Offbeat places near Manali to taste the flavour of Himachal. From the ubiquitous Lahaul to the hidden villages – and yes, I crashed my scooty. This is a truly offbeat Manali guide for experiential travellers.

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When my quiet mind asked for chaos, for reasons alien to the mind itself, my slow travel morphed into a first-paced adrenaline booster. I chucked myself to a new face. Shimla-Kullu-Kasol-Manali – flew by, in the blink of an eye. Yet it was one hell of a phase – pitching in, pitching out. It had its own suavity, to extrapolate the least, and the added addiction. But, the heart of an explorer always yearns for peculiar way-outs, bizarre alternatives, and idiosyncratic destinations; the places still reeking of the purity of youth and the fragrance of the old. So I stopped after two days.

To be honest, this ‘famous’ hill-station did not take me off my feet or anything, or had any other inflated textbook effect you may expect to have from all the overhype. But slowing down around here certainly changed the outlook I harboured during my first five days there. There’s nothing extraordinary about this place, I can’t possibly be blunter than this. But here is a list of the best offbeat places to visit near Manali to pump up your Himachal-trotting to the brim, and how each place painted a distinct story for me.

Best Offbeat Places to Visit Near Manali

1. Hallan is Very Close to Manali, And Very Offbeat

Hallan, a tiny village 9 km away from Chaki, is concealed from the rush of the seasoned crowd. From Naggar, towards Chaki, one road cuts to Sarsai, and another road runs uphill towards the end, Hallan. PossiVille, the only Backpackers’ hostel in Hallan and the consecutive villages, is the hub for the seekers of stillness of life, treks without identities, and mind-numbing sunsets. There’s no provision for sightseeing, or rather, nothing to ‘see’ as such, except for a village tuned to regular mountain life.

1.1. Volunteering in the Kitchen (Still Can’t Believe This!)

PossiVille offered me a volunteering opportunity I, not even while dreaming the absurd daydreams, would have dreamed of. HELP IN THE KITCHEN! Cooking for myself while mixing Chana Masala in Egg Curry for fun is completely different (and more familiar to me), but being a cook in a professional kitchen is a whole other ball game, particularly for a first-timer who never enjoyed cooking (Updated eight months later – I kind of started enjoying it. Updated two years later – Went back to not liking cooking again).

Having no staff in the hostel, it runs on the shoulders of a few volunteers. From housekeeping to cleaning the bathroom, from cooking to trash disposal, the volunteers contribute to the steady working of the hostel. That too only two to three volunteers, except the owner herself. What comes with a few volunteers and a packed hostel? Exploitation. Yeah, it sounds like ‘Oh my god Exploitation!’, and it actually is.

Before proceeding with more offbeat places around Manali, let me ramble a bit. Volunteering is a voluntary gesture offered from a voluntary end. Volunteers assist, they don’t work full-time. It’s the 5 hours of HELP they provide in exchange for food and accommodation.

I had experienced this sort of exploitative mentality in hosts before, and here again. If I may repeat, volunteers are not full-time workers. What was to be a ‘help’ in the kitchen piled up to be a plethora of demands – preparing three meals a day, brooming the ground floor, handling the social media, writing blogs, and creating videos for YouTube. The same was the situation with the other volunteer. She was already paying Rs. 6000 per month for food, and to be honest, practically taking care of all the aspects of the hostel in the name of volunteering. They expected us to put all our curious effort and time for their and their benefit only, yet the official dictum requires 5 hours a day for 5 days a week outta you.

Work, when you receive it without having to pay for it, should be respected and restricted. Work, when you offer as a volunteer, should be out of joy and the thirst for learning.

‘The Kitchen’ was a real minefield for me, especially on the days a novice like me had to survive alone. Those two weeks were the training period before the battlefield. Despite everything, I learnt first-hand cooking, truly enjoying the process to the core. Who would have thought I could prepare Aloo Paratha for ten people almost single-handedly? This is the person whose frustration in life sincerely revolves around the inability to make ’round’ rotis. From French Fries to Burgers, the owner introduced the a-b-c-d of cooking to me. She was patient with me, and I was patient with myself. But the vibration was not good there!

I make really good grilled sandwiches now! (Updated – I used to, but now I have forgotten again. I have forgotten pretty much everything actually).

On the more lethargic days, we would criticise and analyse the colours of the sunsets from the second floor under construction. We would play Housie (I won Rs. 30 the first night, mind you). We would sometimes spend the whole day playing Chess. We would hike up to any mountain of our choice. That’s the thing about the villages in the mountains. Life is slow and blissful in offbeat Manali.

