Manali is the most loved and most visited hill stations in India and is considered to be a travelers’ haven. Manali is famous not only for the gushing of Beas River with the backdrop of mighty Himalayan peaks with dense Deodars and conifers but the rich heritage of history and culture also makes it worth the visit.
While vacations are to explore the places and major landmarks of a place, no vacation is complete without shopping or collecting souvenirs from the place for yourself and your loved ones. And, when you arrive at a Himalayan retreat, shopping becomes a must as the mountain cultures are known for their distinct artworks and handicraft.
Manali offers an impressive range of products for all budget types without compromising on the quality of the products. Listing down the best market places in Manali that would allow you to avoid last minute chaos of decision making.
1. Old Manali Market
The old world charm of the old Manali market never ceases to amaze any traveler. Old Manali being the hub for almost all backpackers and trekkers, every single person visits this market during their stay here. The market is located on the Manu Temple Road in the quaint village of Old Manali.
Explore the shopping area through its cobblestoned pathways that are neatly lined with shops that display an array of colorful products. The products range from bohemian jewelry to bright colorful hippie clothes to silverware, accessories to hand woven handicraft items. Street shopping is fun when you get to bargain; hence, when shopping in Old Manali market, bargain hard.
- Location – Manu Temple Road, Old Manali
- Timings – 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
- Specialty – Funky accessories and hippie clothes
2. Himachal Emporium
The Himachal emporium is a government store and the best place to shop if you are looking for artistic handicrafts with delicate designs. Everything at Himachal Emporium speaks volumes about the rich Himachali heritage that are handmade from footwear to shawls and pashminas to home décor items to toys and much more.
The price for all items is pretty much fixed with a very little room for bargaining but you could still try bargaining.
- Location – Mall Road
- Timings – 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM
- Specialty – Handicrafts
3. Tibetan Market
As the name suggests, the Tibetan market offers a diverse range of Tibetan products and is a small peaceful place to shop for bamboo items and Thangkas. Thangkas are Buddhist paintings done on cotton cloth or canvas which is stretched onto a bamboo frame, and other traditional Tibetan stuff that are a representation of their culture.
- Location – Siyal
- Timings – 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
- Specialty – Tibetan souvenirs and paintings
4. Manu Market
Manu Market is another popular shopping destination among the travelers in Manali which is located at the Mall. It is a small market compared to other markets but one of the busiest markets of Manali because of the variety of products available here. You may also enjoy the local delicacies that are sold by the vendors while shopping at the Manu market. The market also offers a good backdrop for street photography.
- Location – Siyal
- Timings – 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- Specialty – Artificial jewelry, footwear and books
5. The Mall Road
Anyone visiting Manali is bound to pay their visit to the Mall Road since it is the tourist center point. The shops around the Mall Road are neatly lined up on both sides of the road offering a splendid collection of winter wear, antiques, books, and shawls. You need to up your bargaining skills while shopping around at the Mall Road.
- Location – Mall Road
- Timings – 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
- Specialty – Winter wear
6. Bhuttico
Established by a group of village women in 1944, Bhuttico is the best place to shop for winter wear. Bhuttico is a small cooperative shop which offers handmade traditional Himachali apparels, handwoven pashmina shawls, jackets, stoles, bags, and accessories.
The products of Bhuttico are tested for quality and the store has been awarded for its excellence in handloom by the Ministry of Textiles. It is the best place to buy gifts and souvenirs for family and friends.
- Location – Bhutti Colony
- Timings – 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
- Specialty – Handloom products and winter wear
7. The Club House
The Manali Clubhouse is an entertainment center maintained by Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) wherein you can indulge in sports, boating, games, food and shopping. The shopping complex is arranged as tiny huts in the central arena that offer fancy bags, totes, woolen garments, jewelry, handicrafts, garments and many other products at a fixed price.
- Location – Old Manali
- Timings – 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM
- Specialty – Fancy bags and handicrafts
