Manali

Manali sits at about 2,050 metres where the Kullu valley narrows below the Rohtang and Atal Tunnel routes to Lahaul and Ladakh, which makes it both a hill resort and a staging post. Old Manali above the town keeps timber and stone houses and the Hadimba temple, a four-tiered wooden shrine of 1553 standing in deodar forest with its walls carved and a rock outcrop inside instead of an image. Vashisht across the river has hot springs. From here run rafting on the Beas, paragliding at Solang, and the road to Leh, one of the great high-altitude drives, open in summer.

What you actually see

• Hadimba temple - a 1553 timber shrine with a rock outcrop inside.
• Old Manali - timber and stone houses on the slope above the town.
• Vashisht hot springs - thermal baths across the river.
• The Solang valley - paragliding, ropeway and snow activities above town.

When to go

March to June and September to November; the monsoon brings landslides, and winter closes the higher routes though the town stays open. May and June are extremely crowded.

Honest expectations

Peak-season traffic through the valley jams for hours. The main town is heavily built up and commercial. Adventure operators vary widely in safety standards. Rohtang access is permit-controlled.

Nearby

Rohtang Pass and the Atal Tunnel lie north; Kasol is southeast.