Into the Himalayas: A Winter Retreat in Manali

Manali is where India's plains-dwellers go to remember that the earth is wild and magnificent. Sitting at 2,050 metres in the Kullu Valley, it's a gateway to the Rohtang Pass, the Solang Valley, and the ancient Buddhist monasteries of Spiti. The air here smells of pine and adventure.

Your My Holidays stay is at Hotel Lotus Himalaya, located 3 km from Manali town in the serene hamlet of Shuru. Surrounded by pine forests, apple orchards, paddy fields, and snow-dusted peaks, the property puts you in nature's living room. Wake up to panoramic valley views before heading out for the day's adventure.

Winters bring skiing on the slopes of Solang Nullah; summers open up trekking routes to Hampta Pass and Chandrakhani Pass. The old Manali village — a maze of apple trees and wood-carved temples — is best explored on foot with a cup of hot himachali chai in hand.