Ever wondered witnessing the beautiful reflections of clear sky and the mountains in the blue water of the lake at about 14000 ft. Well, better things require efforts to be put in and so did we on our trip. The trip included some detours for the itinerary didn’t go as per plan but that only made our road trip in Himachal even more adventurous. Here is the itinerary one should refer to make the most of his road trip in Himachal Pradesh covering Manali, Chandratal, Mcleodganj, and Amritsar as a detour on the return journey.
Day 1 (Haldwani – Delhi- Manali) – 755kms
Today you begin your journey so-called a Road Trip in Himachal Pradesh. Leave Haldwani by the noon and reach Delhi by eve. You can take a halt if you want else to continue your trip on the Delhi – Manali Highway.
Route
The route is a complete highway and with the views getting more spectacular as one approaches Manali. A patch of about 30kms is a bit of trouble at between Bilaspur and Rampur as you leave from Haldwani. Beyond this, you are going to enjoy your drive. As you reach Kullu you will find beside the lovely blue water flowing and splashing as they strike the rocks.
Food
There are plenty of options between Haldwani and Delhi but the most appropriate would be at Gajraula which is almost midway between the two. One can have all sorts of options from Dhabas to restaurants and even fast-food outlets like McDonald’s, KFC, and Dominos etc. For taste and hygiene, I will suggest Bikanerwala, Sagar Ratnam or Moga.
After crossing Delhi the best option available is Sukhdev Dhaba at Murthal or Jhil Mil Dhaba at Karnal. Have your tummies filled here as you won’t find much any further.
Early morning after covering almost 3/4th of your journey you can take a halt at any tea stall and refresh yourself while enjoying the beautiful views and cold breeze with a cup of tea/coffee.
In Manali you can head to the Jhonson Cafe or try as the locals for the famous Tibetan cafe in the market.
Stay
Manali has plenty of hotels & hostels from budget to luxury but if one wants to feel the beauty and peace I will suggest staying in the Log Hut Area as it is a bit away from the market hustle bustle and offers serene beauty. The one I found the best and stayed in was Snow Valley Resorts. The resort offers large cozy rooms with amazing views. Moreover, it has a terrace to enjoy your morning tea admiring the pine forest.
Also, don’t forget to take the complimentary meals with the stay as there are not many great options to eat and hotels serve a better and tasty food. If you are an explorer than go out exploring some cafes in the old Manali which is a backpackers paradise.
Places to visit
- Solang valley – The valley about 14 km from Manali offers a great place to beat your adrenaline rush with sports like paragliding, riding the ATV bikes and even more in the winters when the valley is snow covered and the pines capped with snow. The place is perfectly apt for the nature Must try the paragliding for it gives breathtaking views.
- Hadimba Devi temple – Situated close to the Mall road the temple offers a calm and peaceful environment to the pilgrims. It is a cave temple situated in the foothills of the Himalayas being surrounded by the lush green pine forest.
- Mall road – The main attraction of the tour after the dawn is the mall road. All the tourist head out to the street for a walk in the cool breeze and enjoy shopping, eating and just feeling relaxed.
Day 2 (Manali – Chandratal) – 128kms
Route
Today you cover a distance of merely 128km to reach the pristine glacial lake. The lake is surrounded by the dry barren mountains which stand as a connection b/w the lakes and the sky. It will take about 8 hrs. to reach this out of the world place. Be prepared as today will be a test of your driving skills coming up with a new challenge at every other turn. You must have an SUV for this with a good ground clearance and power to throttle on the slopes.
Food
Leave early in the morning to avoid the rush at Rohtang and reach Chandratal before sunset. Get your breakfast packed. Chatru will be the first spot to eat and after that Chacha Chachi ka Dhaba at Batal that is 14kms before Chandratal.
Stay
You will find some camps 2kms before the lake costing Rs. 800 to 1000 per head per night. Book your stay and go towards the lake. Spend few hours there and return back to the camp. Have the complimentary dinner and enjoy the night in the freezing cold temperatures reaching up to minus 12 degrees Celsius.
