Shimla and Manali are both the most famous tourist places in Himachal Pradesh. It is tough to decide where to go. Travelers constantly fight about which is better, Shimla or Manali.
Don’t worry; we are here to solve your problem. After reading this blog post, you will have a clear picture of which is better, Shimla or Manali, and why.
According to the answers on Quora, most people agree that Manali is far better than Shimla in terms of food, views, adventure activities, and accommodations.
Let’s find out who won the battle between Shimla and Manali in detail through this blog post. If you are in a hurry, get the best Manali Tour Package here.
Are you in a hurry? Go and watch this video on YouTube to save time.
Shimla vs Manali
Shimla – It is also called the “Queen of Hills.” Shimla is the most beautiful city in Himachal Pradesh. In Shimla, you can explore many places like Mall Road, The Ridge, Jhaku Mandir, Hanuman Mandir, etc.
Shimla is a smaller city, so you can cover it in 1-3 days. It is the best place if you have only a few days.
Manali – It is also known as the “Valley of Gods.” Manali is a perfect place for tourists from all over India. In Manali, you can explore many places like Hadimba Temple, Solang Valley, Rohtang Pass, etc.
It is also the most famous adventure place for the people. You can do activities like Bungee Jumping, Paragliding, Rock Climbing, Skiing, Rope walking, Trekking and many more in Manali.
If you have more than 4-5 days to spend on holiday, Manali is the perfect choice. Manali is much bigger than Shimla, so you need more time to explore it.
Accommodation
Accommodation in Shimla – Shimla is a budget-friendly place to stay in hotels, resorts, and villas. Many budget accommodations are under Rs.1200/Night.
Some of the best locations in Shimla are the Marina Shimla, Wildflower Hall, Clarkes Hotel, The Oberoi Cecil, Snow Valley, etc. It is among the best places for solo traveling.
If you want to stay away from the Shimla crowd and spend your night in a peaceful place, you can also stay in Kufri hotels. Kufri is 14-15 Km from Shimla.
The best locations in Kufri to stay are Cheog Valley, Dak Bangla Cottage, Nimesh Savla, etc. You can also stay in these places.
Accommodation in Manali – Manali is the best place to stay in a hotel, but it is not budget-friendly; if you want to stay in Manali, you will need a little more budget than Shimla.
Some of the best hotels in Manali are Old Cafe Manali, Sun Park Resort, Golden Tulip, Hotel Meadows, Apple Country Resort, etc. You can also get some budget hotels in Manali if you find one.
If you want, you can also stay at places near Manali, like Rohtang Pass and Solang Valley. You can also stay in hostels like the Young Monk Hostel, Old Manali Cafe, etc.
Best time to visit Shimla and Manali
- Shimla – You can visit between October and January; it is the best time to visit Shimla, and these days, you can also enjoy snowfall in Shimla.
- Manali – The Summer season is the best season to visit Manali because you can explore more in the summertime. If you want to visit Manali during the snowfall months, you can see it between November and January.
Food
Famous Food in Shimla – Shimla has various varieties of food, such as Thukpa, Madra, Babru, Mash Daal, Dhaam, Chicken Anardana, and Veg-Momos. You should try these items.
Thukpa and Dhaam are the most famous dishes. Dhaam is the traditional dish of Shimla and Himachal Pradesh, and Thupka is the local dish of Shimla.
Famous Food in Manali – Like Shimla, Manali also has many varieties of food, such as Sidu, Kullu Trout, Bhature, Patrodu, Vada, Sattu, Jatu, etc. Mittha is another famous street food of Manali. It would be best if you tried this.
Sidu is the most famous dish in Manali, and it is also a local dish. You can eat it in any restaurant or cafe. The average cost of food in Manali is Rs.500/person daily.
Manali is not so expensive in terms of food, but it is better to eat more in local cafes and Dhaba because the rate of food there is very budget-friendly.
Things to do
Things to do in Shimla – As I said, Shimla is a small town, so there is nothing to do. Still, you can go on a trek and explore places like Mall Road, Church, The Ridge, Kali Bari Temple, Lakkar Bazaar, etc.
Suppose you are an adventure or sports lover. In that case, you can do various things here, like Paragliding, Trekking, Camping, River Rafting, Skating, Cycling, Golfing, etc.
If you are looking for a place in Shimla to relax, you should visit hidden places like Scandal Point, Chadwick Waterfall, Tara Devi, Green Valley, Shaily Peak, Naldehra, etc.
These are the most famous tourist attractions in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. You can explore each place individually, and they are all in Shimla or nearby.
Things to Do in Manali – Manali attracts adventure lovers and travelers. The to-do list in Manali is more than 100, but I will tell you some of the best things.
You can go skiing, Paragliding, ATV riding, Bonfire, rock climbing, Zorbing, Camping, etc. You can also trek to Jogini Waterfalls, Hadimba Devi Temple, Beas River, etc.
