Things to do in Central Himachal Pradesh
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Pizza Olive
The aromas wafting from the pizza oven give this place an authentic Italian feel and the pizzas and pasta dishes don’t disappoint. You can eat indoors or out in the garden.
reviewed
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Naggar Castle
Built by the Sikh rajas of Kullu in 1460, this beautiful fort is a fine example of the alternating stone and timber style of Himachali architecture. It was converted into a hotel in 1978 when the last raja fell on hard times. There’s a tiny one-room museum downstairs, and the Jagtipath Temple in the courtyard houses a slab of stone said to have been carried here by wild bees. The best way to experience the castle is to stay here, and there’s also a restaurant – see right.
reviewed
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Dylan’s Toasted & Roasted
Manali’s mellowest hang-out, this hole-in-the-wall cabin-style coffeeshop in Old Manali serves the best espresso coffee in town, cinnamon tea, hearty breakfasts, garlic cheese toast and wicked desserts like chocolate-chip cookies and ‘Hello to the Queen’. DVD movies are shown in an adjoining room.
reviewed
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Chopsticks
The most popular traveller choice along the Mall in Manali town, this intimate Tibetan-Chinese-Japanese place is always busy. Naturally there are Indian dishes here, too, along with local trout. Cold beers and fruit wines are also served. Arrive early to secure a table in the evening.
reviewed
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Kora Community Cafe
Kora Community Cafe, near Hotel Lotus Lake, is good for coffee, Tibetan snacks and a veg thali.
reviewed
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Tibet Kitchen
On the road to the Club House, this is a decent Tibetan and Chinese place with the feel of a real restaurant.
reviewed
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Little Italy
Pizzas and pasta dishes are better than average at this 1st-floor restaurant, and you can get a cold beer.
reviewed
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Roerich Gallery
The main road through Naggar village continues for 2km to Roerich Gallery, the former home of eccentric Russian painter Nikolai Roerich, who died in Naggar in 1947. The lower floors display some of Roerich’s surreally colourful paintings of Kullu, Spiti and Lahaul, while the upper floors preserve the artist’s private rooms. Roerich was also the brains behind the Roerich Pact, a treaty signed by more than 60 countries guaranteeing the preservation of cultural monuments around the world.
reviewed
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Bhuttico
Shawls are sold all over Manali. A good place to start is at the cooperative Bhuttico which was established in 1944 by a group of village women. It charges fixed prices, so it’s a good place to gauge price and quality. Expect to pay upwards of Rs300 for lambswool, from Rs1000 for angora, from Rs3000 for pashmina and Rs6500 for the exquisitely embroidered shawls worn by village women. It has another store located in Manu Market.
reviewed
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Great Himalayan National Park
This 750-sq-km national park was established in 1984 to preserve a home to 180 species of birds and rare mammals, such as black bears, brown bears, musk deer and the ever-elusive snow leopard. As well as conserving wildlife, the park runs programs that provide a sustainable income for people living on the periphery of the conservation area.
reviewed
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Great Himalayan National Park
This 750-sq-km national park was established in 1984 to preserve a home to 180 species of birds and rare mammals, such as black bears, brown bears, musk deer and the ever-elusive snow leopard. As well as conserving wildlife, the park runs programs that provide a sustainable income for people living on the periphery of the conservation area.
reviewed
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Khyber
Upstairs by the main junction, this darkened bar and restaurant is central Manali’s best place for a cold beer or bottle of fruit wine or cider. The food is also good – the speciality is meat-heavy Punjabi and Afghani cuisine but there’s also Chinese, continental, and tandoori trout. Drinks are reasonably priced, and the booths are a good place to huddle.
reviewed
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Il Forno
Perched on a hillside near Hadimba Temple, Il Forno is a genuine Italian restaurant in a superb Himachal stone and timber building. The wood-fired pizzas, calzone, lasagne and pasta dishes are prepared by a Veronese chef and you can enjoy an espresso or beer with wonderful valley views from the garden terrace.
reviewed
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Rainbow Cafe
Most people end up at this rooftop Vashisht institution at the end of an evening. Come here for decent traveller fare – breakfast, Tibetan momos, yak cheese pasta, pizzas and thalis, as well as cold beers and an endless reggae soundtrack. There’s an internet cafe downstairs.
reviewed
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Johnson’s Cafe
The restaurant at Johnson Hotel is one of the best in town for European food, with dishes like lamb and mint gravy, smoked chicken, and fig and apple crumble. The restaurant-bar is cosy, but on warm evenings or sunny afternoons, the garden terrace is the place to be.
reviewed
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Adventure Sports Centre
This adventure sports centre has its headquarters at Aleo, 3km south of Manali on the east bank of the Beas. A huge range of activities can be arranged, from rafting and treks to skiing and mountaineering courses – see the website for details.
reviewed
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Gelukpa Cultural Society Gompa
The more-traditional Gelukpa Cultural Society Gompa has an atmospheric prayer room crammed with statues of bodhisattvas (enlightened beings), revered lamas and Buddhist deities. There’s also a small workshop producing Tibetan carpets.
reviewed
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Bhoj Restaurant
The atmosphere inside is a bit dark, but the loungey furniture, funky music and great food make this a popular hang-out in Old Kasol. A full menu of Indian, Chinese and continental includes local river trout and desserts like ‘Hello to the Queen’.
reviewed
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Mayur
Locals rate Mayur highly for its well-prepared North and South Indian specialities. Downstairs is traditional Indian, while the contemporary upstairs bistro serves dishes such as croquettes, chicken stroganoff and, oddly, Marmite toast.
reviewed
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Peace Cafe
This cosy 1st-floor Tibetan-run restaurant near the post office, serves possibly Manali’s biggest range of global food, from momos to Japanese noodles, and local river trout to Hong Kong lamb. Friendly and efficient service.
reviewed
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Museum of Himachal Culture & Folk Art
Opposite Hadimba Temple, the interesting Museum of Himachal Culture & Folk Art has religious relics, household objects, instruments, weapons, architectural woodcarvings and scale models of Himachal temples.
reviewed
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Nature Park
A large grove of deodars (cedars) on the banks of the Beas has been set aside as a nature park, with a small aviary of Himalayan birds, including the monal pheasant, Himachal’s state bird.
reviewed
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Nature Reserve
A large grove of deodars (cedars) on the banks of the Beas has been set aside as a Nature Reserve, with a small aviary of Himalayan birds, including the monal pheasant, Himachal's state bird.
reviewed
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Tibet Art Collections
Manali is crammed with souvenir shops selling souvenirs from Himachal, Tibet and Ladakh - most are open from 10:00 to 19:00. Tibet Art Collections probably has the best choice.
reviewed
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Treat Restaurant
On the lower level of the market square, this small but swish restaurant is a popular meeting spot and serves up Chinese and South Indian food in air-conditioned comfort.
reviewed