Place to visit
- Chandratal – Also called the Moon Lake is a true heaven for nature lovers. One can spend the whole day just admiring the beauty of the lake. If lucky enough on a no windy day you can even get to see the clear reflection of the blue sky and the surrounding mountains. It’s totally a picturesque moment for the photographers. Also one can shot the galaxy in the sky with a professional camera.
Tips – Don’t forget to take warm clothes and some medicines as there is a lack of oxygen and one can suffer from breathing problems.
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Day 3 (Chandratal – Manali – Mandi) – 236kms
Route
Today covers back on the same route to reach Manali and continue the drive ahead to Mandi which is 3 hrs. ahead of Manali.
Food
Leave empty stomachs from the camp around 8 to 9 am and take a halt for breakfast at Batal. Drive straight ahead to Manali and you may stop over for some snacks else drive to Mandi. Dinner in the hotel you stay at or can have at the food joint of Dominos.
Stay
There are a lot of options to stay you can find on Google. If you love beauty and having breakfast riverside with birds chirping music I would suggest Visco resort which is 2kms ahead of Mandi. The morning at the resort is perfect to sit beside the river sipping a cup of coffee and witnessing the mist in the environment with the birds chirping in the background. There is nothing better than this moment.
Place to visit
- Prashar Lake – If time permits the lake situated at 49 km north of Mandi with an altitude of about 8000 ft is a must visit. The small island in the lake that keeps changing its position and moreover the undetermined depth of the lake are few facts known.
Booking.com
Day 4 (Mandi – Dharamshala – Mcleodganj) – 131kms
Route
The route is awesome with a small patch of about 3 – 4kms of disturbance ahead of Mandi. Covering the Baijnath temple near Dharamshala continue the drive to reach Mcleodganj.
Food
After breakfast in the hotel leave and for lunch you may halt on the way, though there are not many options you have. Reach Mcleodganj by the eve. Check in to the hotel and fill up your tummies at any of the cafés. The best ones are Tibetan Kitchen, Mc ‘LLO, and for sweets Woeser bakery if you are looking for Tibetan, north Indian, and some sweets respectively. Must try the Walnut Tart at the Woeser bakery.
Stay
There are plenty of options available from Rs. 1500. I suggest taking one close to the Mcleodganj square. Hotel Sapphire offers a great balcony view and is nearby the square. Don’t take the meals in the hotels and leave it to try in the numerous cafes.
Place to visit
- Baijnath Temple – Being situated on the way to Dharamshala which is about 40 km from here, the temple of Lord Shiva is built of beautifully carved out of stonework and is from the old age. There is a lush green carpet grass to spend some time and on the backdrop of the temple is a panoramic view of the mountains and rivers.
I am sure as the road trip approaches its end you must be carving for more. So to cater this today you will take a small detour on the way back to Delhi. Adding to the trip will be the magnificent gold structure The Golden Temple.
Day 5 (Mcleodganj – Amritsar – Delhi) – 680kms
Route
The route is a highway and one can achieve a good average speed to reach Delhi. Today you will go for local sightseeing and then drive to Delhi via Amritsar to cover Golden temple.
Food
Enjoy the early morning tea at the roadside stall on the square. Breakfast at any of the café and leave by 9: 00 am as a lot to cover today. I suggest the Carpe Diem on the temple road for the breakfast. Also, must give your taste buds the taste of another great dish from the Tibetan cuisine called Lapping Noodles which are served either dry or soupy and are available close to the Monastery on a small stall roadside.
Places to visit
- Bhagsu temple – Situated 2 km from Mcleodganj the temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It comprises a freshwater spring for the devotees to take a dip. You can park your car and walk through the street as you shop some stuff for yourself. After the worship, move further towards the waterfall.
- Bhagsu waterfall – At about 1.5 from the Bhagsu temple leads a path to the 20 feet high waterfall. Due to the slope to reach the zenith of the waterfall, a good amount of strength will be required. The fall is at its peak beauty during monsoon with mist rising from the water and the tiny droplets in the air present a soothing effect on the soul and body.
