Manali and Shimla are the most attractive and best winter tourist places in India and are high-altitude panoramic destinations. Manali is located in the Kullu district in the state of Himachal Pradesh, and it is in the northern part of India. The town is situated in the Kallu Valley, approx. 270 km north of Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh. It is the most popular and best place for honeymoons and also for loved ones. This place is the major tourist destination of the state of Himachal Pradesh in India. 

Best Winter Tourist Places in India | Manali Tourism 2025 |
Tourist Places in India

Which are the best winter tourist places in India?

Shimla is the capital of Himachal Pradesh, a northern state of India. You must visit Shimla first. After visiting the destination, you can explore Manali. The distance between the two places is 250 km. Shimla and Manali are the best winter tourist places in India.  It is well connected with Chandigarh. You can reach Chandigarh or Kalka from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and other states in India by train to visit Shimla.


Tourist place Shimla
Shimla

Shimla Manali Tour Guide 

Manali is a beautiful place surrounded by a hilly area; its scenic beauty and weather have made it a tourist hotspot in India. If you want the best tourist place and have a tour plan in Himachal Pradesh in India, you must visit Shimla and Manali and spend your holiday with your family or loved ones. I will, for sure; you will be more excited by choosing this destination. It is the most popular hill station in the northern end of the Kullu Valley in the Himalayas, so several tourists visit this place every year.

In your Monali tour, you must include the place, like Jogni waterfall in Solang Valley. You will find a scenic lake and stunning hill station. The sparkling lake offers an opportunity to enjoy boating activities, and you can also enjoy the panoramic views of the surrounding hill areas. Trekking and paragliding are the most popular activities in the tourist destinations. So several times most of the nature lovers come to visit the tourist place.


Manali in winter
Manali in Winter

Activities to do in Manali

Manali offers the magnificent view of the Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar ranges covered in snow most of the time of the year. Moreover, another most attractive place is Solang Valley. Solang Valley is popular for the presence of amazing rafting, paragliding, and skiing.

Paragliding

Paragliding and skiing are the most popular activities that you can enjoy in Solang Valley, and you can also experience the thrill of gliding over the amazing Solang Valley. In winter the valley is covered with snow, and you can enjoy the beautiful snowfall in the place. These best winter tourist places in India attract all Indians and foreign tourists.

Rafting

River rafting is an exciting activity you can experience in Manali. It is an adventure spot that takes down the cascading flow of the river and scenic views on both sides of the river.

Ropeway ride

Tourists can enjoy ropeway riding, horse riding, bungee jumping, and paragliding, and also so many other activities can be done at Solang Valley.

Vashist Temple

You must visit the religious place. The Vashist temple in Monali is dedicated to the sage Vashist, who was the kula guru of Lord Rama across the river Beas, and the temple is at least 4000 years old. It is located in Vashist village, and the place is 3.5 km from Monali Mall Road. Here you will find hot water springs, and it is one of the most powerful attractions for tourists.

How to reach Shimla from Chandigarh

You will first start the plan from Chandigarh or Kalka. Chandigarh is well connected with major cities, like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and other states. You can reach Chandigarh by air, railway, and also bus. If you want to tour by bus, you will go to ISBT in Chandigarh. In ISBT, you will find several buses to reach Shimla. The distance from Chandīgarh to Shimla is near about 120 km, and the bus fare will be Rs.300 to Rs.500. The best way is to reach Shimla by train. You will find the world-famous Kalka-Shimla Toy Train at Kalka station.  Shimla town is so attractive for every tourist. The nearest railway station is Kalka, and the distance is 87 km. In Kalka station, you will find the train is narrow gauge to reach Shimla. See more

FAQ

Do we get direct train from Delhi to Shimla?

No, there is no direct train from Delhi to Shimla. You will travel from Delhi to Kalka first, and then in Kalka station, you will find the Kalka to Shimla train, which is narrow gauge. Your journey will be two-phased to reach Shimla from Delhi by train.

Distance from different places to the tourist place Shimla:

Delhi – 371 km

Chandigarh – 113 km

Distance from different places to the tourist place Monali:

Delhi – 534 km

Chandigarh – 270 km

Travel By: bus, train, flight

Nearest Bus Stand: The tourist place Monali is well connected by road to all the main cities of Himachal Pradesh and nearby states.

Nearest Railway Station: Joginder Nagar –160 km, Una – distance 300 km, Kiratpur – distance 240 km.

Nearest Airport: The nearest airport is the Kullu-Manali Airport, and the distance is 50 km from Manali. Flights are available from the major cities of Delhi, Chandigarh, and Shimla. From Delhi, the flight takes one and half hours to reach the Kullu-Manali airport.

Best time to visit Manali 

According to visitors, the autumn and winter seasons are the best times to visit the tourist destinations in Himachal. The months of October to February are the perfect time, but if you want to experience snowfall, you must visit from December to February, and at that time, the weather becomes cool and pleasant. In winter the place becomes quite cold, and autumn and spring are the most comfortable times to visit the place. Average annual temperature is 17 degrees centigrade, and in winter it falls to negative temperatures. But tourists must ensure that they do not plan a tour in the rainy season in Manali because due to heavy rain they will face some problems exploring the place.

Which place must visit in Kullu-Manali?

You must visit places like Mighty Rohtang Pass, Jibhi, and Solang Valley, which is around 16 km away. This place is the best choice for adventure activity lovers.

Activities: Horse riding, yak riding, paragliding, rope riding, skiing, etc.

Jibhi: The beautiful place is situated in the Kullu district, and that place has an amazing waterfall that must be visit, known as Jibhi Waterfall. Backbreakers’ and solo travelers’ top choice place is Jibhi, and in Jibhi, you will find Singha Rishi Temple, about 9 km from Jibhi. You must visit Pervoti Valley, Chenni Kuthi, Old Manali, Buddhist temple, and Jogni Waterfall.

Which place must visit in Shimla tour?

Jakhoo Hills –The place is covered with alpine trees and is the highest point of Shimla, offering a scenic view of snow-covered mountains, like being covered in a white blanket. Here you will visit a Hanuman Mandir, Kalibari Mandir, Mall Road, Christ Church, Scandal Point, and Kufri.  The distance you will cover to visit Kurfi is 14 km. Hadimba Devi Temple, which is 2 km away from Mall Road. You must visit the Dhungri Ban Bihar and the Club House.

Where you stay in Shimla?

Places to stay and nearby locations.

You will find many hotels, lodges, and also homestays. The best place to visit in Shimla is Mall Road. On Mall Road you will find rooms to stay for Rs.1200 to 2000 per night.

Conclusion:

Shimla, Manali, and nearby attractive areas are the most famous and the best winter tourist places in India. Must visit the place and welcome foreign visitors. 

See more: How to reach Shimla