A Manali road trip from Delhi is best planned over 5–6 days. Day 1: Delhi to Chandigarh (260 km, 4.5 hrs) — overnight. Day 2: Chandigarh to Manali (310 km, 7 hrs) via Mandi — arrive evening. Day 3: Old Manali, Hadimba Temple, Vashisht Hot Springs. Day 4: Solang Valley snow activities or Rohtang Pass (May-Oct). Day 5: Naggar Castle, Kullu market. Day 6: Return Manali to Delhi (540 km, 13 hrs) — overnight drive or break at Chandigarh. EZPZ Taxi offers customised Manali packages — call +91-9871121217.
1 Answer
The Delhi–Manali road trip is 540 km and best done over 5–7 days to enjoy the journey and the destination. Here's the ideal itinerary:
Option A: 5-Day Direct Route
Day 1 — Delhi to Chandigarh (250 km, 4.5 hrs) Depart Delhi 7 AM. Arrive Chandigarh by noon. Visit Rock Garden (Nek Chand's extraordinary outsider art installation — 2 hrs) and Sukhna Lake for sunset. Night in Chandigarh.
Day 2 — Chandigarh to Manali (310 km, 7 hrs) Early 6 AM departure. Drive through Bilaspur, Mandi, Kullu Valley. Stop at Pandoh Dam (spectacular gorge) and Kullu (shawl market). Arrive Manali by 2–3 PM. Evening in Old Manali — cafes, apple orchards.
Day 3 — Manali Sightseeing Morning: Hadimba Temple + Old Manali village + Vashisht hot springs Afternoon: Solang Valley (14 km) — paragliding, zorbing in summer, snow activities in winter
Day 4 — Rohtang Pass (51 km, if open May–Oct) Early 6 AM departure (permit required — book at rohtangpermits.nic.in). Snow, high-altitude views, glacier. Back in Manali by 1 PM. Afternoon: Naggar Castle (22 km) + Roerich Gallery.
Day 5 — Return Manali to Delhi (540 km) Option 1: Drive straight back (12 hrs — very long, depart 5 AM) Option 2: Split into Manali → Chandigarh → Delhi over 2 days
Option B: 7-Day with Spiti Extension
Replace Rohtang day with a 3-day Spiti Valley extension (Rohtang → Kaza → Tabo → Kunzum → back). Extraordinary high-altitude landscape — the most dramatic terrain in Himachal.
Vehicle Recommendation
Innova Crysta for comfort on the full circuit. Avoid hatchbacks — the Beas Valley road is narrow and an SUV handles curves better.
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