Discover Top Offbeat Destinations Near Manali for a Serene Himalayan Escape
Looking for offbeat travel destinations in Manali? In this blog, I will share my top favorite places in under 20km from Manali main town. So, let’s get started…
The town of Manali, in Himachal Pradesh, is one of the top tourist destinations in the Indian Himalayas. Its close proximity to New Delhi and Chandigarh is continuously making it easier for the crowds to break away from the usual city-madness and experience the peaceful Himalayas.
And with the upcoming 6-lane highway, all the way from Delhi to Manali, it is going to be easier than ever for people to reach Manali — meaning, Manali is going to get more crowded, more smokey and bustling with life in the coming years. So, what are the options for those people who are looking for some offbeat travel destinations in Manali area?
Recently while travelling to Manali I realised that Manali isn’t a place I would want to travel anymore. And it also isn’t a place I would write a Travel Guide on (though I still wrote one — Things To See And Do In Manali).
The idea of having a tranquil holiday experience is less like a reality in Manali, and more like a dream. To ward off instead, head to these 5 peaceful towns in under 25 km from Manali. These towns act as perfect offbeat travel places in Manali area.
This is my list of offbeat destinations near Manali, that guarantee for a peaceful holiday.
Offbeat Tourist Places And Destinations Near Manali
Here are my 5 recommendations:
- Old Manali
- Hamta Valley
- Hallan Valley
- Solang Valley
- Fojal Valley
Now, let’s discuss these offbeat places near Manali one by one, and start with…
Old Manali: Though not very offbeat, I would still like to include Old Manali in the list for those who don’t want to go too far from the main town of Manali.
The old town is a hippie oasis located 2 kilometres from the Mall road. Old Manali offers a peaceful and relaxing experience while offering something for everyone — from booze to yoga centres to a relaxing cafe experience.
It is moreover cheaper to stay in Old Manali than in the main town — by at least half the price of what you pay for in Manali — making Old Manali an even better alternative if the idea is to stay very close to Manali. So yea, if you’re looking for an offbeat place in Manali area, the closest option you have is the old town.
To get to Old Manali just take an auto-rickshaw for 50 Rupees (from either side of the Mall Road) or take a 20-minute uphill walk.
Sethan, in Hamta Valley: A popular ski-destination in winter and a campsite in summer, Sethan is, without any second thought, my personal favourite offbeat destination near Manali — particularly if the idea is of relaxing for a few days.
Surrounded by mountains higher than 4,000 metres, Sethan remains an untouched Buddhist town. It is moreover an offbeat town idea for snow activities like Skiing and Snowboarding.
To get to Sethan, you will require to have your own vehicle and drive nearly 15 km south-east of Manali. Or you can take the bus from Manali (towards Kullu) and get off at the next town, called Prini. From Prini, your stay plus transportation can be organised.
Best way to enjoy the beauty of Sethan is by camping in Sethan. After travelling around the world and much of India, I’ve started my first hospitality network, a camping site with the name of ‘FootlooseCamps’. Check the pictures:
Also, if you’re looking for more campsites around, read this article: Camping in Manali.
Solang Valley: Though Solang Valley is popular for adventure activities like paragliding, quad-biking and zip-lining, its real charm, at least in my view, is camping on your own. Located at around 14 km further north of Manali (towards Leh), Solang Valley offers easy flat spaces and a number of restaurants at your disposal. Just bring your own tent, a few night-lamps and enjoy the mountains in a bargain.
To find an ideal camping space, if you’re confused, ask anyone about the zip-lining site in Solang Valley (there’s only one spot!) and you will find plenty of flat spaces around it. Right next to the ziplining, you can spot an old Shiva temple, guarded by a few feet high wall. You can also camp on the premises of Shiva temple for some assurance.
Village Soyal: Located less than 15 km from Manali (towards Kullu, on Naggar Road) Soyal Village is an offbeat destination for those for whom the idea of holidaying in the mountains is finding a glacier water stream surrounded by forest and a few cafes to satiate the tastebuds. It is possible to do a day trip from Manali to village soil or camp and stay overnight.
Located 1km from the village is an open camping ground big enough for at least 50 people to sleep together.
Hallan Valley: At under 25 km from Manali (towards Kullu) lies one of the tiniest valleys in Himachal Pradesh called Hallan Valley. Beautifully inhabited by local Himachali with landscapes full of unspoilt nature, Hallan Valley guarantees an undisturbed holiday. The only disappointing thing is, however, there are no full-time functioning Guest House in the entire valley, but a few homestays.
By far, Hallan Valley remains the most offbeat tourist place in Manali area.
To reach there, you will need to drive or catch a bus for nearly 17km toward Kullu (from Manali) on old Kullu-Manali highway and then take the Hallan Road.
Fojal Valley: Located almost halfway between Manali and Kullu, Fojal Valley is a very offbeat and an unpopular valley, in Himachal Pradesh, home to no more than a dozen small villages. Speaking of its positioning, Fojal Valley rises almost perpendicularly to Kullu Valley near the town of Patlikuhl, before it divides itself into two halves, with the town of Fojal (the entire valley also shares the same name ‘Fojal’) being located in the centre acting as the transportation hub for the entire valley.
When you’re in Fojal, you get an impression of being time-transported into the golden age of 70s or 80s when people shared more green space around them than concrete; when the chirping of birds echoed all day, from afar; when every Himalayan mountain looked no less auspicious.
The town of Fojal and the Fojal Valley appeared as one of those rare places where people would want to relax, forget their busy life behind, and spend a few nights unwinding and just being (in the moment).
Village Nayalag & Kasheri: Out of all offbeat travel places near Manali, it is from Kasheri village that I found most mesmerizing view of the adjoining Kullu valley. And that’s its charm.
Located about 20km from the Mall Road, Kasheri village has an altitude of nearly 2500m above the sea level. On the way, it is also possible to explore Nyingmapa Pangan Monastery – one of the least visited monasteries in the region.
There are no guesthouses there so a day trip from Manali is the only way possible.
There were about 15-20 houses in both the villages with the entire scene quite a village-like. Nearly all houses were refurbished Kathikuni with their base made of wood, stone and mud, and the roof either made of tin or a refined form of slate.
More than a village experience it’s the landscapes and scenic beauty that I recommend visiting Kasheri Village for.