- Dal Lake – Not to be confused with the one in Jammu & Kashmir, this is totally different from the one there. The lake beside a tourist spot holds religious importance. Every year, on the occasion of Radha Ashtami a fair is being organized here which is a plethora of colors.
- Jhon Church – This beautiful stone church dates back from 1852 and is one of the buildings preserved since the British Era. Located at 20 mins walk from the Mcleodganj Square makes it easily accessible. The Belgium stained glass in the window marks memories as a gift from Lady Elgin. The church though itself beautiful gets added beauty from the thick pine forest that surrounds the church.
- Tsuglad Khang Complex – Located down the street on temple road the entry from the large Iron Gate involves security screening. The place is home to 14th Dalai Lama and allows photography within the campus except inside the main temple.
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Golden temple or Sri Harminder Sahib – Located in Amritsar in the states of Punjab this is one of the holiest places of Sikhs. Made of pure gold, the Gurudwara surrounded by a beautiful lake. Also, it holds its name for having the world’s largest kitchen serving free food for 100000 – 300000 people a day.
Stay
Delhi is full of hotels from cheap to luxury which suits all sorts of travelers. Book online for great deals. Prefer taking it after crossing Delhi to prevent morning traffic jam.
Day 6 – (Delhi – Haldwani) – 278kms
Route
Route is same as was on the first day of our road trip with the same food options. Leave at your own comfort either with the sunrise or after a nice and light breakfast.
Places to visit
- Lotus Temple – The Baha’i House of Worship located in Delhi, known for its architectural magnificence. Its Lotus shaped structure rising above the lush green garden makes it insta worthy for photography lovers. In a group of three free-standing marble petals make the nine entry and exit gates of the temple. Inside of the temple is a vast room where people sit in silent devotion to god. The moment you step in a very calming and pleasing atmosphere is felt.
- Red Fort – The fort served as a residence of Mughal Emperor for about 200 years. Also, its great significance in Indian political history makes it a paradise for history lovers. Built from the beautifully carved red stones the fort houses a number of museums. Its location in the Central Delhi makes it within easy reach.
- Humayun’s Tomb – Situated in East of Delhi, it is the first structure to use red stone at such a large scale.The tomb houses the graves of Bega Begum, Hamida Begum and more from the family and was crowned with the UNESCO World Heritage site in 1993.
The road trip ended after covering the states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal, and Punjab.
*This is how we had our road trip. Adjust the above itinerary in lieu with your driving caliber and no. of days in hand. Feel free to reach me for any and all help.
Exhaustive and in-depth! I need to learn a thing or two about traveling and planning from you. You are totally brilliant. By the way, have you heard of ROSE Kanda near Haldwani? It is a nice place for volunteering where one can learn organic farming, teach school children etc at very affordable one time cost.
Thanks..I am always up for help so feel free to reach me…As far as Rose Kanda is considered being a resident of Haldwani for over a decade i wonder why I haven’t heard about it..Probably its time for me to explore that side
I have done the Chandratal – Manali – Mandi circuit and visiting Dharamshala separately. But I must say, doing it all in a single road trip sounds more fun. Some of the circuits are still unexplored for me. Will try next.
Ya doing it all at once is fun and a test of our endurance…which we failed…we left from manali in order to complete the circuit Manali-chandratal- kaza- shimla…but had to return from Chandratal itself as we were not prepared for it…but there’s always a next chance
I am tempted to blindly follow this itinerary. It seems complete in every respect.
The Hidimba temple caught my attention, I have heard so much about it and always wondered how to prepare an itinerary around it.
Well now you have an itinerary and all you have to do is pack ur bags and leave…i hope this itinerary helps you in the best possible way..
Are you saying that one can cover the Haldwani -Delhi trip in 6 hours? I doubt it, because the last trip that we did in that stretch was a few years before. Is it a National Highway?
Yes..its a national highway.. being a frequent traveler on this route I know that it can be covered..I have even covered it in 4.5 hrs early morning…Though there are few days in the year when you find beyond usual traffic jams and end up taking upto 10hrs but that’s a rare scenario
It;s only now that I’ve heard of Himachal Pradesh, and reading your detailed post made me want to check it out for myself. India really doesn’t stop on surprising me with its wonders.
