Manali to Rishikesh

   Manali to Rishikesh Road Distance 514 km
   Manali to Rishikesh Aerial Distance 261 km
  Manali to Rishikesh Travel Time 12 hours 22 mins

How to reach Rishikesh from Manali

Famous for trekking, hiking and other mountain adventure sports, Manali is situated in the northern state of Himachal Pradesh, while Rishikesh, a holy town situated next to the Ganges river is famous for white water rafting. Rishikesh is located 500 kms away from Manali and the most convenient modes of transport between the two places is by road. 

Knowing The Details

1. Manali to Rishikesh by Road
2. Manali to Rishikesh by Bus
3. Popular Routes to Rishikesh
4. Popular Routes from Manali
5. Places to Visit in Rishikesh
6. Hotels in Rishikesh

Rishikesh Travel Packages

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1. Manali to Rishikesh by Road

The drive between the two cities is through many mountains. We suggest you pop a pill if motion sickness is a concern. Even though the drive is quite long, it is beautiful - with plenty of eateries along the route. 

Approximate Travel Time: 12 Hours
Approximate Taxi Fare: INR 8000
Car rentals in Manali: Manali Taxi Booking, Manali Cab Service, Kullu Manali Holidays. 

Route 1: Via NH3

  • Distance: 500 Kms
  • Travel Time: 12 hours 30 minutes
  • Sights on the way: Hidimba Devi Temple (Manali), Manu Temple (Manali), Manali Sanctuary, The Great Himalayan National Park (Bhuntar), Bijli Mahadev Temple (Bhuntar), Parashar Lake (Mandi), Pandoh Dam (Mandi), Nalagarh Fort, Rock Garden of Chandigarh , Sukhna Lake (Chandigarh), Zakir Hussain Rose Garden (Chandigarh), Mata Shakumbari Devi Mandir (Saharanpur), Gandhi Park (Saharanpur), Rajaji National Park (Haridwar), Har Ki Pauri Ghat, Haridwar, Shri Mata Mansa Devi Mandir, Haridwar, Laxman Jhula (Rishikesh), Sivananda Ashram (Rishikesh).
  • Eating options: The Johnson's Cafe and Hotel (Manali), Fat Plate (Manali), Kapoor Dhabha Pure Vegetarian Food (Bhuntar), Hotel Apple Royal (Bhuntar), Meera Mahal Family Restaurant (Mandi), Shera's Bar And Restaurant (Mandi), Barbeque Nation (Chandigarh), Virgin Courtyard (Chandigarh), Saffron Multi Cuisine Family Restaurant (Saharanpur), Chotiwala Restaurant (Haridwar), Pandit Ji Poori Wale (Haridwar), The Sitting Elephant - A Rooftop Restaurant Overlooking River Ganga (Rishikesh), Ramana's Organic Cafe (Rishikesh). 

Route 2: Via NH3 and NH205

  • Distance: 520 Kms
  • Travel Time: 13 Hours 30 minutes
  • Sights on the way: Hidimba Devi Temple (Manali), Manu Temple (Manali), Manali Sanctuary, The Great Himalayan National Park (Bhuntar), Bijli Mahadev Temple (Bhuntar), Parashar Lake (Mandi), Pandoh Dam (Mandi),Indus Valley Civilization (Rupnagar), Gurudwara Sri Manji Sahib Ji (Ambala), Gurudwara Sri Panjokhra Sahib (Ambala),  Mata Shakumbari Devi Mandir (Saharanpur), Gandhi Park (Saharanpur), Rajaji National Park (Haridwar), Har Ki Pauri Ghat, Haridwar, Shri Mata Mansa Devi Mandir, Haridwar, Laxman Jhula (Rishikesh), Sivananda Ashram (Rishikesh).
  • Eating options: The Johnson's Cafe and Hotel (Manali), Fat Plate (Manali), Kapoor Dhabha Pure Vegetarian Food (Bhuntar), Hotel Apple Royal (Bhuntar), Meera Mahal Family Restaurant (Mandi), Love Punjabi Dhaba (Ambala), Saffron Multi Cuisine Family Restaurant (Saharanpur), Chotiwala Restaurant (Haridwar), Pandit Ji Poori Wale (Haridwar), The Sitting Elephant - A Rooftop Restaurant Overlooking River Ganga (Rishikesh), Ramana's Organic Cafe (Rishikesh). 

2. Manali to Rishikesh by Bus

Multiple buses operate between the two cities with a hangover at Haridwar. This option is much cheaper than a taxi is usually the most preferred. The journey can get quite long and tiring so we recommend taking an overnight bus.

Part 1: Manali to Haridwar by Bus 

  • Route Operator: Himachal Road Transport Corporation 
  • Route Number 802
  • Starting Point: Manali 
  • Terminating Point: Haridwar
  • Travel time: 17 hours 30 minutes
  • Distance: 510  Kms
  • Frequency: Three times a day
  • Ticket cost: INR 1200

Part 2: Haridwar to Rishikesh by Bus

  • Route Operator: Uttarakhand Transport Corporation
  • Starting Point: Haridwar 
  • Terminating Point: Rishikesh
  • Travel time: 30 minutes
  • Distance: 22 Kms
  • Frequency: Every 2 hours 
  • Ticket cost: INR 150
Tip: All bus tickets are available at bus booking counters and train tickets at railway stations. Make sure you book your tickets through a certified booking agent. For flight bookings , plan your trip well in advance to get preferred timings and prices.

Popular Routes to Rishikesh

Important Routes Time Taken Distance
Delhi to Rishikesh 5 hours 37 mins 242 km
Dehradun to Rishikesh 1 hour 21 mins 45.9 km
Mumbai to Rishikesh 1 day 3 hours 1,634 km
Jaipur to Rishikesh 9 hours 36 mins 500 km
Bangalore to Rishikesh 1 day 11 hours 2,334 km
Chandigarh to Rishikesh 5 hours 12 mins 210 km

Popular Routes from Manali

Important Routes Time Taken Distance
Manali to Chandigarh 7 hours 33 mins 309 km
Manali to Delhi 10 hours 55 mins 536 km
Manali to Shimla 6 hours 41 mins 247 km
Manali to Amritsar 9 hours 5 mins 399 km
Manali to Kullu 1 hour 6 mins 40.1 km
Manali to Jammu 9 hours 56 mins 416 km