Dharamshala to Manali by road
| Distance | Driving time | Route |
|---|---|---|
| About 230 km | 7 hours | via Palampur, Baijnath, Joginder Nagar and Mandi |
One of the prettiest drives in Himachal. We pass the tea gardens of Palampur and the old Shiva temple at Baijnath, wind over the hills to Joginder Nagar and Mandi, then follow the Beas river up through the Kullu valley to Manali. Bir Billing is a 20-minute detour near Baijnath if anyone wants to watch the paragliders.
Plan a stop at a Palampur tea estate in the morning, before the road gets busy. The Ghatasani to Mandi section has tight bends, where a smooth ride really helps passengers who get car sick. From Manali, the trip continues easily to Solang, the Atal Tunnel or back via Kullu.
Pickup in Dharamshala
We pick up from Gaggal (Kangra) airport, Dharamshala bus stand, McLeodganj or your hotel; pickups in Kangra town add about 30 minutes.
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 Dharamshala to Manali trip costs
A return trip covers about 460 km. Both ends are in Himachal, so our daily rental applies: ₹9,500 a day with up to 250 km. That fits in 2 days, about ₹19,000 with the driver, plus tolls.