5 Coolest Reasons to visit Manali in December-January

Manali, without any doubt, is one of the prettiest places to visit in Himachal Pradesh. And in winters, more so.

Wondering whether you should visit Manali in December-January? Here are the coolest top reasons why it’s a good idea to visit this winter’s paradise in winters. Also find answers to all your queries on weather, safety, snowfall, Rohtang Pass, places to visit and things to do etc in this complete travel guide to Manali in December-January. But first the top reasons.

1. Manali AQI

Many parts of India especially the plains of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi choke in severe air pollution in the post-Diwali phase. But you can breathe in pristine air in the mountains of Himachal Pradesh especially Manali in winters. According to the Himachal Pradesh Pollution Control Department data, the Air Quality Index (AQI) level of Manali remains well below 50 most times of the year including winters. In winters, when the AQI of places like Delhi hits well above 500, Manali consistently records an AQI of 30 and below.

An AQI level of 0-50 indicates good air quality with no health risks. Manali is also better than Shimla and Dharamshala when it comes to good air quality. The Pollution Department data also shows that compared to Manali, the AQI levels of Shimla and Dharamshala fall in the ‘moderate’ category ranging between 50-100 in the post-Diwali phase.

So, what better place to take solace in than Manali after escaping the horrendous air pollution of the plains?

2. Snowfall probability

A view of snowfall in Manali. — Manali Mall Road in snowfall.

The best months to experience snowfall in Manali and surrounding areas are December, January and up to February 15. If you are lucky enough then you may even witness snowfall in Manali during your visit in December or January. Check here the complete snowfall guide to Manali in winters.

3. Crowds

Manali is not crowded at all, at least in the first, second or third week of December. There are very few visitors in Manali during this time and you can enjoy visiting your favourite places without having to go through the crowds of tourists. The rush of visitors starts to increase around Christmas and peaks at New Year’s Eve. Manali returns to normalcy in the first week of January and remains at peace without any crowds throughout the rest of the month.

So, if you don’t want to visit a crowded Manali then you know exactly when to come here in December and January. Just avoid the last week of December from Christmas till New Year’s Eve, if you don’t like to be in a crowd.

4. Awesome weather

While the nights turn cold, the days are generally sunny in Manali in December and January. Unless of course, the weather changes and it starts to rain or snow. While the average maximum temperature hovers around 15 to 17 degrees Celsius, the minimum temperature hits 0 degrees and even below. You can enjoy the nice sunshine in the day and feel the chilling cold in the night. And if it snows, it’s icing on the cake.

5. Winter’s paradise

Manali's AQI is one of the lowest in the country. — Manali’s AQI level is one of the lowest in the country.

Manali appears truly awesome in winters, especially when it’s in snow. The entire valley covers itself in a white sparkling sheet with a blueish Beas river flowing through in between. Manali becomes all quiet, peaceful and beautiful — almost like a winter’s paradise. I am sure, you don’t want to miss being in such a paradise. And it’s in December and January when Manali is at the peak of its beauty.

Now that we have talked about why you can visit Manali in the winters, let’s get on to some of your most frequent travel queries.

Does Solang valley remain open in December-January?

The picturesque Solang valley is situated around 13 kms from Manali on the Atal Tunnel highway. Due to its higher altitude, Solang valley receives more snowfall than Manali and a bit earlier too. The valley remains mostly open for traffic and gets closed and becomes inaccessible by road only in the event of a heavy snowfall here.

However, even then the road connectivity is restored within a couple of days due to the fact that Solang valley is a major tourist destination and a hub of winter sports including skiing.

What about Rohtang Pass?

Rohtang Pass is officially closed for around six months from November 15 till May next year due to heavy snowfall this high mountain pass receives. So, if you want to know, then you can’t visit Rohtang Pass in December or January.

Is it safe to drive to Manali in winters?

Yes, very much. You can drive your way up to Manali in winters without any hiccups. The highway to Manali remains open even in bad weather conditions. Only in the event of a heavy snowfall, this highway gets closed that too near Manali only and not for more than a day or two.

Also, the travel time between Chandigarh and Manali has reduced due to the four-laning of the highway. A number of tunnels on this highway has also made the journey quite hassle-free especially during monsoons.

What all to wear and carry to Manali in December-January?

It can get really cold during winters in Manali especially at night even if the days are sunny. You should pack a pair of warm clothes including sweaters, jackets, socks etc and caps, gloves or mittens if it snows. Also, you should wear shoes that keep your feet warm in winters. Nobody likes to travel with those who get cold feet easily.

Top places to visit in Kullu-Manali in December & January

Some of the places you should visit in winters in and near Manali include Hadimba temple, Old Manali, Solang valley, Vashishth and Naggar. Sethan village is an offbeat destination near Manali you can visit. You can also head for Atal Tunnel if the weather allows. Avoid visiting the Atal Tunnel in the last week of December as there is a huge rush of visitors at that time of the year.

Things to do in Manali in December & January

You can go rafting and paragliding even though the water and air is cold in winters. But before you jump into that raft or jump off a hill in a paraglider just do your homework. Read these articles for a safe rafting and paragliding experience in Kullu-Manali. You can also go skiing to Solang valley if it happens to be the right time of the winter or try Zipline. Most of the high-altitude treks are closed in winters in December and January but you can do some low-height treks including Fungani Top trek or Bijli Mahadev trek.

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