Heart of Himachal - Shimla & Manali
- Ex Chandigarh
6N/7D
Duration
All year round
Best time to visit
Dinner and Breakfast
Meals provided
Hotels or Homestays or Camps
Stay provided
Local experienced driver
Transport
Shimla, the “Queen of Hill Stations,” exudes colonial charm with scenic beauty and bustling bazaars. Manali, nestled in the Himalayas, offers thrilling adventures and serene landscapes in a vibrant atmosphere. Both Himachal destinations captivate travelers with unique experiences.
Places Covered
- Manali
- Mall Road
- Hidimba
- Vashisth
- Solang
- Rohtang
- Naggar
- Shimla
- Viceregal Lodge
- Jhakhu
- Chail
- Kufri
Whether you’re drawn to Shimla’s colonial elegance or Manali’s natural beauty and adventure, both destinations promise an unforgettable journey through Himachal Pradesh’s diverse landscapes and rich heritage.
You’ll experience:
- Manali Mall Road: A popular tourist spot in Himachal known for souvenir shopping and diverse street food options.
- Hidimba Temple: Ancient cave temple dedicated to Hidimbi Devi, surrounded by a cedar forest and built on a large rock.
- Vashisht: Village near Manali famous for its sulphurous hot water springs and three main temples.
- Atal Tunnel: The world’s highest single-tube tunnel above 10,000 feet.
- Solang Valley: Ski resort in winter and adventure sports destination in summer, offering activities like parachuting and paragliding.
- Rohtang Pass: An ancient trade route connecting Kullu Valley with Lahaul and Spiti Valleys, open from May to November.
- Naggar: Former capital of Kullu valley with Naggar Castle, now a heritage hotel, and the Nicholas Roerich museum showcasing his paintings.
- Shimla: Queen of Hill Stations with historic buildings and colonial charm. Viceregal Lodge: Also known as the Rashtrapati Niwas it is a stately colonial-era building in Shimla
- Jhakhu: Home to the Jhakhu Temple – dedicated to Lord Hanuman Chail: A tranquil hill station with popular for its lush forests.
- Kufri: A hill station near Shimla, popular as a winter sports and wildlife destination.
| Day | Day Plan | Travel Time |
| Day 1 | Chandigarh to Manali and rest | 8-9 hrs |
| Day 2 | Local sightseeing- Hidimba Temple, Manu Temple, Mall Road, Van Vihar, Old Manali | 3-4 hrs |
| Day 3 | Local Sightseeing- Solang Valley, Atal Tunnel, Rohang (If permits are available), Vashisth, Jogni Water Falls | 5-6 hrs |
| Day 4 | Manali to Shimla via Naggar (Castle and Art Gallery) | 7-8 hrs |
| Day 5 | Local Sightseeing- Mall Road, Ridge, Jhakhu Temple, Viceregal Lodge, Church | 4-5 hrs |
| Day 6 | Drive to Chail, Cricket Ground, Kufri, Chini Bungalow, Himalayan National Park and back | 3-4 hrs |
| Day 7 | Shimla to Chandigarh- trip ends | 4-5 hrs |
Your trip includes:
- Breakfast and Dinner as per the plan
- Transport and experienced local driver as per the plan
- Stay at the list of hotels shared as per the plan
- Driver to act as a basic guide
- All expenses for the driver are paid for, including all tolls, fuel, meals and accommodation
- Local coordinator in Himachal to handle your trip
Your trip excludes:
- 5% GST
- Lunch, snacks and beverages (except the ones with meals)
- Any kind of insurance/ emergency and evacuation cost
- Local Guide
- Bus ticket cost/Monument Entry fee/Cost of permits
Here is the ultimate packing list for your Himachal trip.
