From Bhuntar Airport to Your Stay in Manali

Your flight may say Kullu-Manali, but the airport is in Bhuntar, about 50 km by road from central Manali. You will still need a ride up the valley after you land. It is worth treating this as part of your arrival day, especially if you have luggage or a check-in time to meet.

If you want to go straight to your accommodation, arrange a taxi to its exact address. If you would rather take a bus, confirm where to board one from Bhuntar and how you will get from the Manali stop to your stay. Neither choice needs a complicated itinerary, but both work better when you settle the final drop before leaving the airport.

Going straight to your stay

A taxi makes sense when you are travelling with a family, carrying several bags or arriving with little room for a bus connection. Give the driver your property's map pin and name, not just “Manali”. A room near Mall Road, a stay in Old Manali and a property farther up the valley do not have the same final drop. The 50 km figure is to Manali town, not to every accommodation using Manali in its address.

If your stay is arranging the pickup, send your flight details and ask where the driver will meet you. Confirm the fare and the agreed drop before the journey starts. If your flight is delayed, let the driver or property know as soon as you can.

The road leads up the Kullu Valley towards Manali. You are not being driven into Kasol or Manikaran, which lie on a different valley road from Bhuntar. If you are actually stopping in Kullu town first, our Manali to Kullu town article explains why Kullu and Manali should be treated as separate destinations.

Taking a bus from Bhuntar

The bus is an option if you have a flexible arrival and are comfortable making the last part of the journey on your own. Do not assume a Manali-bound bus picks up immediately outside the airport terminal. Before you leave, ask airport staff or the local transport operator for the boarding point and the next service that suits your arrival. Bhuntar bus stand and the airport are different places, even though they are close to each other.

Keep your accommodation address ready for the other end as well. A bus to Manali does not necessarily take you to your door. Check how you will reach your stay from the place where the bus drops you, particularly if you will arrive after dark or have a heavy bag. If the connection does not fit your flight, a direct taxi may be the more comfortable choice that day.

Leave your first afternoon open

The airport's name can make it tempting to book an activity soon after landing. Give yourself time to collect your bags, find your ride, travel the 50 km and check in. Mountain-road traffic and flight arrivals can vary, so do not set a fixed appointment on the assumption that the road will take only an hour.

Once you have put your bags down, our Manali destination page can help you choose what to do with the rest of your stay. If you are still deciding how to travel to the region, the broader How to Reach Manali article compares air with road and rail.

Photograph: Kullu-Manali Airport at Bhuntar by Pinakpani, photographed on 19 August 2022. Cropped, resized and converted to WebP by 2050 XP. The photograph and this adapted version are available under CC BY-SA 4.0.