And before I forget, Lugar Riding before a demonic curve is not exactly an everyday affair, for me. The kids on the street had to forgo their precious lugar, to let me try out one ride. Running after them for one lugar was totally worth it!

As much as I genuinely enjoyed learning new recipes and relishing how much I was understanding the load of a professional kitchen (I responsibly served overcooked Maggi to two guests and they complained, I mean how dare they!), to me the upcycling project that my fellow volunteer, Gargi, came up with was more enticing. The idea was to reuse thrown-away cigarette packets to make a world map on the wall. Painted the base in white, we fancied each cigarette packet in the likes of a country flag. Something you can implement in your space as well, maybe!

How to Reach Hallan – Take the local bus up to Naggar (20 km). Only two buses run every day from Naggar to Hallan – one at 8 in the morning and another at 5 pm. Or else, you can always go for private cabs to get down at this beautiful yet offbeat place a stone’s throw away from Manali.

Where to Stay in Hallan – The only backpackers’ hostel, PossiVille. Both dormitory beds and private rooms are available. (Updated in 2024: PossiVille is permanently closed now. Instead they started another hostel called Ikigai).

Also read – The Hidden Villages in Parvati Valley – Rasol And Stona

2. Raman, A Small Vista near Manali

If Hallan is a hideout, Raman is the cave. Raman is one of those villages I could not find on the trajectory of the map. I met Raman only as a passing corridor on a short hike, yet I was captivated by its simplicity and beliefs.

A receding waterbody, believed to be the nectar of a local deity, races with the trail alongside, echoing against the caution of the locals not to cross it with leather shoes, the violation of which can be as serious as a fine. The local women passing with a herd of sheep cautioned us, the onlookers by the village playground cautioned us, and the local dude who appeared out of nowhere to sell marijuana cautioned us. And we wholeheartedly accepted it.

Raman took us to a place called ‘Thodi‘ (the spelling may be wrong), a truly offbeat place near Manali, pretty much near the top of that mountain. Three guests from the hostel in Hallan; Coco, the hostel dog, and myself, of course, hiked from Hallan to Thodi in the sudden drizzle at the top. And what was there at the top? Acres and acres of private land. And the systematic cultivation of weeds. From a huge rock hanging on a very pointed base, you get a panoramic view of the nearby villages, Rumsu in particular.

Funny how in a few days I would grasp at another panoramic view, only this time it would be of Hallan from Rumsu. It’s literally similar to experiencing both sides of a coin!

On our way down, we again came across Raman and its friendly faces.

How to Reach Raman – The only possible way is by hiking. A 10-minute hike away from Hallan, Raman would be the first village on the way to ‘Thodi’. Stay in PossiVille and include this short hike in your Offbeat Manali itinerary.

Also read – Solo Hitchhiking for Two Days across Spiti Valley

3. Naggar, the Growing Tourism

3.1. Visit Naggar Castle – No Longer An Offbeat Place

Naggar is the mid-getaway from both ends (Both Kullu and Manali are crowded like anything). Naggar Castle, the reason behind the budding circle of tourists, has been turned into a luxury hotel and restaurant.

Naggar, the capital of Kullu Valley for 1460 years before Kullu was transformed into the new capital, still resides in its historical importance. Naggar Castle, presenting the use of axes in two of its single-doors, is said to have been made of stones from a fortified palace called Gharhdhek (situated below the Baragaon Village), from where the stones were carried across a human-bridge in the Beas River.

The ‘Kathkooni‘ architecture, the form of architecture prevalent in the colloquial tradition of Himachal, is a way of shaping structures using stones and wooden beams. The wooden beams were prepared from whole trees the massiveness of which can easily be surmised, whereas no iron or metal has been used in their fixing. The staircase, fireplace, and chimneys were implemented later, after Raja Gyan Singh sold it to the first Assistant commissioner for a gun. This is how Eastern architecture met Western.

Naggar used to be a hidden and offbeat place near Manali, but with its potential popularity, Naggar is also getting crowded. I would still recommend Naggar, as long as I can.

3.2. What Must You Have in Naggar?

Just opposite Naggar Castle, there’s a homemade bakery (It’s also called Homemade Bakery), the freshly baked cookies and cakes would do wonders for you (if you are a bakery-person like me). Egg-less Chocolate Cake, mango Cake, local energy bars – never had I chased the same bakery twice! The German Bakery around the corner is, as always, pretty good (I had the pancake there). But, there’re plenty of German Bakeries, and only one ‘Homemade Bakery’. I am completely, irretrievably, head-over-heels biased about this local joint.

