Chandigarh to Manali by road
| Distance | Driving time | Route |
|---|---|---|
| About 300 km | 8 hours | via Ropar, Kiratpur, Bilaspur, Mandi and Kullu |
We leave Chandigarh through Kharar and Ropar, enter the hills at Kiratpur and take the new four-lane with its tunnels past Bilaspur and Sundernagar to Mandi. From Mandi the road follows the Beas gorge to Kullu and up to Manali. Stops at Pandoh dam and the Kullu shawl stores break the drive nicely.
The tunnels on the new four-lane have cut almost two hours compared with the old road, but landslides in the monsoon can still close stretches near Mandi. We check the road status the evening before. In winter, carry warm clothes in the cabin, not the luggage space; Manali is often below zero by night.
Pickup in Chandigarh
We pick up from Chandigarh airport, the railway station, ISBT Sector 43 or your home or hotel in Chandigarh, Mohali, Panchkula or Zirakpur.
Arriving in Manali
We drop you at your hotel in Manali, Old Manali or along the Kullu–Manali road. Worth your time in Manali: Hadimba temple, Solang valley, the Atal Tunnel to Sissu and Old Manali. See our Manali page for more.
What a Chandigarh to Manali trip costs
A 2-day return trip covers about 600 km. Outstation trips are ₹40 per km with a minimum of 300 km a day, so the estimate is 600 km × ₹40 = ₹24,000 plus tolls, driver included.