Himachal
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Top Tips For Dummies on Experiencing Their First Snowfall in Manali
Experiencing the First Snowfall in Manali | Video
Planning to visit Kullu-Manali in Himachal Pradesh to enjoy your first snowfall experience but have little or no clues on how to go about it? Well, here are the answers to the most-common top queries you should go through before packing and heading for Kullu-Manali.
What is the best time to visit Manali for witnessing snowfall?
December-January. Though it snows in Manali and in surrounding areas in December but the possibility of snow starts increasing from December last week and remains up till mid-January. But again, you never know with the weather. There have been times when it snowed in the months of October and April and there have been years when the snow eluded the tourist town till December-end. What I mean to say is that all you can do is plan and leave the rest to the weather gods. And who knows it might turn out to be your lucky day!
What are the other best places for watching the snowfall in Kullu-Manali
Most people flock to Manali as it’s the most popular destination. But there are some other nice places where you can enjoy the snowfall in the silence of the nature and away from the crowd of Manali town. Some of these places include Naggar, a heritage village, which also houses the famous Roerich art gallery, 15 Miles, which has a charming Deodar forest with Beas river cutting along its boundary, Gulaba village, Jagatsukh village or other villages including Kasol and Jari in the Parvati valley. You can also stay at these places.
Should I go driving my own vehicle?
If you have planned a fairly long vacation and don’t mind getting stuck in the valley for few days or more and have some prior experience of driving on snow, then you can come in your own vehicle. But if you don’t meet all of these conditions, then you can always hire a vehicle or use the public transport. In case of heavy snowfall, many parts of the valley get cut off, roads get blocked, and you need to wait before the snow is cleared off.
What about the clothes?
Unless you like the idea of your whole body shivering and your teeth chattering uncontrollably, you should load yourself with warm clothes as the mercury during December and January hits many notches below 0 degrees Celsius at least during the nighttime. And don’t forget the gloves, warm socks and a good pair of shoes for you to walk on the snow. Snow shoes also remain available for sale and rent in Manali and around during winters.
…And the stay?
Most hotels offer discounts in winters due to comparatively less demand until and unless you have timed your travel around Xmas and New Year’s Eve. If you don’t want to spend too much on lodging, then you can stay at the homestays, some of which you will find to be really nice and peaceful and away from the crowds.
What else can I do?
If you get tired of throwing snow balls at friends or making snowmen then you can try snow sports in the nearby Solang valley or go for long snow walks. You can try out amateur skiing, snowboarding or snowmobile in Solang valley. You can also watch the popular Manali winter carnival, which is held in the first week of January.
