Amritsar to Manali

Reaching the resort town of Manali from Amritsar by bus is the most affordable way to take the roadways. There is one route that leads to Manali from Amritsar and that goes through NH 54 and NH 154. The total journey takes about half a day; sometimes about 16 hours if there are more stops in between the two destinations. Therefore, most buses usually depart from Amritsar in the afternoon or the evening. This also allows travellers to reach Manali in the morning (the next day) and go sightseeing. One can easily find at least 2 or 3 buses heading to Manali on a daily basis from Amritsar City.

Available Bus Options

1. Himachal Road Transport Corporation (Ordinary Non A/C Bus)

Timing: Departure – 03:30 PM IST
Arrival – 06:00 AM IST
Duration: 14 hours 10 minutes

Fare – INR 720/- approximately per ticket

2. Himachal Road Transport Corporation (A/C Volvo, Scania)

Timing: Departure – 06:40 PM IST
Arrival – 06:00 AM IST
Duration: 11 hours 20 minutes

Fare – INR 1600/- approximately per ticket

Renting a car or driving by privately owned cars is the best way to reach Manali from Amritsar. It allows enough freedom to stop by at other vacation destinations like Pathankot, Palampur, Dalhousie, Kullu etc. or even take a detour and cover some more destinations like Shimla and Dalhousie. For those who are fascinated by the idea of a road trip, a journey from Amritsar and Manali by road is sure to be one packed with excitement and surprises. There is just one route that leads to Manali and travellers can start early to make the most of their trip. An overnight stay at Dharamsala or Pathankot is much recommended if they wish to explore other destinations.

Depending on the requirement, one can go for a basic hatchback, a bigger and spacious vehicle like a sports utility vehicle, sedan or a minivan. These can be chosen to suit the budget and convenience of the travellers. One can book a drop to Manali from Amritsar or rent a vehicle for an entire journey that includes overnight stays and returns. Some tours and travel companies also include tour packages which follow an itinerary so that tourists can explore as many attractions as possible on the route.  Most of these companies accept online bookings which can be done instantly on their respective websites. Clear Car Rental, Hire Me Car, GoZo Outstation Cars etc. are some of the companies that provide outstation cab services.

The Routes That Can Be Taken

Route 1: NH 54/ NH 154 Route

460 Kilometres, 12 hours approximately

NH 3 – G T Road, Amritsar – NH 54 – Amritsar Bypass Road – Verka Bypass on NH 54 – NH 44/ Pathankot Gurdaspur Road – NH 154/ Jalandhar Dalhousie Bypass – MDR 23 – NH 3/ Manali Sarchu Road. Manali is about 33 kilometres ahead.