A Stay Near Old Manali, With the Orchard to Come Home To
Our Shanag home sits near Bahang, about 6-7km up the valley from Old Manali toward Solang. You get the cafes, Manu Temple and riverside lanes of Old Manali within a short drive, then quiet orchard evenings back at the farmstead. We are food-first, pet-friendly, and take bookings by WhatsApp request.
Old Manali is the part of town people mean when they say they want the Manali of ten years ago: stone-and-wood houses above the Manalsu stream, cafes stacked up the lane, and the old Manu Temple at the top. It is lovely to spend a day in, and slightly less lovely to sleep in during peak season, when the lane runs late and parking is a small war.
That is where we come in. Persimmon Farmstead Shanag sits near Bahang, roughly 6-7km up the valley from Old Manali toward Solang, so you are a short drive from the cafes and lanes but you sleep in an orchard, not above one. You can do Old Manali in daylight and evening, then drive back to a quiet where you hear the stream instead of the speaker.
We are a small, family-run place, food-first and pet-friendly, running since 2021 across two homes. This page is about how to use Old Manali well while staying with us, and what the day actually looks like from here.
Close, but not on the lane
Shanag is about 6-7km from Old Manali toward Solang, roughly 15-20 minutes by car depending on the season. Near enough for a morning coffee run or a late dinner, far enough that the orchard is quiet at night.
Old Manali by day, orchard by dusk
Do the cafes, Manu Temple and the riverside walk in daylight, then come back to apple and pear trees, a slow dinner and a proper night's sleep. You get both halves of the valley without choosing.
Food-first, always
Most guests eat in with us. Simple Himachali home cooking, fresh from the kitchen, and no reason to fight for a table on the lane at 9pm. Tell us your likes when you book and we plan around them.
Pet-friendly, ~4.9/5
Your dog is welcome in the orchard, and the reviews we are proudest of mention the food and the calm. Rooms are limited, so we take bookings by WhatsApp request rather than instant online.
Where Shanag sits in relation to Old Manali
Old Manali sits just above Manali town on the far side of the Manalsu stream. Our Shanag home is further up the same valley, near Bahang, on the road that carries on toward Solang and the Rohtang side. In practice that means Old Manali is a short drive down-valley for us, not a walk, and that is deliberate. You want the lane's energy in your evening, not under your bedroom window.
Our other home, Persimmon Farmstead at 14 Mile, Badgran, sits the opposite way, about 14km south of Manali on the Kullu-Manali highway. If Old Manali is your main draw, Shanag is the home to ask for. If you want the quieter, lower-valley orchard side and don't mind driving up for the cafes, Badgran works too. We are happy to help you pick when you message.
What to actually do in Old Manali
- Manu Temple: the old temple at the top of the lane, dedicated to the sage Manu. Ten-minute uphill walk from the cafe stretch, quietest first thing in the morning.
- The cafe lanes: German bakeries, Israeli food, filter coffee and rooftop views over the stream. Best late morning to afternoon; many places wind down by night.
- Riverside walk along the Manalsu: cross the bridge and follow the stone paths; cool even in June, and good for a slow hour.
- Old Vashisht detour: the hot springs and temple at Vashisht sit just across the way, an easy add-on to an Old Manali day.
A day from Shanag, roughly
Breakfast in the orchard with us. Drive down to Old Manali mid-morning while it is still calm, do the temple and a slow coffee, then wander the lanes. Solang is only a little further up-valley from us if you want paragliding or the ropeway, so many guests pair the two on one day. Back to the farmstead by evening for dinner, when the lane is at its noisiest and you are glad to be out of it.
When to come
April to June is warm days and full cafes; book ahead as this is the busy window. July and August bring the monsoon, greener and quieter, with the odd road delay on the higher stretches. September and October are our favourite, clear light and the orchard turning. December to February is cold and snow-quiet, some cafes shut, but the valley at its most still. We run through the year and will tell you honestly what a given month feels like here.
Getting here
Most guests reach Manali by overnight Volvo from Delhi (about 12-14 hours to the bus stand), then it is a short drive up to Shanag. Bhuntar airport is roughly 50km south. Tell us your arrival and we will point you the right way, or arrange a local pickup. See our full notes on how to reach Manali if you are planning the journey.
How booking works
We keep it simple and human. There is no instant online checkout and no published room rates here; you send us a WhatsApp with your dates, group and any food or pet needs, and we reply with what we have and what it costs. Because both homes are small, this lets us match you to the right room and plan your meals properly.
The Shanag HousePersimmon Farmstead Shanag
The high boutique hotel — wooden chalets and stone cottages on open orchard lawns.
Explore this home
The FarmsteadPersimmon Farmstead
The flagship boutique hotel — orchard rows, a family kitchen, and the morning sun.
Explore this homeGood to know
How far is your stay from Old Manali?
Our Shanag home is about 6-7km up the valley from Old Manali toward Solang, roughly 15-20 minutes by car depending on the season. Near enough for cafes and the temple, far enough to sleep in quiet.
Can I walk to the Old Manali cafes from Shanag?
Not really; it is a drive, not a walk. That distance is the point, as it keeps the orchard quiet at night. Most guests drive down for the day and evening and come back to dinner with us.
Is the Shanag home better than Badgran for an Old Manali trip?
Yes, if Old Manali and Solang are your focus. Shanag sits on that upper-valley side. Badgran is 14km south of Manali and suits guests wanting the quieter lower valley. Message us and we will help you choose.
Do you allow pets, and can we eat in?
Yes to both. Dogs are welcome in the orchard, and we are food-first; most guests eat home-cooked Himachali meals with us rather than heading out. Tell us your preferences when you book.
Tell us your dates. We'll confirm, personally.
You send a request, a real host confirms it by WhatsApp — usually within a few hours.