LOCATION: Himachal Pradesh

GETTING THERE: Manali is located 570km from Delhi, at the state of Himachal Pradesh. Given to the fact the entire state is inside the Himalayas (hence, the name of the state is “Himachal”), the roads are usually on a single lane and in mountain areas, so it takes around 12 hours to reach by bus from Delhi. Other options include an 8-hour bus ride from Chandigarh, or a flight to the nearest airport, in Kullu, plus another 2-hour bus ride. The bus ride may cause motion sickness due to the excess of curves, so flights are more convenient and much faster, albeit quite expensive.

WHERE TO STAY: In Manali you’ll find from cheap hostels and guesthouses to luxury hotels. There are plenty of good options for accommodation on AirBnB and many mid-range hotels with breath-taking views to the mountains. At Old Manali there are also several hostels available, where many young foreigners stay.

Although reaching there may be a lengthy journey, Manali is our favourite destination in India. The area is not as popular as Rajasthan or South India, but you’ll still find plenty of foreign tourists, which means there is a good variety of quality restaurants offering international food, for those days when you feel like taking a break from the spices. Apart from the good food, the view of the mountains and the feeling of being at the most imposing mountain range in the world is incomparable. You can easily rent a scooter and explore the whole area by yourself, which includes driving through forests, apple orchards, waterfalls and beautiful Hindu temples made of stone and wood. During the summer, paragliding and rafting are also available, and there are a ropeway and ski centre not far from there.

The entire area is very peaceful, the local people are very nice, and you still find many women dressed in local woven attires and people who have cows in their backyards – a very peaceful way of living. The best time to visit Manali is March – April or from September until November, when the weather is pleasant, but not too cold, and there aren’t as many tourists, so the roads are clear. In mid-august, the apple season starts. Apples trees and orchards are very common in Manali, so you can do your own picking! From May until October, the road to Leh – one of the most magical places in India – is open – a favourite route for tourists seeking to explore the mountains further.

If you’re considering visiting Manali in other months, keep in mind that May and June are holiday months in India, so the city gets packed with Indian tourists and the single lane roads cause unpleasant traffic jams (renting a scooter will save you from the hassle, although riding at steep curves is not always easy). July and August are monsoon season, so it rains a lot and there are heavy landslides, which makes the whole mountain range less safe. Do NOT go trekking on the rainy season – foreign tourists die every year while trekking this time of the year in the Himalayas. From December until February is winter time, which means it is very cold, it snows a lot and not all restaurants and hotels are open, but could be good for ski and snow lovers.