Glad to see your deep sighted interest in India..I am sure it will be prove to be better than your thoughts once you step in the country…
Finding myself in Haldwani never go for fast foods I’m already use to, rather check out the Bikanerwala, Sagar Ratnam or Moga which I know I’d love. Heard about the Mall road, sounds interesting. A complete info to use anytime in the area.
Good to see that you found it helpful….let me know your experience if you ever get to use this itinerary…
I haven’t actually heard of this place, just now. Though, I like road trips! Plus the morning tea, it’s perfect with milk! Hot milk tea to start up a long day ahead or road trip!
That’s a useful plan. Only that the first day seemed ambitious. 755 kilometres in a day is a lot of distance to drive through. I have been to Himachal in visiting Mandi, Shimla, Kullu, Manali and Rohtang. I never knew Chandratal was close to Manali. I think a 2 week vacation for someone from the south would suffice to go through Himachal.
I know 775km seems a lot but on a highway a passionate driver won’t feel it..2 weeks are perfect to cover one side of Himachal but completely it would take more than that if you give time to each place
Wow.. very detailed post. I will bookmark this. I travelled in US on a road at 14000 ft elevation but haven’t done in India. Will try this itinerary some day.
Thanks and yes do try this one..surely will be a breathtaking adventure for you to cherish forever..
Looks like an amazing adventure. Climbing so high in the car is a real challenge!
The real challenge is not the altitude but the road conditions…but all troubles are overshadowed by the picturesque surroundings
Road trip to Himachal Pradesh, great. The way have elaborated your interesting itinerary it shows you had all the fun, not only at the destinations but while being on road as well. I enjoyed equally reading your post.
thanks..good to know that my post could make you virtually feel the same way I actually felt…
It looks like a fantastic place to hike! So majestic and challenging! I bet you need to have a good hiking training to really succeed!
I am curious about the Lotus and Hidimba Temples. Would love to see those temples in the near future. A friend is inviting me to explore India this November but I don’t know the itinerary yet.
You must definitely make a visit..and don’t worry much about the itinerary ..just travel with a free soul because at the end what matters is the pleasure you gain and not how many spots you covered…Welcome to India soon and Happy Travels
Chandrataal is magical! I am yet to visit Dharamshala hopefully soon.
Great write-up!
Beautiful post Mohit 🙂 superb, writeup … I am planning to visit Chandrataal, your post will help me a lot for that :)..
Very Detailed. Lovely Write Up. Superb bhai gajab ka likha hai.
Thanks brother…
I believe Himachal is the only state in India where you can take your car for a continuos ride for 1 or 2 weeks in the mountains to feel the fresh air and the breeze and the wonderful view of the Greater Himalayas
Haahha….very true because more than passion it’s the beautiful vistas and fresh air that keeps us driving
I’ve never been in this area before! I’d love to visit someday. I would love to see the waterfall.
You are most welcome and le me know if I can be of any help
This is VERY informational. Loved reading this post!
Thanks….
Pictures look amazing! Himachal is definitely on our list next, and your post made me just want to land there right now
Good to see that my post intrigued in you a zest and hope you get to make a visit soon…Happy Traveling
Seems like an awesome trip you made! Unfortunally I couldnt see the pictures as they werent loading?!? Its a pity but your journey sounded very fun!
Sad that u missed the pics…you can search for my youtube channel @jauntingjourneys and enjoy the trip there itself
Sounds like a wonderful trip. If this place is anything like the photos, it would be fantastic.
Have my assurance the place is more than what is captured here..
I’ve never seen this side of India, thanks for showing it to me. Another place added to my bucket list! Would love to explore the rest of North India. 🙂
ur most welcome…and I am sure this will become your most love part of India once you vist
I adore road tripping to places I’ve never been! What a gorgeous view you had throughout the entire journey.
Well the view and fresh air are the qualities of every Himalayan road trip
You are an inspiration! I love the idea of traveling and adventure. Well done on the photography too – you have a passion, and it shows!! The consistent narrative of ‘route- food – places to stay’ over your travel days are awesome – I have a visual of what you went through and what I might be interested in if I were traveling your path. Look forward to seeing more of your adventures. If I don’t end up going on them myself, I can live vicariously through you!! 😀 .