How To Reach Naggar – Regular buses in short intervals can be caught from both Kullu and Manali. Only 20 km away, Naggar can easily be accessed through cab services as well.

Also read – Ways of Chamba – Culture, Wildlife And the People

4. Lahaul, The Incredible Lahaul

What’s it like to have bread-omelette from a mini-van with Lahaul as your backdrop after the straight ride through Atal Tunnel? (literally so straight that I didn’t have to move the Scooty handle for 9.02 km)

What’s it like to step inside the mysterious pictures we are so used to meeting in geography books as a child? Those far-away mountains, rough terrains, distinct in colour and texture.

The initial reaction was too prominent to carry it forward through words. I parked my scooty by the mini-van to grasp at the out-and-out change in the landscape, the green Kullu Valley replaced by the brownish-green starkly naked mountains. The grey roads furnished with white borders, and a few gutters en route to Sissu complemented the erect mountains and what was to come.

But I know what you are thinking. Since when Lahaul has become an offbeat place?! But Lahaul itself is so vast and inclusive that there are always hidden villages you haven’t been to! And also, Lahaul has my heart. Now reading on…

Close to Manali, Sissu, the picturesque mini-village in Lahaul, is naively preserved in its natural nuances. The Pir Panjal range suddenly flashes on your left and before you know it, you have to stop the scooty just for the sake of that moment. Sissu Waterfall, falling against the steamy dense illusion of clouds, makes up for one of the most majestic waterfalls in Himachal. Stretches and stretches of greenland, with one or two houses at some corner or another, my first impression of Sissu got stuck in the paraphrase, ‘I want to live here!’

But I rode on. With the calculation of how much petrol to preserve in order to travel back the same route and the shivers from sudden changes in the nip of wind. Oh, I crashed my scooty near Tandi!

How to Reach Lahaul – Lahaul is generally covered with Spiti. This route is exceedingly famous among bikers for the enthralling experience of riding through these unforgettable roads. But, yeah, you can always go for the HRTC bus leaving you in Lahaul through Atal Tunnel.

Also read – Spiti Under My Feet – Walking Alone for 150 km (9 Days)

5. Did You Know About Rumsu Village near Naggar?

Rumsu, the neighbouring village of Pulag and Sharan, curated a home for me for seven days. The hostel in Hallan no longer needed my help, and I did not want to leave the vicinity of Manali yet. This is a Couchsurfing that turned into volunteering, because of the amazing people I met and the beauty of the village.

Suresh, the man who proudly claims Rumsu as his birthplace, has started a tent hostel for budget travellers to give them an opportunity to explore a village devoid of travel courtesies, and Mani, helping him in staging the show.

Reliving the quietude and vibrancy that comes with the quietude and vibrancy of a village in the mountains – that’s how Rumsu was to me. Learning a bit of Kulvi from the locals during our simple Daal-Chawal dinner, painting the kitchen in black and white, cooking food together, even shopping for the hostel in Kullu for the whole day, and plucking apples from the apple orchards (for kilometers on end you will find hundreds of apple orchards, from Naggar to Pulag), hiking through the apple orchards from Rumsu to Sharan – where do I begin?

How to Reach Rumsu – 5.3 km away from Naggar, Rumsu can be reached by shared campers, or the local bus only running twice a day! Or else, walk, it’s only 5 km!

Where to Stay in Rumsu – Camoak Tenthostel. Contact Mani – 9566005994.

Also read – Connecting to Himachal through Village Kulthi in Tirthan Valley

6. Pulag near Rumsu is A Truly Offbeat Place near Manali

Another very offbeat destination near Manali, Pulag is the last village on the mountain I was living in (after Rumsu). Mani, one fine day, took me out sightseeing, to both Pulag and an unknown waterfall on the way to Jana Waterfall.

The entrance to the village is marked with a beautiful waterfall falling from a height. Beyond this point, no vehicle can enter the village premises. Being a landslide-prone area, the narrow stony bridge can only allow one person at a time. Carrying blue carriers, the villagers need to transfer daily rations and necessary goods.

How To Reach Pulag – Pulag comes right after Rumsu, it’s at walking distance from both Rumsu and Sharan.

Also read – Dalhousie with its Hailstorms & Dainkund Peak

7. Jagatsukh near Manali

12 km away, Jagatsukh justifies its meaning, ‘the peace of the world’. Not a ruckus from the tourists, not a care of the nearby overcrowded overhyped Manali, Jagatsukh, I am glad you came my way!

Hiking, then the next three hitchhiking rides (hitchhiking from Hallan to Chaki on the floor of a Maruti with no seats, a private cab lift till Haripur, a local’s car lift till Jagatsukh, and finally a nice guy from Delhi dropped me off in Vashisht). In between, I explored Jagatsukh on foot, with the curious local kids more curious about me and my backpack.

