Trekking the area of Himachal Pradesh is fantastic and Manali is the epicenter and starting point for Himachal Pradesh state of India and is one of the most overall interesting and beautiful regions in the entire country. The geography is such that one can be at lower altitudes then reach heights over 5900 meters with variations including pine tree forested mountains, high mountain valley lakes, mountain deserts and snow capped peaks all of which are contained within a relatively small region.
Some of the main cities and areas are Shimla, Kullu, Mandi, Manali, Keylong, Leh as well as the Lahaul & Spiti regions and in these areas exist some of the most spectacular places to visit, hike, motorbike, paraglide or just relax.
In this post I am going to provide some useful links so that you will be able to access additional information not contained in most of the guide books.
This post is not intended to give overly detailed information but a general list of useful web sites which will assist in your research and understanding of this fantastic part of India .
Let me first discuss getting in and around the region of Himachal Pradesh.
Distances: Take this link and it will show you the distances between locations by road for most of Himachal Pradesh. When you reach this page, go to the tab "important distances" and you will see what you need.
Distances: Take this link and it will show you the distances between locations by road for most of Himachal Pradesh. When you reach this page, go to the tab "important distances" and you will see what you need.
Transportation:
Most visitors to this region will access through New Delhi and there are a number of ways to arrive. You can book a train from Delhi to Shimla. The trick to this is you will arrive in the city of Kalka then you can either take the regular train or you can take the“toy” train from Kalka to Shimla. If you decide to take the train from New Delhi, it is suggested that you take the train #12311 night train which departs at 21:45 from Old Delhi rail station and arrives in Kalka around 04:30. The regular train from Kalka to Shimla departs at 06:00 and takes some 5 hours. Or you can pre book the toy train which takes a few hours longer, is not as comfortable but a completely different experience from the regular train. If you have an account with the Indian Railway then you can book your train(s) in advance which is advised because during certain seasons, especially during the Indian holiday season, the trains are booked well in advance. If you do not have an account with the Indian Railway then your only two options are to book with the travel agents or go to the nearest train station and make your booking(s). I also suggest that if you intend to travel India extensively by train that you purchase a train timetable book at the railway station as this has valuable and useful information about the trains.
The other option is by bus which can be booked from any travel agent once you have arrived in New Delhi . The bus gives you more options of destinations but depending on where your 1st stopping point is, can be a very long and tiring ride. Below are a few links that should be useful:
Indian Railways Web Site: This will allow you to look for trains but not book. You can look even if you do not have an account but you do need to know certain information such as rail stations or train numbers.
The web site for booking is called IRCTC and if you have an account you can book and pay online with a credit card. If you click the IRCTC link above you will go to the official web site for India Rail and once there you will have two ways to look for or book trains.
If you are going to be traveling in India for a lengthy period of time I suggest you open an account, however, this requires you to have an Indian mobile phone number which will require you to take your passport and one passport photo to a local phone shop to purchase the mobile phone sim card.
You can now open an account as a foreigner through two methods. One method is through their web site, click here for the web site registration link, the other method is via direct communications with the Indian Railways. This second method requires you to submit a copy of your passport (1-2) pages.
Unfortunately the Indian Rail website has changed and there is no direct link for registration, here are the steps needed.
The web site for booking is called IRCTC and if you have an account you can book and pay online with a credit card. If you click the IRCTC link above you will go to the official web site for India Rail and once there you will have two ways to look for or book trains.
If you are going to be traveling in India for a lengthy period of time I suggest you open an account, however, this requires you to have an Indian mobile phone number which will require you to take your passport and one passport photo to a local phone shop to purchase the mobile phone sim card.
You can now open an account as a foreigner through two methods. One method is through their web site, click here for the web site registration link, the other method is via direct communications with the Indian Railways. This second method requires you to submit a copy of your passport (1-2) pages.
Unfortunately the Indian Rail website has changed and there is no direct link for registration, here are the steps needed.
- Access this web link and do a train search from DLI to JP, which is from Delhi to Jaipur select a date about 10 days out.
- After you input the above train search you will click the tab "find train" and will see a number of train options.
- Select the option for "ac chair car" and click "check availability tab".
- You will see a number of options, select any option that shows "available" in green lettering.
- Click the "book now" tab and this will display a new message, just click OK and you will now have a new page.
- On this new page, you will see the "register" tab. Click that tab and from there you can register for a railway account.
Another excellent web site is the official Himachal Pradesh Tourism Board site. Here is the link that you can take for further information on destinations, click here. This link will give you some specific information on the trains with their running times, train numbers however the number is not the complete train number.
Bus Transport:
You should know that the bus running time from Delhi to Manali is 14 hours and with that being said read below;
Here is a direct link to the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Boards link where you can see information on, trains, bus schedules, routes and costs for buses leaving Delhi as well as buses in and around Himachal Pradesh, however, these times and costs are only for estimates as things do change but they are a good basic guide and booking your bus from New Delhi will cost more as the tour companies will add an extra fees.
