‘Travel far, travel wide, travel solo!’ I probably live by this quote now, since the time Himachal happened to me. I remember in 2022 I hesitated to travel to Ladakh owing to no exposure to any North India places. I have heard and seen several travellers urging to do treks or trips to Himachal and then go for Ladakh. So, I decided to put Ladakh on hold and head to Himachal in 2023.
‘What you seek is seeking you’ Yes, Himachal and a solo trip was all that I manifested. On March 2023, it finally happened! Since Covid, I was pretty much exploring my city, Mumbai and the nearby places within Maharashtra. Considering travelling alone was relatively a new concept for me, I opted for a group tour. I chose Shimla-Manali all girls tour with a trusted travel agency.
A lot of firsts experiences were involved with this trip: probability of snowfall, first solo travel, first time far away from home, and Women’s Day and Holi celebrations with strangers who eventually became a part of my treasure trove. Until you enter that flight from your home town, the jitters stay. But you feel at ease the moment you see those mighty snow-capped mountains from atop.
From Mumbai, I took a flight to Chandigarh airport (Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport.) Note that it is a civil airport, so the runway has cameras around. Make sure to avoid clicking any pictures once landed. The flight attendants and pilots make announcements of the same.
SHIMLA
Chandigarh airport to Shimla road distance is about 125 kms, approximately 3.5 to 4 hours distance. Although a long journey, the sights are beautiful. Right from tiny layered old-charm houses to street markets to hilly terrains, the scenes are straight out of a movie. As the journey proceeds, it feels like a slow-motion life. Coming from a fast-paced city like Mumbai, I absolutely soaked this calmness.
Shimla, the Queen of Hills, is the capital of Himachal Pradesh. It is a popular hill-station and often visited by families, couples, and travellers during summer mostly and now in winters, too. Situated at a height of 2,200 mts, it was once the summer capital of British India.
The hill station still retains its old-style architecture and pedestrian-friendly lanes. The town has an airport at Jabarhatti but there are not many flights from here. Shimla railway station connects to Kalka, which is a UNESCO World Heritage route.
HOTEL
Since it was an early morning flight, we stopped at a local hotel in Punjab for a hearty North Indian thaali meal. Later, we proceeded to our hotel in Shimla called Hotel Asia the Dawn. Per night stay is around INR 3,000. The best part about this hotel is it is closer to most of the tourists spots in Shimla. Note that a lot of hotels here do not have any buses to take you to the tourists spots as the lanes are narrow. So, you have Himachal Tourism cabs taking you to the desired tourist spot from right outside of your hotel.
SIGHT SEEING SPOTS
Shimla is known for some of the best tourists spots, many of them that were part of Hollywood and Bollywood movies.
- The Mall Road – This place is segregated into three levels, each of them accessible through a lift that accommodates 60 people at once. The ticket for the lift is INR 40. The lift operates from 8 AM to 9 PM. At Mall Road, you can buy souvenirs for your loved ones. Do visit the Lakkaar Bazaar and purchase wooden items for your home.
- Christ Church – The famous Christ Church is approachable from the top-level Mall Road route. The church is open from 10:30 AM to 5:30 PM.
- The Ridge – It is a large open space where all the cultural events happen. You get a 360 degree view of Shimla from here. In the evenings, you can enjoy a lovely sunset and chit chat with your loved ones.
- Jhaku Temple – The temple is situated at Jhaku hills, about 2,455 mts above sea level. This temple has a Lord Hanuman statue standing tall right outside the entrance. This statue is visible from any corner of Shimla.
PLACES TO EAT AND BEST FOOD
While our lunch, dinner, and breakfast were within the hotel, I did try out the local food items at the Mall Road. You can visit the National Bakers for their yummy veg burgers and rolls. You will also find numerous tea stalls offering different types of teas. Do not miss them, especially in the cold season. The swirl ice creams are also a must-try at the Mall Road.
KULLU-MANALI
KULLU
Shimla to Manali route is almost a day’s ride. However, you can pit stop at Kullu and buy gorgeous shawls from the factories on route. Shimla to Kullu is about 199 kms, which is a 5 to 6-hour ride. It is best to take a break and make the most of your shopping experience.
You also learn about how the shawls are made with the manufacturers providing a guided tour on shawl making process. The threads and other items are usually sourced from the smaller towns of Punjab and Haryana.
While we were at the factory, the weather turned gloomy and just the ideal time to celebrate Holi with my fellow tour mates. We danced our heart out and relished the pakoras and chai along.
MANALI
As we entered Manali, I probably entered into the Tamasha movie zone and started humming ‘Ooo Safarnama!’ The views reminded me of Tamasha’s movie scenes. Everything felt picture perfect. There were snowy mountains, long and peaceful journeys, and the right company. Everything a solo traveller like me hoped for. As mentioned earlier, Manali is easily a day’s ride. From Kullu, Manali is just an hour away. We reached Manali by night on Day 2 of your trip.