- Shirt/t-shirt – 3-4
- Jeans/trekking pants – 2
- Windproof jacket of decent quality
- Regular socks – 3-4 pair
- Scarf/muffler (optional)
- Comfortable hiking/training shoes
- Floaters/sandals/chappals
- Water bottle
- Cap/hat
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Lip balm
- Moisturizer
- Torch/flashlight
- Daypack/small backpack to carry it with you every day
- Prescription medicines (if any)
- Trekking pole (optional)
If you are travelling the in winter – please carry
- Thermals (upper and lower)
- Warm fleece/thick pullover – 2
- Woollen cap
- Woollen gloves
- Woollen socks
Whether you’re drawn to Shimla’s colonial elegance or Manali’s natural beauty and adventure, both destinations promise an unforgettable journey through Himachal Pradesh’s diverse landscapes and rich heritage.
You’ll experience:
- Manali Mall Road: A popular tourist spot in Himachal known for souvenir shopping and diverse street food options.
- Hidimba Temple: Ancient cave temple dedicated to Hidimbi Devi, surrounded by a cedar forest and built on a large rock.
- Vashisht: Village near Manali famous for its sulphurous hot water springs and three main temples.
- Atal Tunnel: The world’s highest single-tube tunnel above 10,000 feet.
- Solang Valley: Ski resort in winter and adventure sports destination in summer, offering activities like parachuting and paragliding.
- Rohtang Pass: An ancient trade route connecting Kullu Valley with Lahaul and Spiti Valleys, open from May to November.
- Naggar: Former capital of Kullu valley with Naggar Castle, now a heritage hotel, and the Nicholas Roerich museum showcasing his paintings.
- Shimla: Queen of Hill Stations with historic buildings and colonial charm. Viceregal Lodge: Also known as the Rashtrapati Niwas it is a stately colonial-era building in Shimla
- Jhakhu: Home to the Jhakhu Temple – dedicated to Lord Hanuman Chail: A tranquil hill station with popular for its lush forests.
- Kufri: A hill station near Shimla, popular as a winter sports and wildlife destination.
| Day | Day Plan | Travel Time |
| Day 1 | Chandigarh to Manali and rest | 8-9 hrs |
| Day 2 | Local sightseeing- Hidimba Temple, Manu Temple, Mall Road, Van Vihar, Old Manali | 3-4 hrs |
| Day 3 | Local Sightseeing- Solang Valley, Atal Tunnel, Rohang (If permits are available), Vashisth, Jogni Water Falls | 5-6 hrs |
| Day 4 | Manali to Shimla via Naggar (Castle and Art Gallery) | 7-8 hrs |
| Day 5 | Local Sightseeing- Mall Road, Ridge, Jhakhu Temple, Viceregal Lodge, Church | 4-5 hrs |
| Day 6 | Drive to Chail, Cricket Ground, Kufri, Chini Bungalow, Himalayan National Park and back | 3-4 hrs |
| Day 7 | Shimla to Chandigarh- trip ends | 4-5 hrs |
Your trip includes:
- Breakfast and Dinner as per the plan
- Transport and experienced local driver as per the plan
- Stay at the list of hotels shared as per the plan
- Driver to act as a basic guide
- All expenses for the driver are paid for, including all tolls, fuel, meals and accommodation
- Local coordinator in Himachal to handle your trip
Your trip excludes:
- 5% GST
- Lunch, snacks and beverages (except the ones with meals)
- Any kind of insurance/ emergency and evacuation cost
- Local Guide
- Bus ticket cost/Monument Entry fee/Cost of permits
Here is the ultimate packing list for your Himachal trip.
- Shirt/t-shirt – 3-4
- Jeans/trekking pants – 2
- Windproof jacket of decent quality
- Regular socks – 3-4 pair
- Scarf/muffler (optional)
- Comfortable hiking/training shoes
- Floaters/sandals/chappals
- Water bottle
- Cap/hat
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Lip balm
- Moisturizer
- Torch/flashlight
- Daypack/small backpack to carry it with you every day
- Prescription medicines (if any)
- Trekking pole (optional)
If you are travelling the in winter – please carry
- Thermals (upper and lower)
- Warm fleece/thick pullover – 2
- Woollen cap
- Woollen gloves
- Woollen socks
Detailed itinerary
Get picked up from Chandigarh airport/ railway station this morning and head to Manali. Stop for lunch at Sundernagar or mid-way. Reach Manali and rest from your long day of travel. We start exploring Manali tomorrow.