Another link is one that you can use to book, select your seat and purchase bus tickets in advance online, however, their buses do not run everywhere but you can at least book your ticket in advance from New Delhi to a few places such as Manali and other locations. You will need to create an account with this bus operator to complete the transaction but it is very easy and once you have don this, you can book online and pay with a credit card. This web site is also associated with the official Himachal Pradesh Tourism Board. Click this link and it will take you directly to the web page for account creations and then bus bookings. Once on that page you can take the link that says "click here to check availability of seats in online bus services".
Once you arrive in the first city of your trip, you will be booking transportation on either government buses or tourist buses and these bookings are very easy to obtain from the many local tour operators in each city.
Motor Bikes:
You may have dreamed of hiring a motor bike and traveling the wild high mountain roads and passes, well my friends, this can be done but I will make these few comments. You should have an International Driving Permit or run the risk of heavy fines if you are stopped by the Indian police for any reason. Some individuals come alone and ride but it is this writers opinion that this is foolish especially in the event of an unforeseen breakdown or accident in a remote region.
That being said, I am going to make one recommendation for hiring motor bikes in New Delhi for your journey. This group has been in New Delhi for many years with their main focus on the rebuild, restoration or customization of classic era Royal Enfield motor bikes. They also provide a full service to those who wish to tour India on a motor bike. They are called Bullet Wallas and are located off Arakashan Road in New Delhi. This link is to their Facebook page or this link to their web site where you can see their programs, contact them or maybe even purchase a restored or customized classic era Royal Enfield motor bike.
Motor Bikes:
You may have dreamed of hiring a motor bike and traveling the wild high mountain roads and passes, well my friends, this can be done but I will make these few comments. You should have an International Driving Permit or run the risk of heavy fines if you are stopped by the Indian police for any reason. Some individuals come alone and ride but it is this writers opinion that this is foolish especially in the event of an unforeseen breakdown or accident in a remote region.
That being said, I am going to make one recommendation for hiring motor bikes in New Delhi for your journey. This group has been in New Delhi for many years with their main focus on the rebuild, restoration or customization of classic era Royal Enfield motor bikes. They also provide a full service to those who wish to tour India on a motor bike. They are called Bullet Wallas and are located off Arakashan Road in New Delhi. This link is to their Facebook page or this link to their web site where you can see their programs, contact them or maybe even purchase a restored or customized classic era Royal Enfield motor bike.
Sleeping:
There are many hotels of course depending on where you wish to go. Using the typical booking engines like HostelWorld or HostelBookers will only provide you with a very limited number of options. There are other booking engines such as Agoda.com which is one that I avoid because this web site tends to add additional charges. Of course you can always use that travel guide book but in a lot of cases the prices are not updated nor do these guide books give a complete listing of hotels, guest houses or B&B's.
Here is a list of web sites which I have found to be very useful for wide variety of accommodations:
I use these kind of booking engines so I have a place to stay once I have arrived in a location then if it is too expensive or not a good location or hotel I check the area the next day for a better hotel, location or costs but that is how I do things when I arrive in areas for the first time.
MakeMyTrip is a booking engine and is very easy to use, does not charge excessive fees and can give you a good variety of hotels and you can use two payment options, pay in advance or pay on arrival. The link provided goes directly to their hotels page for booking. I have personally used this web site and found it very easy to use even with a credit card.
Another web site is TravelGuru but it does not seem to have as complete a list of hotels as the web site above.
You can also use TripAdvisor which I have personally found to be a very good resource for hotels, guest houses and other accommodations. I have added this link to TripAdvisor for accommodations in the areas of Ladak and Leh which are actually in Jammu & Kashmir. This link also will backtrack to other areas of India such as Manali, Shimla and even many other cities in India.
Manali has more hotels than one can count both in the new city and up the hill in Old Manali. However, the one place I really like is The Valley View Hotel which is located in the new city not too far a walk from the bus station and the owner Rishi is an extremely well spoken and friendly person. The hotel has nice sized rooms at very reasonable prices. Ph: 98167-30400. He also has hotels located in Vashisht which overlooks the beautiful valley and river as well as a hotel located in Keylong.
You can also use TripAdvisor which I have personally found to be a very good resource for hotels, guest houses and other accommodations. I have added this link to TripAdvisor for accommodations in the areas of Ladak and Leh which are actually in Jammu & Kashmir. This link also will backtrack to other areas of India such as Manali, Shimla and even many other cities in India.
Manali has more hotels than one can count both in the new city and up the hill in Old Manali. However, the one place I really like is The Valley View Hotel which is located in the new city not too far a walk from the bus station and the owner Rishi is an extremely well spoken and friendly person. The hotel has nice sized rooms at very reasonable prices. Ph: 98167-30400. He also has hotels located in Vashisht which overlooks the beautiful valley and river as well as a hotel located in Keylong.
Tour & Trekking Companies:
This is one of the more difficult areas to write about because there are so many of them on the web and in the cities you will visit. If you are wanting a tour package then I can strongly recommend two companies in Manali that are extremely well run.
