Start from Mumbai CSMT with a comfortable buffer of at least 60–90 minutes, especially since you’re traveling as a group of 5 and will likely have luggage. For the smoothest ride, book 2AC or 3AC on a train like the Rajdhani or Tejas route to New Delhi Railway Station; the journey is long, but these are the best options for sleeping properly and reaching fresh enough for sightseeing the next morning. Expect roughly 15–17 hours depending on the train, and carry your own water, dry snacks, tissues, and a small power bank. If you’re carrying Jain food, it’s safest to pack it from Mumbai rather than depend on station food. Keep all bags tagged and one person in the group responsible for tickets, IDs, and a backup screenshot of the booking.
After arrival in Delhi, head straight to Old Delhi by metro, cab, or pre-booked pickup; from New Delhi Railway Station it’s usually a 20–30 minute ride, but allow extra time because station traffic can be messy. Begin early at Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib for a calm, spiritual start, then walk into the lanes of Chandni Chowk. Go light on luggage if possible, because the lanes get crowded fast. This area is best before 10 AM, when the wholesale traffic is still building and you can actually enjoy the heritage feel. If you want a quick snack later, keep it to Jain-friendly or simple fruit/soda options, since this part of Delhi gets very busy and messy around food stalls.
From Old Delhi, take the metro or a cab to Karol Bagh for a clean, reliable Jain meal break at Jain Sweets & Restaurant. This is a smart stop after the morning rush: the food is familiar, vegetarian, and easy for families who want something dependable before continuing the day. Expect about ₹250–₹450 per person depending on what you order, and the area is usually easy to reach by the Blue Line or a short taxi ride. If you have time after breakfast, walk around the nearby market streets a little, but don’t overdo it — the real goal is a relaxed meal and a reset before the green spaces later in the day.
In the late morning or early afternoon, move to Lodhi Garden for a quieter Delhi break. This is one of the nicest places in the city to recover from travel: wide lawns, old tombs, shaded paths, and enough breathing room to sit for a while without feeling like you’re “doing” anything. Entry is free, and the park is generally open from early morning until sunset, so it works well after brunch. For a group of 5, this is a good place to slow down, walk at your own pace, and avoid Delhi’s midday heat and traffic. Carry water and wear comfortable shoes — the paths are easy, but you’ll still do a fair bit of walking.
End the day at India Gate and Kartavya Path, ideally around sunset when the light is best and the whole stretch feels lively but not rushed. From Lodhi Garden, a cab usually takes 10–20 minutes depending on traffic. The area is best for a slow stroll, photos, and an easy first-day Delhi evening rather than a packed sightseeing stop. There are plenty of snack options nearby, but if you want to stay fully Jain-friendly, keep dinner simple and vegetarian and return to your hotel early, because the next day’s transfer toward Manali is a long one.
Leave New Delhi very early and treat this as a full travel day: if you’re going by Volvo AC or a private tempo/UV, aim to roll out around 5:30–6:30 AM so you hit Manali by evening with a little daylight left for check-in. For a group of 5, a private vehicle is easier for luggage and bathroom stops, but a good Volvo is the smarter value if everyone is okay with a long mountain ride. Keep a jacket, water, motion-sickness tablets, power bank, and some light snacks handy; once you clear the plains, the road becomes scenic but slower near Bilaspur–Mandi–Kullu. On arrival, head straight to your stay in Old Manali or central Manali and keep the first few hours simple so nobody feels rushed.
Once you’ve freshened up, start with an easy Old Manali village walk. It’s the best soft landing after the road—small lanes, wooden houses, apple orchards, and a relaxed backpacker vibe without needing much energy. From there, continue to Hidimba Devi Temple in Dhungri, which is especially lovely in late afternoon when the cedar forest feels quiet and the crowds thin out. Entry is usually free, and you’ll want about 30–45 minutes here; dress modestly and expect a short walk from the parking area. If anyone in the group is tired, skip extra wandering and just enjoy the temple complex and the forest around it.
For dinner, go to Café 1947 in Old Manali by the riverside and keep it unhurried—this is a good first-night place because the setting is calm and the menu works for a mixed group. Budget roughly ₹500–₹900 per person, depending on drinks and mains; arrive a little before peak dinner time if you want a good table by the water. If you need Jain food, call ahead and ask for no onion, no garlic, no root vegetables—many cafes in Old Manali can adjust simple pastas, fries, soups, and Indian dishes if you speak to them clearly, but don’t assume it without checking.
