved to how we don’t have enough time to even plan a quick escape, and I realized how so few of us know that even though 3-4 days are required for a relaxed trip to Manali, we can still cover most of it in only two days.
If you are also wondering, “How can I cover Manali in 2 days?” This article is for you. We will provide you with a two-day itinerary for a quick escape to this most famous hill town in India.
We are going to list all the places in the order of their distance from their bus stand. Why did we choose the bus stand?
Because this is the best and easiest mode of transport to reach Manali, you can, of course, take a train, but the nearest station is Joginder Nagar Railway Station, which is at a distance of 162.6 km from Manali, and there is no direct rail connectivity to this station from major Railway Stations.
Day 1
We would suggest you take a night bus to Manali so that you reach early morning and have some time for local sightseeing. Here are a few local places not very far from the bus stand, which you can visit on Day 1 in Manali.
Hadimba Temple
Located at a distance of 2 km from Manali Bus Stand, Hidimba Devi temple is an ancient cave temple. It is also known as Dhungri Temple. The temple is surrounded by trees and is one of the most visited places in Manali.
Built-in 1553 by Raja Bahadur Singh, the temple is pagoda style. It comprises no idol within. Devotees worship etched footprints.
The temple is also notable for a fair held annually in Sravan (Jul / Aug) in remembrance of Raja Bahadur Singh. The fair is known as the Bahadur Singh Re Jatar. There is another fair conducted on the 14th of May each year to honor Hidimbi Devi on her birthday.
Manu Temple
Manu Temple is dedicated to sage Manu and is located only 3 Km away from Manali Bus Stand. Sage Manu is considered to be the creator of the human race on Earth. Built in pagoda style, the temple was rebuilt in 1992 to add the vaulted ceiling and marble floors.
The temple offers visitors a stunning perspective of the surrounding hills and the Beas River. To get to the temple, go for about 200 meters through the slippery stone roads of old Manali.
A huge fair named Phagi is celebrated on the sixth day of Phagun (February/March) on the temple grounds.
Vashisht Temple
Vashisht Temple in Manali is located 3.5 kilometers from the Manali Bus Stand and is dedicated to sage Vashisht.
The temple is said to be about 4000 years old and has great and exquisite wood carvings. Inside the temple, there is a black stone figure of the Rishi wearing a dhoti.
One of the region’s most well-known attractions is the Vashisht Hot Water Spring. It is believed that the hot springs offer medicinal properties. Many people visit the Vashisht springs to take a dip and cleanse themselves of skin illnesses and disorders.
There are separate bathrooms for men and women. The bath times are 7 am to 1 pm and 2 pm to 9 pm on all days.
Jogini Waterfalls
Jogini or Jogni Falls is a wonderful waterfall located in Vashisht Village, 4 kilometers from Vashisht Temple and 7.5 kilometers from Manali Bus Stand.
The waterfall is formed by a branch of the Beas River and cascades down from a height of roughly 150 feet across numerous levels.
The Jogini Mata temple is located at the bottom of the waterfall. You can easily trek from Vashisht Temple to the waterfall.
Day 2
On day 2, you can plan to cover places that are a little far, such as Solang Valley and Kothi Village, and if you have time, you can go further to Gualba.
Solang Valley
Solang is located 12 kilometers from Manali Bus Stand. It is located at an elevation of 8500 feet and is densely forested.
It provides panoramic views of the nearby snow-capped mountains and glaciers.
Solang Valley boasts excellent ski slopes. The Manali Mountaineering Institute constructed a ski lift here for training purposes.
The Directorate of Mountaineering & Allied Sports also provides skiing courses for beginner, advanced, and intermediate levels.
Solang Valley hosts the winter skiing festival. In the summer, it offers paragliding, zorbing, mountain biking, and horseback riding.
There are also numerous trekking paths in the area. People who appreciate adventure can camp in Solang Valley.
The months of January and February are ideal for skiing. Trekking and snowboarding are best done from May to November, whereas paragliding can be done at any time except during the rainy season.
Zorbing costs only Rs. 500 per person, Paragliding costs around Rs. 1200 per person, and Ropeway (both sides) costs around Rs. 500 per person.
Kothi Village
The Kothi Village is located on the Leh – Manali Highway, 13.5 kilometers from the Manali Bus Stand and 8 kilometers from Gulaba Village.
Kothi is located at an elevation of 2500 meters in the foothills of the Rohtang Pass. Nature lovers, poets, and painters are going to love Kothi.
Kothi is also known as Koshtampi. When the Rohtang Pass had to be scaled on foot, Kothi was a popular camping spot.
In recent years, the location has been accessible via jeep, bus, and pony rides. Though the village is open all year, the best time to come is from May to October.
The Bottom Line
There are so many locations to visit in Manali that you can spend a lovely weekend with your family, friends, or your loving partner for your honeymoon.
This hilly town maintains its reputation as a popular vacation spot. Begin packing your baggage with all of your necessities and prepare to begin on a joyous ride to Manali.
Also read: How To Plan Kullu Manali Trip?