One is owned and operated by a local Ranbir Rana who has an extremely good working knowledge of the English language as well a a very good reputation. This company, like most other tour companies will require an up front deposit if you book in advance but this company does not require the balance of the payment until after your tour is completed. It is called Glacial Adventures and you can book tours either as a walk-in or in advance on their web site. Like most all tour operators, if you book a tour online in advance you will be asked for an up front deposit however you do not pay the balance of the tour costs until your tour is completed. If you are in Manali and decide to book a tour there he is located on the northern end of the Mall heading up the hill from the bus station going toward Old Manali, 2-3 doors from the Valley View Hotel inside the building and at the end of the corridor where the Canara Bank is located
The other tour operator I will recommend in Manali is owned by a very intelligent and well spoken local named Rajesh Chand, the name of his tour company is Goldrop Adventures. Rajesh specializes in multi-day tours, some of which can be up to 30 days through out Himachal Pradesh and into the many other areas around the region as well as into Lahaul/Spiti regions and beyond, I believe that no request is impossible.
He offers equipped upscale tented camping experiences in the Sissu and Sarchu areas. His company will also organize specialized tours depending on the customers desires. Here are two email address for his company: goldrop@gmail.com and goldropcamps@yahoo.co.in. This company is located just down the stairs to the right of the Valley View Hotel.
I was able to visit the Sissu site which is located along the river and directly across a fantaitic waterfall. At night you can hear the river flowing and the thunder of the waterfall as it cascades down the high mountains where it originates from the mountain glaciers This is definitely a unique location and one which should not be missed if you are headed to Leh.
One is owned and operated by a local Ranbir Rana who has an extremely good working knowledge of the English language as well a a very good reputation. This company, like most other tour companies will require an up front deposit if you book in advance but this company does not require the balance of the payment until after your tour is completed. It is called Glacial Adventures and you can book tours either as a walk-in or in advance on their web site. Like most all tour operators, if you book a tour online in advance you will be asked for an up front deposit however you do not pay the balance of the tour costs until your tour is completed. If you are in Manali and decide to book a tour there he is located on the northern end of the Mall heading up the hill from the bus station going toward Old Manali, 2-3 doors from the Valley View Hotel inside the building and at the end of the corridor where the Canara Bank is located
The other tour operator I will recommend in Manali is owned by a very intelligent and well spoken local named Rajesh Chand, the name of his tour company is Goldrop Adventures. Rajesh specializes in multi-day tours, some of which can be up to 30 days through out Himachal Pradesh and into the many other areas around the region as well as into Lahaul/Spiti regions and beyond, I believe that no request is impossible.
He offers equipped upscale tented camping experiences in the Sissu and Sarchu areas. His company will also organize specialized tours depending on the customers desires. Here are two email address for his company: goldrop@gmail.com and goldropcamps@yahoo.co.in. This company is located just down the stairs to the right of the Valley View Hotel.
I was able to visit the Sissu site which is located along the river and directly across a fantaitic waterfall. At night you can hear the river flowing and the thunder of the waterfall as it cascades down the high mountains where it originates from the mountain glaciers This is definitely a unique location and one which should not be missed if you are headed to Leh.
General Information:
Before you go, here is another link to the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Board web site which provides good and detailed information on the trekking circuits. Click here and you will go directly to the page for district maps. From this page you can discover a world of information concerning the routes.
Cities:
Shimla which can be considered as a starting point for some, is located in a very mountainous region. There are plenty of hotels, however, unless you are with an automobile or motorbike, your only option for moving about the city is a very very expensive taxi. There are no auto rickshaws in Shimla due to the steep roads so only taxis are available. It is also my impression that while Shimla is located in a very beautiful place, as a city is is not all that great. If you arrive by bus which I do not suggest, the fare from the "new bus terminal" into the Mall area can cost about 350Rs and if you go further it can get up as high as 500rs and the average taxi ride will cost you about 200rs one way.
Manali which is on the route from Shimla to Leh is a fantastic place with its forested mountains, rivers and you are only about 60 kilometers from the Rohtang Pass then another 60 kilometers to Keylong. There are plenty of hotels, many along the main Mall road and a lot of others off the side streets to the right of the Mall road as well as higher end hotels up the hill from the Mall area or across the Beas River on the other bank. You can also find good accommodations in Old Manali along with internet cafes, shopping and restaurants. If you stay in Old Manali which has a very vibrant scene then go by Dylan's Coffee Shop for some of the best variety of coffee in all of Manali, the owners name is Raj.
Also, when you need your money exchanged, check the Western Union office just inside the Valley View Hotel entrance. Here you get good rates. The owner is Vinod and his company also provides bus, train and flight bookings.
Also, when you need your money exchanged, check the Western Union office just inside the Valley View Hotel entrance. Here you get good rates. The owner is Vinod and his company also provides bus, train and flight bookings.
I am providing some excellent web links for this area, please click the highlighted text.
Click this link for the official Himachal Pradesh tourism web site for the Lahaul & Spiti region. You will find a world of detailed information on their web pages. Take the time to preview all the links as there is a lot of information located for the traveler. You should also check the link on their web page "Foreigner Section" to make sure that you are in compliance with some of their restrictions for trekking.
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| Going Down from Rohtang Pass Toward Keylong |
I do hope that this has been of value to your efforts in making any travel plans to these truly unique and beautiful regions of India.
Travel Safe, Travel Happy