How to Reach Jagatsukh – Buses from Manali to Naggar can drop you off in Jagatsukh.

8. Vashist, A Must-Visit near Manali, but Not So Offbeat Anymore

8.1. Vashisht Baths

Surrounded by sandstone temples, Vashisht Baths are two hot springs deputed to men and women, separately. Vashisht Temple, one of the oldest in Vashisht, is a reputed realm of attraction, visited by hundreds of devotees every day. Mythologically believed to have the medicinal prowess to cure complicated maladies, skin disease to be precise, the hot springs in Vashisht are the believers’ guide to paradise. Even the non-believers can live the thrill of skinny-dipping in the hot sulphuric springs! (Yeah, that will stay with me forever)

8.2. Living in the Attic of A Cafe

My Couchsurfing host Igor, a Russian backpacker living in India since the lockdown, showed me exemplary kindness by laying out a space for me in the attic of the cafe he was working at. Cafe Rise N’ Shine, unfurnished in its bamboo structure, was all I could ask for. Being an amazing cook (and potentially broke), Igor found a job at the cafe after losing his phone on his way from Delhi to Manali. How extraordinary it was to be hosted by Igor (and the owner of the guy whom Igor convinced to let me crash in the attic) and taste Borscht, the traditional Russian soup with bread!

The attic itself had a spooky delight. Like the decor of the vampire video game ‘Blood Oath’ I used to play all the time. The flickering of a dim bulb, spiders on the wall, a two-week-old kitten smelling of milk and birth, and me, alone! Never mind the midnight after-effects of the pale bulb that burst into darkness! But those were the days of taking baths in the hot spring, reading books, working on my freelancing project, and having conversations with Igor; and the fun part, writing ‘Today’s Special’ on the cafe’s board with colourful chalks. That really was the best part about this offbeat cool place!

8.3. Jogini Waterfall in Vashisht

Located 2 km away from Vashisht Temple, Jogini Waterfall cascades down from 160 ft, with the river Beas under its feet. 45 minutes of hiking from Vashisht, and it’s truly a completely different atmosphere!

The waterfall is beautiful, to say the least, almost looks like falling from the sky. It was only my misfortune that brought me to Manali at a time of crazy tourism! Loudspeakers near the waterfall promoting bad music with the thick paste of tourists dancing half-clothed, bathing in water – would you take it or leave it? On a rock near the fall, it was written conspicuously, ‘Meditation Place. Please maintain silence’.

Certainly, tourists have their own definition of meditation! No, no longer offbeat, very touristy now.

How to Reach Vashisht – Being the closest tourist place near Manali and a bypass to Jogini Waterfall, buses run quite frequently to Vashisht.

Where to Stay in Vashisht

• Tales N Trails

Also read – A Tiny Space in the Ever-Growing Tourism in McLeodganj

How to Reach Manali from Delhi

• The nearest airport, Kullu Manali Airport, is situated in Bhuntar, 50 km away from the main town of Manali. The airport is domestically connected to Delhi and most other cities. One can opt for the local bus or shared cab from the airport.

• Joginder Nagar Railway Station is the closest railway station to Manali. However, Chandigarh and Ambala stations are also considered to be the nearby railheads.

• Daily buses, both Volvo and ordinary buses, run from Delhi (and most of the major cities) to Manali.

Where to Stay in Main Manali (Just In Case)

These are not offbeat-centric stay recommendations near Manali. These are in the main town, in case you want to stay a night or so.

Dormitories in Old Manali

• Roamate Hostel
• The Culture Nation Hostel
• Cafe Monkbase

Private Accommodations

• Sabr Homestay
• Double Dutch, Manali
• Sunface Homestay

Camping in Manali

• Camoak Tenthostel, highly recommended. Contact Mani – 9566005994.
• Last Stop Riverside

Also read – Overtourism in Himachal – Are You A Responsible Tourist?

Offbeat Couchsurfing Places near Manali

Mani hosts travellers in his Tenthostel, among an apple orchard, in the peaceful village of Rumsu, a few kilometres away from Naggar. This is the Couchsurfing that turned into volunteering, willingly. This should be your first preference, particularly if you are an avid trekker. This is the base of the famous Chandrakhani trek.

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In the process of updating the article, I understand how I have slowly unfolded myself in Himachal, how time has or hasn’t passed, how people remained… With that, I hope you add more places to your own offbeat destinations near Manali.

Would You Visit Any of these Offbeat Places?

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