Start your day after breakfast and first visit the famous Hidimba temple also known as Dhungri temple is an ancient cave temple dedicated to Hidimba Devi, wife of Bhima, a figure in the Indian epic Mahabharata. Surrounding the temple are the Dhungri forests which are also a nature sanctuary. Next we head to Manu temple which is a walk from the Old Manali bridge as that is the drop off point, due to lack of parking on the Old Manali road. The temple dedicated to sage Manu, is where Manali gets its name from. It has superb views of the original Old Manali village and a must visit for everyone. After your visit to the temple you can walk down Old Manali road and do some souvenir shopping, stop by for lunch in one of the many cafes lining the street. Post lunch you head to Vashisht temple, famous for its sulphur hot springs believed to have healing properties. From Vashisht is a small hike to Jogni waterfall. The hike is a beautiful walk through the forest leading to magical glimpses of the waterfall. You can hear the water roaring from a distance as you start your hike. The last stop for the day is on Mall Road, where you can again indulge in some shopping and stop by one of its many cafes and restaurants. Head back to your hotel for dinner.
We leave after a leisure breakfast to Atal Tunnel – the worlds longest tunnel above 10000 ft. Visit the tunnel and cross over. to Khoksar where you can stop at a cup of tea and some mountain maggi. On your way back you will Solang Valley and go up on the ropeway or even indulge in some paragliding and other adventure activities. On your way back visit the village of Vashisht and its famous hot springs. If time permits, you can even attemp to hik to the popular Jogni waterfall from the village. Call it an early night. Tomorrow we head to Shimla.
We head to Shimla today, but on your way we make a quick stop at Naggar Castle, as medieval monument in Naggar town nestled between Kullu and Manali. Naggar used to be the ancient seat of the King of Kullu, but is now run as a heritage hotel and tourist monument. A little ahead of the castle is Roerich Art Galley, which used to be the habitation of world famous Russian artist Nicholas Roerich and his family. The place is now turned into an exhibition space by a joint venture between the Russian and Himachal Pradesh governments. It is visited by most people who come to Naggar and is an inspirational space for budding artists to see Roerich’s work on Kullu, Lahaul and Spiti Valley. You can chose to have lunch in Naggar village before heading to Shimla. Reach Shimla and rest this evening.
Leave for Shimla town after a leisure breakfast. You can take the day easy today and explore the town on foot as vehicles are not allowed on Mall Road. Visit the famous and most photographed, ridge in Shimla. You can even visit Vice Regal lodge ( formerly known as Rashtrapati Niwas) and the botanical gardens. It houses some of the most ancient articles and photographs going back to the times of the British rule in India.Next we visit the famous Jakhu temple by ropeway. Dedicated to lord Hanuman the temple is a very famous tourist point and a must see. As your day comes to an end, you can indulge in shopping on Mall Road for local handicraft and stop by a cafe for some dinner.
Leave for Chail this morning and on your way make a stop at Kufri. Kufri is famous for its Amusement park which has the world highest go-kart track, if you are with children then there is a good chance you might end up spending the entire day these. Chini bungalow which is famous for its statues and architecture and the Kufri zoo are some of the main attractions. You can spend your day in Kufri before heading for Chail. Chail is a quieter place known for its famous cricket ground, Chail Palace and for its bird sanctuary. Chail Palace has been turned into a heritage hotel by the government and is a worth visit place if you are into British architecture.
Head back to Chandigarh this morning after breakfast and catch your flight back home. Trip ends today.
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