Darjeeling Vs Manali: An Escape To Greenery Or A Resort To Snow, You Decide

There isn’t a doubt that there might be anyone who hasn’t heard about the mesmerising beauty of Darjeeling and Manali. They have earned their fair share of reputation and are quite recognised in the world of tourism. These said places are widely visited throughout the year and almost every visitor has nothing but words of praise owing to their scenic views, utmost beautiful attractions and nevertheless, very remarkable hospitality. Here we are doing Darjeeling vs Manali, wherein we would be discussing some of the basic differences and features of these above mentioned heavenly beautiful places.

Natural Landscape

Darjeeling is a very beautiful hill station located in the northern part of West Bengal, India. It is very well reputed and recognised for the very magical and magnificent views of fascinating snow-capped Kanchenjunga, decently beautiful tea gardens, breath-taking pines and ferns and of course, the very beautiful torrents flowing down the mountain slopes. The very welcoming nature of the friendly local people and their remarkable hospitality with the modern yet colonial charm just makes the said hill station worth visiting for sure. On the other hand, speaking of Manali, it is indeed a very famous hill station graciously situated in Himachal Pradesh. It is rightly set at 40 km from the northern end of Kullu somewhere at an altitude of about 2050 m. Amidst the fascinating snow-capped mountains and certainly chilling springs, this heavenly blessed hill station is nothing but a place architecture by god himself. It has breath taking landscapes and some very beautiful and calmly flowing rivers with clear water which meanders through the town.

Best Time To Visit

The summer months between April and June are likely to be recommended to visit Darjeeling however if you would be interested to witness snowfall and can bear extreme cold then winter months between October and December are the ideal time to travel here. While Manali is another beautiful hill station which is widely visited by the tourists all around the year however the winter season is said to be perfect to visit Manali basically between October and February.

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Ideal Duration

Around 5 days would be decently fair to have a leisure time to explore the very beautiful hill station Darjeeling. In 5 days, you can cover all the major attractions of Darjeeling and enjoy your vacation. While 2 to 4 days would be sufficient to visit all the important points of interests in Manali, you can plan a holiday for more days incase you want to experience something unique.

Darjeeling Vs Manali: Average Budget

If you want to know the average budget that each destination will cost, read along. From accommodation to sightseeing, you will get to know about everything that plays a role in deciding the budget.

Average Accommodation:
Darjeeling- INR 800 approx. (For two people)
Manali- INR 2,000 approx. (For two people)

Meals:
Darjeeling – INR 150-200 approx. (Per person per meal)
Manali – INR 100-250 approx. (Per person per meal)

Transfers:
Darjeeling – INR 300
Manali – INR 500

Sightseeing:
Darjeeling – INR 1,500 – 3,000 approx. (Hiring a taxi or a full trip)
Manali – INR 1,500-3,000 approx. (Hiring a taxi or a full trip)

Miscellaneous:
Darjeeling – INR 1000 approx.
Manali – INR 1000 approx.

Average budget per day:
Darjeeling – INR 4,000 approx.
Manali – INR 6,000 approx.

Darjeeling Vs Manali: Places To Visit

There are several places to explore in Darjeeling as well as in Manali and some of the best-known places to visit are as follows:

Places To Visit In Darjeeling

Tiger Hill: Tiger Hill is one of the very fine attractions in Darjeeling which is much reputed and recognised as a place known to witness the first rays of sun hitting the twin peaks of the mighty Kanchenjunga.

Batasia Loop: This very fine point of interest is just about 5 km away from Darjeeling. It is basically a spiral railway track where the very popular toy train takes a complete 360-degree turn.

Darjeeling Ropeway: It is an adventurous cable car circuit which enables its guests to witness a myriad of exquisite landscapes. If you are lucky then you may be able to have a glance at the very fascinating snow-capped mountains and of course the utmost beautiful valley replete with verdant tea estates.

Nightingale Park: This magnificent park was earlier known as ‘The Shrubbery’ when it used to be a private courtyard. It consists of a giant Lord Shiva statue let alone a beautiful musical fountain which has its own charm to please your eyes.

Rock Garden: The Rock Garden which is also known as the Barbotey Garden is a very popular tourist attraction and is located about 10 km away from the heart of the town. One of its unique features is the benches which are made by cutting rocks at different levels.

Places To Visit In Manali

Solang Valley: It is basically a valley right between the Beas Kund and the magnificent Solang village and this has now become one of the finest and very popular points of interests in Manali. Visitors can witness the glaciers and snow-clad landscapes let alone try several activities here.

Rohtang Pass: It is the stretch known to connect Manali with Himanchal’s dessert-like landscapes, Lahaul and of course Spiti. This fascinating snow desert is a must-visit spot in Manali.

Hadimba Temple: Set quite away from the hustling and bustling of city life, Hidimba Temple is very well surrounded by the beautiful deodar trees. It is a sincere tribute to Hidimba, the wife of Bhima who was one of the Pandava princes which you must have read in the great Indian epic Mahabharata. Once a year there is a 3-day Hidimba Devi Festival which does attract an endless number of devotees from all over the world and the visitors can witness the colourful folk-dance performances.

