I take every opportunity I get to head to the mountains. They have a way of making you feel small in a calming way. As cliché as it may be, Manali is one of my favourite places this time of the year. The place might be cold, but the warmth of smiling faces is much greater.
On my annual visit this time, I stayed at Larisa, a luxury boutique resort located in the Haripur district (20 to 25 minutes away from main Manali). With a total of 22 rooms, a spa, a kids' recreational area, a library, a multi-cuisine restaurant, a bar, and a breathtaking view, the place was nothing short of perfect. The staff is very accommodating and makes sure you don't have to repeat anything twice. They have three categories of rooms — Deluxe, Premium and Suite —all are spacious and comfortable. I'd recommend staying in the Suite; it has a jacuzzi, a fireplace, and a bed that I would take home if I could.
The founder, Priya Thakur, is lovely to interact with. She loves to travel herself, and hence keeps the guests at the very heart of everything she offers, so much so, that her newest resort in Goa will have no breakfast timings, which means no more running in pyjamas in the morning. The Manali one, however, has comfortable breakfast timings from 8:30 to 10 am (and they are also flexible with it, if you're running late).
That brings me to food! I was so pleasantly surprised with how exhaustive their menu was, which is not something you expect at high altitude places. I tried North Indian, Chinese, and Italian during the course of my stay and none of them disappointed me. The spinach and paneer momos were especially good. They also serve a delicious Himachal Dham, a type of traditional vegetarian thali with over seven dishes.
What To Do Nearby: You can go hiking or fishing. If there's snow, skiing is also an option. There is also a trout farm located just five minutes away, where they literally catch the fish you order right in front of you. Jungle Junction Cafe is only 15 minutes away on foot. It's in the middle of a forest, with a brook flowing and lots of huts serving Maggi, pakode and chai, if that is more your thing. For shopping, you can head to Mall Road, which is 25 minutes away, and while you're there, do have food from Chopsticks!
Price: Ranging between INR 10,000 to INR 20,000 per night