That’s so overwhelming to hear that….feels my efforts yielded what I aimed for…You can always follow me here and yes not to miss my Instagram where I post a feeds depicting my journey
Wow, this is a full packed itinerary. Such a very detailed one. I will bookmark this or pin to my places to visit. I need to have an energetic and reliable driver for this long road trip.
Thanks…you can ping me if have any more queries I can cater to…yes a passionate and skilful driver is a must on this trip
The itenary is very much compact. I’m definitely going to follow this when I visit Himachal Pradesh.
This looks like a wonderful experience. Thanks for giving a breakdown of your trip. Your itinerary looks pretty amazing.
Be assured you won’t be disappointed for a second here
Thank you for all amazing information here. I am sure I would love to visit all of these places and know what they have there is always helpful. Himachal I will be adding to my list of places to go to.
Glad that you found this helpful…you should definitely visit the region once
This is absolutely incredible. Sounds like you had an amazing time. I am going to add this to my bucket list as your blog has convinced me I’m missing out.
Glad to intrigue that feeling in you..please to let me know how help was this itinerary to you or connect on FB for any little queries you have…happy to help..have a wonderful trip anytime soon
great pictures! I’d see myself visiting Himachal I think… The Golden Temple is beautiful and very intriguing 🙂
You should definitely plan once and feel free to ping me for you have any doubts in mind…
WOW this is amazing! What a fantastic journey!
Thnk u..glad u liked it
What an extraordinary trip! I don’t think you missed a single amazing thing.
Thanks…but yes there are a few things we missed due to short of time..the place has a lot more to explore
Wow… It’s nice adventure and so completed
Gotta love road trips. I have been trying to create itineraries for roadtrips too in the Philippines. Nothing beats the feeling of successfully doing the things that you plan in your itinerary. Your trip made me want to try out what you did. Would love to see more photos of it too.
Gald to know that it intrigued you to head out for a road trip…You may go through my first hand experience on this road trip at – https://jauntingjourneys.com/himalayan-heights .
I’m sure that road trips along this itinerary. could be a lifetime experience. I will visit this places one day!
Yes, you are right..it was one experience that always passes through my mind at least once everyday…You should definitely plan a visit and are always welcome to bring ur queries to me..
Wow, this is truly such a memorable road trip I must say. The scenery that flaunt before my eyes are really enticing. I also love how detailed you are when you write your experience, which make me like I’m joining in your road trip. Anyway, your itinerary and all detailed information will surely be a help. Thank you so much for sharing this with us.
Feels so happy to have such a applause… Thank u so much for the kind words
I loved reading this piece. I have always wanted to see the Himachal and your post makes me want to do that even more.
Glad my post could be intriguing for you to plan your trip.. There’s more on my blog about Himachal which you can go through to plan your trip and yess I am always available to help you plan so just feel free to ping me
Fabulous write up and so many good suggestions for a trip here. Thanks so much for sharing all your ideas!
Glad that you liked it… many more up there which I am sure you would want to read so feel free to go ahead
Wow, this is such a great and detailed itinerary. I’ve wanted to visit here for so long, and always feel like I need more time to do it justice. When I finally am able to make the trip, I’ll be sure to come back to this article for ideas!
Happy to see that it answered all our queries and and for the rest feel free to ping me once you plan to head out on this adventurous journey
So many of these places I have heard very little of. Your itinerary is thorough and brings these places to life for me. Thank you. I hope to get to India one day
Thank you so much and wish you plan you trip to India soon and just ping me over on facebook or Instagram and le me know if I could be on any help to you
We are currently slow travelling Himachal and so delighted to find your post. While we have covered a few places already, added Chandratal to the list. But to be honest, Himachal is so beautiful that you can travel here for a lifetime and its still of enough!
Very true.. Even the same place in Himachal looks different on every visit.. Happy Journey and lets hope our routes clashes someday soon
Such a very well written and detailed article. This is a part of the world I have yet to visit, but hope to one day. However, I don’t know if I could handle the heights!
