Overview
Manali to Kullu is about 40 km down the Beas valley on NH3, usually 1 to 1½ hours by taxi; online maps show less, but road widening and traffic near Patlikuhal and the Kullu bypass usually add time. Most travellers make this trip to reach Kullu's Bhuntar airport, about 10 km beyond Kullu town, or for a day of river rafting, shawl shopping and the Naggar castle. A taxi lets you take the quieter left-bank road via Naggar one way and the highway the other. We pick you up from your Manali hotel and drop you in Kullu, at the airport, or anywhere in between.
Usual route: NH3 down the Beas via Katrain (or the left-bank road via Naggar)
Included
- Fuel and driver allowance
- Tolls and state entry taxes
- Pickup anywhere in Manali
- Short refreshment stops
Not included
- ×Parking at sightseeing stops
- ×Detours beyond the agreed route (quoted upfront)
- ×Night allowance on trips that need one (quoted upfront)
The climb from Manali to Kullu
How high you go, and the stops along the way. Useful if anyone in your group gets motion sick or feels the altitude.
Start
2,050 m
Manali
Total descent
−771 m
over ~40 km
Finish
1,279 m
Kullu
- Manali
- Patlikuhal
- Naggar castle
- Katrain
- Kullu shawl showrooms
- Kullu
Illustrative profile. Start, finish altitudes are approximate; stops are shown in order, not to scale.
Manali to Kullu taxi fare and cab rates
Starting prices for a one-way trip (~40 km), per vehicle, with fuel, driver, tolls and HP entry tax included. Your exact price is confirmed in writing on WhatsApp before you book; it can vary with dates, vehicle model and extra stops. All Himachal taxi fares
₹1,850
starting · one way
₹2,300
starting · one way
₹2,650
starting · one way
₹4,150
starting · one way
Your quote
Manali → Kullu
Sedan · one way · ~40 km
- FuelIncluded
- Driver & driver allowanceIncluded
- Highway tollsIncluded
- Himachal state entry taxIncluded
- Pickup anywhere in ManaliIncluded
Total you pay
starting price
₹1,850
Only ever extra: parking at sightseeing stops you choose (paid at cost), and detours you add on the day (quoted before you go).
Driving tips for this route
- 1For a flight from Bhuntar, leave Manali at least two hours before check-in; the valley road can slow suddenly.
- 2Naggar is a short detour across the Beas from Patlikuhal; allow 20–30 minutes extra each way.
- 3Rafting points are along the highway between Kullu and Manali; operators run in season.
- 4During the Kullu Dussehra fair, traffic in Kullu town is very heavy; we plan around it.
- 5In the monsoon, slides can block the highway briefly; the left-bank road is sometimes the backup.
Worthwhile stops on the way
Manali
Pickup
Patlikuhal
Riverside town where the road to Naggar crosses the Beas.
Naggar castle
Old castle above the valley, a short detour on the left bank.
Katrain
Orchards and river views halfway along the highway.
Kullu shawl showrooms
Handloom shops along the highway near Kullu.
Kullu
Drop at your hotel
Highway or the Naggar road?
The main highway, NH3, follows the right bank of the Beas through Katrain and is the quickest way down. The left-bank road via Naggar is narrower and slower, but quieter, with orchards and views across the valley. A popular plan is to go one way via Naggar, stopping at the castle and the Roerich art gallery, and come back on the highway.
If you're heading for a flight, stick to the highway and keep the detours for another day.
What to do in Kullu
Kullu is the valley's main town and is busier than Manali. River rafting runs on stretches of the Beas in season, the shawl and handloom showrooms along the highway are worth a stop, and the Raghunath temple is the focus of the Kullu Dussehra fair in October. From Kullu, Kasol and the Parvati valley start at Bhuntar, so it's also a natural junction if you're moving on.
- Agree rafting prices with the operator before starting.
- Kullu Dussehra is a spectacle but brings heavy traffic.
- Bhuntar airport is about 10 km beyond Kullu town.
Getting to Bhuntar airport on time
Kullu's airport is at Bhuntar, about 10 km south of Kullu town and roughly 50 km from Manali. Flights here are small, few and weather-sensitive, and the road down the valley can slow suddenly with roadworks, traffic or a slide. For a morning flight, we'd suggest leaving Manali at least two to two and a half hours before departure; in the monsoon or on festival days, add more.
If your flight is cancelled, which happens in bad weather, we can turn the trip into a road transfer to Chandigarh instead, so you don't need to find another car at the airport.
Rafting on the Beas
River rafting is one of the main reasons people stop between Manali and Kullu. Operators set up along the highway in the warmer months, offering short runs on the Beas that suit beginners, with longer stretches for more confident groups. Prices and run lengths vary by operator and season, and trips stop when the river is too high in the monsoon.
Tell us if you'd like to raft and we'll leave time for it; the driver waits at the take-out point with your bags.
- Agree the price, distance and safety gear before you start.
- Carry a change of clothes; you will get wet.
- Rafting usually pauses during the peak monsoon.
Weather & road conditions
When to go to Kullu
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January: Fine, check weather | February: Fine, check weather | March: Best time | April: Best time | May: Best time | June: Best time | July: Monsoon, landslide risk | August: Monsoon, landslide risk | September: Best time | October: Best time | November: Best time | December: Fine, check weather |
- Best time
- Snow likely, roads can close
- Monsoon, landslide risk
- Fine, check weather
Pickup options
- • Manali hotels (Mall Road, Old Manali, Vashisht, Aleo, Prini)
- • Manali bus stand and taxi stand
Other ways to travel
Local HRTC buses run frequently between Manali and Kullu. A taxi lets you add Naggar and stop at the rafting points.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Manali to Kullu cab cost?+
Starting one-way fares are Sedan ₹1,850, SUV ₹2,300, Toyota Innova Crysta ₹2,650, Tempo Traveller ₹4,150, all-inclusive with fuel, driver, tolls and Himachal entry tax. Your exact taxi price is confirmed in writing on WhatsApp before you book.
How far is Kullu from Manali?+
About 40 km on NH3, usually 1 to 1½ hours by taxi with traffic (approximate; verification pending).
How far is Bhuntar airport from Manali?+
About 50 km, roughly 10 km beyond Kullu town; allow at least two hours before your flight.
Can we visit Naggar on the way?+
Yes, it's a short detour across the river from Patlikuhal; allow 20–30 extra minutes each way.
Is this a good day trip from Manali?+
Yes: Naggar, rafting and Kullu's shawl shops make a full, easy day.
When is Kullu Dussehra?+
In October, after Dussehra elsewhere; dates change each year, so check before you plan.
Can we continue to Kasol?+
Yes. From Bhuntar the Parvati valley road climbs about 30 km to Kasol.
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