Chandratal Baralacha Trek: It is without a doubt one of the finest trek destinations right in the lap of nature’s beauty and it is really thrilling yet challenging. Set at an altitude of 4,300 m, it is considered to be one of the highest altitude lakes in the Himalayan region.

Manikaran: It is a small yet very beautiful town which is located right between rivers Beas and Parvati. It is quite reputed for its hot water springs and scenic, panoramic yet magnificent landscapes. The very famous yet sacred Gurudwara which goes by the name Manikaran Sahib is situated here and the Sikhs from all over the country are known to visit here frequently.

Darjeeling Vs Manali: Shopping

Shopping is always fun however when it comes to shopping during vacation then it’s a completely different kind of thrill. There are dozens of places for shopping in Darjeeling as well as Manali and they as follow:

Shopping In Darjeeling

Nehru Road: It is set on the Hill Cart Road and if for sure one of the best places when shopping is concerned. It consists of small shops however in recent years there have been dozens of branded stores opened their outlets too. To make a note of, the State Government has recently added a Handicrafts Emporium recently. Visitors can buy Darjeeling Tea, woollens, handicrafts, books, paintings, khukri which is a Gurkha knife, Buddha statues and some fine quality leather handbags. The shops here operate between 8 am to 7 pm in all given days.

Batasia Loop Market: This market has inherited its name from its very own location. It is well situated on Ghum and Darjeeling’s loop line. Bargaining is an option here and if you are really good at it then you might get lucky to buy some decent goods and products which you may desire. Visitors can buy décor items, woollen wear and may other accessories for women. The market operates between 9 am to 6 pm.

Shopping In Manali

Old Manali Market: The said market is quite famous for its charm which attracts a wide number of buyers. One can buy various kinds of stuff such as woollen clothes or any other funky accessories and you may also bargain if you are good at it. The market operates between 10 am to 7 pm.

Himachal Emporium: This is a very fine shopping spot to buy artistic handicrafts products at an affordable price. Warm woollen shawls, pashminas, home decors and handmade slippers and shoes are available here let alone toys for kids can be brought here too. The market operates between 10 am to 7 pm.

Getting Around

In Darjeeling, there are several luxury and standard buses between Darjeeling and Siliguri and to Kolkata of course. Visitors are welcome to opt for private taxis which are easily available and the closest railway station is New Jalpaiguri. There are toy trains which run between Darjeeling and Siliguri. On the other hand, In Manali, visitors can anytime hire a taxi which will be of ease and convenience to travel within the region as well as to visit the important points of interests for sightseeing.

Further Read: 7 Best Things To Do In Darjeeling In June Which One Must Experience To Enjoy The Best Of The Tea State!

So, these are some of the most important details that will help you plan your next escapade. Whether it is a trip to Manali or holiday in Darjeeling, with the help of this info you will get to have the most soul-soothing experience ever. So, jot down these points quickly and start working on your next vacation.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Darjeeling Vs Manali

What is the best time to visit Darjeeling and Manali?

Visitors are known to visit Darjeeling throughout the year however the best recommended time would be the summers between April and June. Saying that, if anyone is in love with snowfall then travelling in winters may sound like a great idea provided, they are sure to bear the extreme cold. Manali is said to be perfect to visit during the winter season between October and February where at times the temperature also drops down below zero degree Celsius.

Are Darjeeling and Manali very expensive to visit?

Well, to speak of the costs, neither Darjeeling or Manali is very expensive if one knows the trick and tips of budgeting. Meals and accommodation are decently affordable.

Are there some good shopping spots in Darjeeling and Manali?

Nehru Road and Batasia Loop Market is quite famous and recognised in Darjeeling while Old Manali Market and Himachal Emporium has earned its fair share of respect and popularity amongst the tourists for their charm, goods and products and their affordable prices.

How is the climate here in Dharamshala and Dalhousie?

Darjeeling has a reputation to maintain a temperate climate where the annual mean maximum temperature is 14.9 degree Celsius and the mean minimum temperature is 8.9 degree Celsius.

Is Darjeeling a good place to visit with family?

Darjeeling is without an inch of hesitation a great place to visit with family owing to its safe and beautiful atmosphere and a magnificent ambience.

Is Manali a good place for couples?

There are n number of couples who visit Manali throughout the year and for sure all have often praised the very beautiful hill station owing to its perfect climate, scenic views and mesmerising beauty of the surroundings.

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Seema Gurnani

Exploring new places and trying out new food cuisines are two things that bring Seema all the happiness. Travel freak and a die-hard foodie are the synonyms that define her the best. Popular on social media by the name of ‘PandaReviewz’, lazing around the beaches, exploiting the sunset points, visiting the farthermost villages, exploring the renowned cities, trying out new food cuisines, and blogging about them are few things that keep Seema occupied, and happy!