These are the top attractions in Manali that you can see. There are many other attractions, but these are the most famous; you can explore even more of the 20 places in Manali.
Popular places
Popular places to visit in Shimla – As we discussed earlier, There are many things to do in Shimla. Some of the most popular places in Shimla that you should not miss at any cost are listed below.
Jakhu Temple, Mall Road, Lakkar Bazaar, The Ridge, Kufri, and Church are the most popular places to visit in Shimla.
You can easily cover all these places in 1 -2 days, and they are all located within walking distance of each other.
Apart from that, you can visit some lesser-known, or let’s say hidden, places in Shimla, like Green Valley, Scandal Point, Middle Bazaar, and Kali Bari Temple.
Popular places to visit in Manali – Like Shimla, there are many things to do in Manali that are far better than Shimla, like paragliding and skiing.
There are also some popular places that you shouldn’t miss in Manali.
Like, Rohtang Pass, Jogini Falls, Hadimba Devi Temple, Mall Road, Nehru Kund, and Manu Temple. All these places are the must-visit places when you are in Manali.
Because Manali is bigger, it takes many more days to cover it than Shimla. But ideally, it will take you 3-4 days to explore Manali.
You can also visit some nearby places, like Kullu, Solang Valley, Atal Tunnel, and Nagara.
How to Reach?
How to reach Shimla via Flight– Shimla is easy to reach via bus, flight, or car. To reach Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, you can fly to Shimla from major cities like New Delhi, Chandigarh, Bangalore, Mumbai, etc.
Jubbarhatti is the nearest airport to Shimla. You will land there and then take a cab or bus to Shimla.
Via Bus – Like flights, there are many bus options to Shimla. To reach Shimla, you can take a bus from major cities like New Delhi, Rishikesh, Jaipur, Chandigarh, etc., to reach Shimla directly.
Via Car or Bike – If you own a vehicle like a car or a bike, you can reach Shimla from anywhere. The distance between Chandigarh and Shimla is around 115 Km.
Via Train – The only direct train to Shimla departs from Kalka, Haryana railway station. If you want, you can take a train from cities like New Delhi and Chandigarh, but, in this case, you need to change your train 2-3 times.
How to Reach Manali via Flight – Manali is very famous among tourists, so there are many options for getting there. You can reach Manali via flight from major cities like New Delhi, Bangalore, Chandigarh, etc.
There is no airport located in proper Manali. The nearest airport is Bhuntar, which is 50 km away. You can land there directly and then take a bus or cab to Manali.
Via Bus – The bus is the cheapest way to reach Manali. You can take a bus from major cities like New Delhi, Dehradun, Rishikesh, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Mumbai, etc.
Manali is around 550 km from New Delhi, and it takes approximately 12 hours to reach Manali. However, if you are traveling to Manali for the first time, it is highly recommended that you travel via bus.
Via Train – No railway station is nearby, so the train is not a way to reach Manali. But if you want, you can take a train to Chandigarh or Shimla and then take a cab from there to reach Manali.
Via Car or Bike – You can reach Manali easily by car or bike, but it is only recommended for those with experience driving in the mountains.
The road from Shimla to Manali is narrow, so you should drive very slowly and carefully, but this is also an excellent way to reach Manali.
Which Is Better Shimla Or Manali?
The simple one-line answer is Manali. Manali is a winner because, compared to Shimla, there are more things to do in Manali; it is less crowded than Shimla, and it is also more beautiful.
But this doesn’t mean that Shimla is looser; you can visit Shimla if you travel to the mountains or with friends for the first time.
Conclusion on which is best Shimla or Manali?
It is a complete comparison between Shimla and Manali. You will find out which is better, Shimla or Manali. We have found that Manali is better than Shimla in every term.
Shimla and Manali are both places worth visiting. You can see both of these places one by one. You can consider Shimla first if you travel to the mountains for the first time and Manali first if you are used to traveling.
So, what are you waiting for? Pack your bags, call your friends, book tickets, and crash the mountains of Shimla and Manali? Refrain from sharing your experience in the comments with other readers.
Thank You
Frequently asked questions regarding which is best Shimla or Manali.
Below are the answers to the most asked queries on the internet by people regarding Shimla vs Manali.
Q1. Which is the best time to visit Shimla and Manali?
From October to Februray is the best time to visit Shimla and Manali
Q2. Which is colder Shimla or Manali?
Manali is colder than Shimla in any month.
Q3. Shimla or Manali, which is better for snowfall?
Manali is far better than Shimla in terms of snowfall and winters
Q4. Shimla or Manali which is better for honeymoon?
Manali is a fantastic honeymoon destination and is way better than Shimla.
Q5. Which is more beautiful Shimla or Manali?
Manali is much more beautiful than Shimla.
