If you are planning to go Manali there are two seasons. First March to June and sept to Dec.
Better go during winters if you are specially going for snow.
During summer the weather is pleasant but the snow is really less. You will find it but not that fresh white.
It will be muddy as it will be available only at few reachable spots and everyone will be approaching the same place.
During winter you may even get a chance to see snow fall, and even not that at least snow will be there everywhere.
And yes for natural scenary and beauty, that is there in every season.
And for travelling obviously you can find details at many places but some tips for Do's and Dont's during manali trip which will make it easy and convenient for you.
- Go with atleast normal woolens in any season, you may need as weather changes.
- Some people may feel sick during bus journey on mountains, so keep something to chew with you, and eat light before travel. You can carry some mouth freshener, cloves(lavang/laung) and any kind of eatables like chips, biscuits etc on both side of travel. Remember sickness chances are more while coming down (return journey).
- Private buses drop you at place of 10 mins walk from mall road, so if you have hotels there near mall road, you can walk from And ask your hotel in advance if it comes on the way to Manali so you can get down on the way.
- Book a hotel near mall road if you like to hang around with some ambiance in evenings and far from mall road if you are more interested in quite and beautiful scenery.
- There are few places in Manali which can be visited while hanging around from mall road. You don't need to get any convenience for Monastery and Van Vihar from mall road. For Hidimba temple you can get an auto from there.
- For any trip to Rohtang and Manikaran you may be told about many points in the middle, and most of them are just points up to which snow gets cleared once the path opens. So just enquire about them and better plan such a way to give maximum time at nice place.
- Coming back from Rohtang you must visit Solang vally and enjoy some adventure sport or rope way etc, or atleast give it a look, you will feel to join it.
- There are hawkers at everyplace in Manali selling Kesar, Shilajeet and Kastoori. Do not buy as none of that product they sell is real.
- Buying shawls etc is up to you, how much you can bargain on this. Whenever you rent a cab don't trust so much on driver. And avoid buying anything from shops he stops you on, as they have good commission fixed from those shops, and it ultimately costs you.
- While going Rohtang you may have to take some woolen cloths for snow, so bargain well there. If they offer you any guide, take it only if you are not with others as only good thing it will do is taking your photos. Finding places of snow is not a challenge, its already full of public all the time.
- If you are not able to visit Rohtang then going just up to Marhi (Point before Rohtang) is not worth that much in summer, go only if no other option left. You will find some small muddy glacier and will be real crowded. And during summer you wont even need etc cloths from outside, and your own woolens will be sufficient for that (wear rough ones as you will slip and may tear them on snow, or take cloths on rent from road side stalls, if your woolens are delicate). Wear jeans while going on snow to avoid small injuris that may happen due to slipping.
- Only thing you must take on rent is rubber shoes before going on snow. Keep socks with you or you will need to buy/rent them there too before wearing rubber shoes.
- Hiring horse is up to you, and finding place with snow is so easy by just following the crowd.
- Try bargain on everything, as rates are already declared considering the expected discount :).
- While booking hotel ask about hot water facility, as few hotels does provide it only for a limited time in morning and evening. Also ask if early check-in is possible as you will reach there by morning and check-in time is usually 12PM.
