How to Reach Manali by Air
The nearest airport from Manali is located near Kullu at Bhuntar named KUU Bhuntar Airport (Telephone: 01902-265037, 265603). KUU Bhuntar Airport is 10 km from Kullu and 50 km from Manali. Indian Airlines and Jagson are the major carriers that connect Manali from Delhi and Mumbai and Shimla to Manali. During monsoons, flights may get cancelled due to bad weather conditions.
From Kullu airport, take a pre- paid taxi from right outside the airport terminal or take a regular bus (tickets are very reasonable) to get to the main town of Manali. If you have too much luggage on you then it is well advised to take a taxi to the town as it is more convenient than taking a bus. The taxis have fixed fares so don’t hesitate asking as the taxi drivers sometime over charge for a ride to the town. Taking a taxi from the airport is quite convenient as you can enjoy the great view of the hills and descending valleys.
How to Reach Manali by Rail
If you are planning to come to Manali by train then the nearest railway stations are Chandigarh, Ambala Cantt. Junction UMB/Arrivals at Ambala City/UBC and Chakki Bank Railway Station/ Pathankot Railway Station (train arrival and departure info can be found by clicking on the links) . Narrow gauge railway stations near Manali is Joginder Nagar railway station, which is 95 km away from Manali. The Joginder Nagar Railway Station is well connected to other Indian cities via Chandigarh. From these railway stations you can take a bus to Kullu first and then from there get on the bus which departs for Manali. The bus services from Kullu to Manali are very regular and depart daily throughout the day. The distance between Kullu town and Manali is about 40 kms.
Distance to Manali from Pathankot, Ambala and Chandigarh
- From: Pathankot, Punjab, India – To: Manali, Himachal Pradesh, India –320.0 km
- From: Ambala City, Haryana, India – To: Manali, Himachal Pradesh, India – 324 km
- From: Chandigarh, India – To: Manali, Himachal Pradesh, India– 295 km
How to Reach Manali by Bus
Manali is well connected with direct bus services from all cities of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Depending on which route you take, road distances from various Northern cities in India can vary. However, the closest distance from some cities is as follows:
- From: Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, India – To: Manali, Himachal Pradesh, India – 40 km
- From: Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India To: Manali, Himachal Pradesh, India – 257 km
- From: Chandigarh, India – To: Manali, Himachal Pradesh, India– 295 km
- From: New Delhi, Delhi, India – To: Manali, Himachal Pradesh, India – 543 km
- From: Pathankot, Punjab, India – To: Manali, Himachal Pradesh, India – 320.0 km
- From: Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh- To: Manali, Himachal Pradesh -253 km
The road connections are quite good and computerized reservation facilities are available at the bus stands itself. Regular deluxe buses and Volvos ply to Manali from Delhi and Chandigarh daily and usually run overnight. The Manali bus stand is in the centre of town on the Mall Road.