Thank you so much for the appreciation and talking about the heights then a well planned trip won’t cause much problem like proper acclimatization to avoid AMS and carrying oxygen cylinders .. Go for it and you will love it
Lack of oxygen at the Moon Lake? Then why am I going?? Lol. It’s good to explore your backyard anyway and it seems like a very fun road trip.
It was freaking yet fascinating and there are ways to overcome lack of oxygen problem so don’t miss the trip just because of that
I’ve never heard of this area but I never cease to be amazed at how much India seems to offer! This itinerary is so complete and full of useful tips for this road trip, thanks for sharing
India won’t ever let you feel like youv’e seen it all… Happy to have your kind appreciation
This sounds like the perfect itinerary. I’ve never been to India, but when I go, I will definitely keep this in mind.
Please do and don’t forget that i am always just a text away to help you plan your trip
So much great and extensive information!! I feel this could be my exact trip and I wouldn’t have to plan a thing! I have never been here or close, but would love to some day!
Thanks..Every possible care has been taken so as not to miss any important info but just incase if you use this itinerary please do share your experience with me.
Great write-up!! We spent four months in southern India last year and can’t wait to go back and explore more. I’ll definitely come back to your site for tips and inspiration!
oh..woww, southern India is definnitely a gem but northern India has its own unique charm. Please to return back as you plan your trip and do add me to your contact list for you have any queries
I must admit that these places sound amazing. India does seem to have a vast amount of wonderful places to visit.
Yes..India is a home to diversity.. be it food, culture, landscape and what not.
Wow, this is insane! But, what an adventure. Great detailed post and the ideal itinerary to cover so much ground through the Himachal.
yes it was on hell of an adventure yet the most fascinating one
Nice. It reminds me about my trip through the whole of Norway somehow. Mountainous landscapes and nature. Good idea providing a detailed information about places to stay etc. Would help someone who would go there for the first time.
Oh great..Norway has been on my list for long. Would feel glad if it could help someone.
The more I read and hear about India, the more I realize I would need a lifetime just to begin to experience much of what the country has to offer. Little wonder it has attracted travelers and adventurers and explorers for centuries. Your itinerary is fantastically detailed! Thank you. Sounds like a great road trip.
Yes, India is an unbeatable destination. One can never get over with it. Glad you like the post.
Road trips in the north are really scenic. Being a fellow Indian I know how adventurous this must have been. We did a road trip from Calcutta to Agra, which was exhausting but totally worth it. We are also planning a road trip to Bhutan this October (from Calcutta). But I would really like to go North once again and explore the hills. Do you suggest renting Zoom cars from Delhi ?
Oh so you are from India.. Maybe our routes clash one day soon. You must plan a road trip across North India. Talking about Zoomcar, I haven’t used it ever but yes people do recommend hiring one only if by no chance you can get your own vehichle. One issue with zoomcar could be that since you will be offroading any wear and tear of car parts would end up in a heavy bill by zoomcar.
Amazing detailed read and adventure. I have to plan and visit this area, I have bookmarked your post for future reference, also thanks for writing a fantastic itinerary I’d love to follow in future.
Thank you so much for the appreciation. Glad that it could prove to be of use for your trip and besides this you can ping me anytime for more discussion. Hope you get to visit soon.
Really great post! Road trips are the best aren’t they? Moonlake sounds like heaven!!
It not only sounds like but also feels like being in heaven when you are at the lake.
Wow, you covered quite a lot in 6 days. I’d love to do a similar road trip but excluding Amritsar, that’s little of the route. How long did you stay in each location?
Yeah we acovered a lot because we drove a lot specially during the night. Amritsar won’t be that of the route and can be easily covered. We stayed one night each at starting from Manali then camping at Chandratal followed by Mandi. From Mandi we went to Mcleodganj where we again stayed for a night. That’s it. After this we heaed to Amritsar and after a short stay of around 2 hours we left for Delhi. All this is possible if you have a good driver and I will recommend to have atleast two people who can drive which we didn’t had. For much more detailed discussion you can ping me over Facebook or Instagram.