How to Reach Manali

How to Reach Manali is one of the most frequented hill stations in India and during its peak season it is mostly occupied with tourists from different parts of the country. Thus with a flourishing tourism in Manali, the mighty hill station is well connected by road to different parts of the state and Kalka Railway Station that connects different parts of the country through broad gauge tracks is the closest railway station. Whereas encircling Manali one can even hop to the nearby hill stations like Shimla, Dalhousie, Manikaran, Dharamsala and Kasauli. Amongst the unexplored destinations one can even drive up to Keylong that falls on the Manali-Leh highway, which connects one to Ladakh. The distance from Manali to Leh-Ladakh is approximately 453kms.

By Air
Bhuntar airport is closest to Manali and is 50 kilometres from Manali. Manali is situated in the Kullu district and Kullu city is just 10 kilometres away from Bhuntar Airport. Bhuntar Airport is more commonly known as Kullu-Manali Airport. Bhuntar Airport is located in the Bhuntar town on the National Highway 21. The airport has more than 1 kilometre long runway. Domestic flights operated by Air India and Jagson Airlines serve the connectivity from Delhi, Chandigarh and Pathankot to Bhuntar with regular flights. The rest 50 kilometres can easily be covered by the abundant availability of private taxis and cab facilities to reach Manali.

By Train
The closest major railway station from Manali is Chandigarh which is around 315 kilometres and another one is Pathankot which is about 290 kilometres. After you reach till Chandigarh or Pathankot you can avail bus or taxi service to reach Manali directly. One can book pre-paid service well in advance or one can also book on the spot. Both Chandigarh and Pathankot have major connectivity with other important Indian cities by means of extensive rail network. The narrow gauge train service from Kalka till Shimla is a picturesque sojourn and is an experience by itself. One can then travel the rest of the distance from Shimla to Manali by road. The broad gauge railway stations such as Una is around 250 kilometres away. Whereas Kirat Sahib is 268 kilometres away from Manali and Kalka is 275 kilometres away.

By Road
Road travel to Manali is one of the most surreal of experiences as the long journey gives an unbridled view of the open expanses of the green meadows and valleys and lofty mountain ranges spread in layer after layer one after another standing tall and proud, touching the blue skies and the white clouds. Manali is well connected with the nearby major cities such as Delhi, Ambala, Chandigarh and Shimla. State-run buses ply at regular intervals connecting Delhi and Ambala through NH 1 and NH 21 and through NH 22 with Chandigarh. Right from budget transport options to luxurious Volvo services operate between Delhi and Manali. A number of bus services including private services like the very comfortable Volvo ply frequently from Delhi to Manali. Besides, Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) also offers services from New Delhi to Manali and various other tourist places in Himachal Pradesh. The well-maintained national highways, NH 1 and NH 21, lead to Manali from Delhi. NH 21 also connects the other cities such as Bilaspur, Sundernagar and Mandi. Overnight buses ply on the routes operated by HPTDC and also private operators. Tourism is a lucrative business and very efficient services are available that provides full satisfaction and comfort to travellers. The road journey from Manali to Delhi is 550 kilometres. The road journey via self-drive is a romantic and picturesque journey cutting through the giant mountain ranges and offers a new thrill at every junction and at every curve.