Manali is a magical hill station at the northern end of Kullu valley. This mighty town is often a stopover for many travellers or trekkers as it falls on the way to Ladakh or Spiti or Kashmir. A few of them spend some days in this town, preferably when it snows.
Kullu-Manali has an airport as well called Bhuntar, which is often a challenging one for the pilots as it is a single runway set in a deep valley. Air India is the only flight that provides direct services to the airport. The flight services extend to Shimla, Chandigarh, and Delhi.
HOTEL
We stayed at Hotel Kanishka, which is about 5 mins walkable distance from the Manali Mall Road. In this lane, you will find several hotels within budget. If you go for 3 nights and 4 days stay at Hotel Kanishka, the price is around INR 11,000. The hotel rooms are pretty lavish and the wooden furnishings give a cosy vibe. As it is almost always cold in this region, the rooms have heaters to keep you warm.
Again, it is best to walk down the Mall Road and explore the many cafes there by foot. The area is safe and you can check out the architectural beauty around.
SIGHT SEEING SPOTS
Manali has everything for all age groups and travellers. Right from temples to shopping to adventure activities, Manali offers the best of both worlds.
- Hadimba Temple – An ancient cave temple, dedicated to Hadimba Devi will make you fall in love with nature. Nestled amidst 100s of pine trees, this temple holds a lot of importance for the localites.
- Himalayan Nyinmapa Tibetan Buddhist Monastery – I have always craved to visit a monastery in North India and this temple comes close to it. I have never felt more at peace. Also, the architecture is a treat to the eyes.
- Solang Valley – If you love cable car rides and want to play with snow, Solang Valley is just the place to be. This picturisque destination is 2,560 mts above and a cable car ride is the only way to get there. You can also do paragliding, horse riding, dress up in traditional Himachali attires, or enjoy a Yak ride. These activities are approximately INR 500 each.
- Rohtang Pass – One of the popular mountain passes, it is open from June to October month. Due to heavy snowfall, they are shut during the winters. It is at an elevation of 3,987 mts and is usually the route to enter Leh Ladakh. Only taxis and personal vehicles can pass through this route. On Tuesdays, the route is closed for maintenance. The entry time is 10 AM and exit should be by 4 PM. Movies like Jab We Met and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani were shot here.
- The Mall Road – Unlike the Shimla Mall Road, this road is a straightforward one and you will find souvenirs, clothes, and accessories stores across the street. You will find most of the items for a price range between INR 150 to INR 350. You also have many food outlets and cosy cafes around.
PLACES TO EAT AND BEST FOOD
Manali boasts of some of the best cafes and food items. The most authentic Himachali item is the Siddu. It is sold at most of the food outlets in the Mall Road. Siddu is eaten with ghee during the winters to keep the body warm. It is served with a lentil broth or pudina chutney. It is a kind of bread made of wheat flour. The inside is soft and fluffy while the outside is golden-brown and slightly crispy.
Another highlight for me was Cafe 1986 at the Mall Road. They are the only cafe in India that hosts double live shows all the days accompanied with meals and drinks. During the evening time and after all your shopping, head to Cafe 1986 to enjoy a cup of coffee or hot chocolate along with fries and sing along the old and new Bollywood songs.
ATAL TUNNEL AND SISSU
If you truly love adventure, then an Atal Tunnel ride should be on your radar. This tunnel, named after former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, is a highway tunnel built under the Rohtang Pass. This horseshoe-shaped tunnel that connects Manali to Lahaul-Spiti valley, reduces a 4-5 hour journey to merely 30 minutes. It is the world’s longest tunnel above 10,000 ft and is all-weather proof. On a heavy snowy day, it is impossible to visit Lahaul-Spiti valley. However, Atal Tunnel makes it easier to swiftly reach the destination.
P.S. Considering Atal Tunnel is at quite a height, make sure motion sickness people carry the required medications.
While you enter the tunnel from Manali, the other end of the tunnel brings you to Sissu that is surrounded by high peaks. The day we visited Sissu, the temperature was 1 degree. Just a night before our visit, the mountain ranges experienced heavy snowfall. While I experienced a nose sun burn, thanks to the direct UV rays, I thoroughly enjoyed my first snowfall experience. Here, you can watch the blue Chandra lake flowing, giving the perfect backdrop for your portraits.
Besides playing with snow, you can get professional pictures clicked by the several photographers present in the site. A bunch of 40 photos costs about INR 250. You can also do other snow activities here, but with a price. Ensure to cover yourself well and apply an SPF 50 sunscreen before visiting Sissu.
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I do not think I could have asked for a better solo trip that was packed with adventure and so many enthralling activities. Since it was an all girl’s tour, we even celebrated Women’s Day by trying out the local Manali wine and danced till our legs hurt. Oh and not to forget, dancing along with the local Himachali folks on their songs. It was a night to remember!
Well, I hope I have woken up the desires of the solo travellers out there. If you are one of them, make sure to visit Shimla-Manali-Sissu anytime in the next 2-3 months to enjoy the late snow season. Trust this guide will make your journey worthwhile! 🙂
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