After driving several days through the Lahaul and Spiti Valleys with few conveniences, Hotel Kanishka was a welcome stop. This hotel of India is just off the road in an area full of guest houses and hotels. We were drawn to the lights draped on the outside of the building for Diwali and the large parking lot. Manali, Himachal Pradesh, is notorious for having a parking issue especially with the Mall now closed to traffic.

Walk into the large well finished lobby where a large curved front desk greets you. The large size carried through to the guest room and ensuite bathroom. Be sure to ask for the main or first level rooms with tile flooring. The second level rooms are fitted with carpet that the hotel is not properly equipped to clean. Inside the room was a large size bed, desk and a small seating area with two chairs set into a bay window overlooking the lush green lawn the hotel surrounds. The bathroom was neat & clean stocked with TP and small guest items.

For Rs 1300 the hotel in Manali was as I would expect. Parking is the real treat here and if time allowed, a relaxing morning breakfast on the lawn would have been great. We arrived late and left early the next morning…Manali was just a place to eat and lay our heads this time as I had explored the city 3 years earlier. There is an Indian restaurant on site with room service and available laundry service. Skip the restaurant and walk down to the Mall where Chopsticks and Mount View Restaurant await.