Gulaba is the legendary winter village of Himachal Pradesh. Bordered by Rohtang Pass on one side and Solang Valley on the other, this beautiful hamlet attracts thousands of tourists from across the world every year. Gulaba has in store, a fair share of fun for everyone, whether it be trekkers, travelers, or movie buffs. Situated at the height of 3,000M, this Himalayan hotspot is around 24 km away from Manali. Fun fact - the famous movie Ye Jawani Hai Diwani was shot in the pristine snow-covered valleys of Gulaba. Besides sight-seeing, if you are a fan of adventure activities like skiing and paragliding, once again, Gulaba is your place to be. The massive silver-blue companion who accompanies you on the way to Gulaba is the beautiful Beas River. From the high point of Gulaba valleys, you can see the Beas River flowing with grace into the city of Manali. The key attraction of this prominent place is the mystical Bhrigu Lake trek.
In this article, we will tell you how to reach Gulaba. The famous hill town Manali is the nearest city to Gulaba. So, you have to reach Manali first to get to Gulaba.
Reaching Manali
Manali, the classic high altitude vacation town of Himachal Pradesh not only serves as a base junction for Hampta Pass, but it also serves as a base for several other iconic treks like Beas Kund, Bhrigu Lake trek, Sar Pass, and Deo Tibba.
Flight to Bhuntar
A comfortable way to reach Manali is by taking a flight to Bhuntar, Kullu, Himachal Pradesh. The airport at Bhuntar is around 50 kilometers away from Manali. Once you reach the premises of the airport, you can find many buses and cabs that will take you to Manali.
Note – This option is expensive and the frequency of flights is extremely low. The layovers can also get long. So, it is best to consider other alternate means.
A comfortable and affordable option to reach Manali is by taking a flight to Chandigarh or Delhi and taking a bus to Manali from there.
Flight to Chandigarh – Bus to Manali
This route is the fastest. After reaching Chandigarh airport, you have to go to Sector 43 to get a bus for Manali. Sector 43 is around 16 km away. You will get plenty of taxis and buses to reach there from outside the airport.
At sector 43, a bus leaves for Manali almost every hour. Depending upon your choice and budget, you can choose from Volvo to Government buses. If you are traveling during the holiday season, do note that spot booking can get tricky. Ticket prices are prone to shoot up drastically. So, we recommend booking tickets online well in advance.
Note – Try to book HRTC buses. They are famous for their punctuality and hassle-free commute.
Tickets for normal buses cost around 600 INR. Volvo might cost you around 1600 INR. The ideal time to commute is to take a bus in the night from Chandigarh and reach Manali in the morning. It will give you enough time to freshen up and restart your journey from Manali.
Flight to Delhi – Bus to Manali
ISBT Kashmere Gate is the main bus terminus of Delhi. They have a vast connection to different roadways throughout North India. It is 18 km away from Delhi T1 airport and 23 km away from Delhi T2 and T3. You can take a cab or the metro from here.
The distance from Delhi to Manali is 536 km and it takes around 12 to 15 hours to reach Manali. Again, the ideal option is to take the HRTC buses at night. The tickets for the buses will cost you between 800 to 2000 INR depending on the type of bus.
Note – The bus routes for Manali are prone to delays because of landslides and rains during monsoons. Do plan your travel a day in advance to account for these delays.
Train from Delhi to Manali
There are neither direct trains nor a railway station in Manali. The only available option is to get a train till Chandigarh and reach Manali from Chandigarh by bus or taxi.
Note – you will find trains leaving for Chandigarh from Delhi every two hours.
Manali to Gulaba
There are no train or bus services available from Manali to Gulaba. So, the best way to reach Gulaba is through private or shared cabs.
Cabs from Manali to Gulaba
Once you reach the Manali bus stand, you can freshen up in the market and go to the nearest cab point outside the terminus. Private cabs cost around 6000 INR, and shared cabs will charge you 1500 INR per head. The important thing here is to get proper permissions to enter Gulaba. Check with the driver or travel agent. They have their own process to get what’s needed most of the time. If not, you can go to the SDM office – (Sub Divisional Magistrate) at the Manali bus stand and get your own permissions there. It's free. You have to produce essential ID proof and fill out the necessary form to get valid permissions.
Shared cab arranged by Bikat Adventures - Manali to Manali
If you are trekking with us, we arrange shared cabs directly to Gulaba from Manali for trekkers. Once the trek gets over, we will drop you back at Manali. The cost involved is mentioned on the itinerary page of the trek you opt for.
We hope this article helps you in planning your trip to Gulaba. In case you have any other queries, please drop a comment below. Our team will get back to you.