End the night with a short stop at Mall Road Manali for light shopping and acclimatization—shawls, dry fruits, woollens, and small souvenirs are easiest to browse here. Keep this to about an hour so the day stays relaxed after the long transfer. If you’re staying near Circuit House Road or central Manali, it’s an easy taxi ride back; for Old Manali, a local cab or a short uphill walk is usually enough, but after a long road journey I’d personally just take the cab and sleep early.
Start early and keep the first half of the day light and calm: Hidimba Devi Temple in Dhungri is best before the tour-bus crowds arrive, ideally around 8:00–9:00 AM, when the cedar forest feels quiet and the temple looks its most photogenic. From most Manali stays, a short local taxi or auto-rickshaw will get you there in 10–20 minutes depending on where you’re based. Spend about 45 minutes here, then walk or take a short ride toward Van Vihar National Park near the Mall Road side. It’s an easy, flat break from temple-hopping—good for a 1-hour stroll, paddle-boating if you feel like it, and a relaxed start without overdoing the day. Expect small entry fees and bring cash for tiny purchases; mornings are quieter, and the lake area is nicest before the afternoon crowds.
By late morning, head to Tibetan Monastery in Aleo / near Mall Road for a softer cultural stop with prayer wheels, wall art, and a peaceful atmosphere. It’s a quick but worthwhile visit, about 45 minutes, and works well before lunch. For food, Mount View Restaurant on Mall Road is a solid, family-friendly choice and one of the safer bets for Jain food in Manali—call ahead or ask clearly for Jain without onion, garlic, and root vegetables. Lunch here usually lands around ₹300–₹600 per person, and with 5 people you’ll have an easier time ordering a mix of thalis, paneer dishes, and plain breads. If you want the meal to feel smoother during Diwali season, go a little early, around 1:00 PM, because Mall Road gets busier once day-trippers come in.
After lunch, head to Manu Temple in Old Manali for a change of pace and neighborhood. The road climbs a bit, so a private cab or local taxi is the easiest way for your group; from Mall Road it’s usually a short but sometimes slow uphill ride depending on traffic and parking. Give yourselves about 1 hour here, plus a little extra if you want to wander the lanes around Old Manali afterward. Finish the day at Vashisht Hot Springs & Temple in Vashisht Village, which is best in the late afternoon when the air turns colder and the hot water feels especially good. Plan 1 to 1.5 hours here, and if you’re comfortable, the baths are a nice reset after walking all day. For dinner, stay around Vashisht or return toward your hotel; during Diwali 2026, roads and parking can get tighter in the evening, so leave a little buffer and don’t cut the day too close if you want a calm night.
Start with the Manali–Kullu corridor by taxi right after breakfast and ask the driver to make a few safe pull-over photo stops along the Beas River. In November, the water is usually clear and fast, and the drive feels especially pretty in the morning light before the valley gets busier. For a group of 5, a private cab makes the day much smoother than trying to coordinate shared transport, and you’ll want a driver who is comfortable stopping briefly at viewpoints without rushing you. Keep a light jacket handy — the river stretch can feel colder than Manali town, especially in the shade.
Your first proper stop is Raghunath Temple in Sultanpur, Kullu, which is the town’s main spiritual anchor and usually takes about 30–45 minutes if you walk around respectfully and don’t rush. The temple area is generally calm in the late morning, and it’s a good moment to slow the pace after the scenic drive. From there, move on to a Kullu Shawl Factory / local weaving cooperative in Kullu town — this is where you can see the valley’s handloom tradition up close and pick up genuine woolens, stoles, and shawls without the tourist-market markup. Ask to see the weaving process if available; it helps you judge quality and avoid synthetic blends.
For lunch, stop at Sagar Ratna or a simple veg thali spot in Kullu Market. This is the easiest Jain-friendly meal window of the day: ask for no onion, no garlic, and stick to plain rice, dal, roti, sabzi, curd, and khichdi-style dishes. Expect roughly ₹250–₹500 per person depending on what you order, and if the family prefers simpler food, many local vegetarian dhabas in the market can also do a clean Jain plate if you call it out clearly before ordering. The market area is practical rather than fancy, so it’s best for lunch, not for lingering too long.
After lunch, head toward Bijli Mahadev viewpoint trek for a shortened experience rather than the full strenuous climb. For most families, the smart version is to do only the accessible part, enjoy the mountain views, and avoid turning it into an all-day hike unless everyone is feeling energetic and the weather is clear. Give yourself 2–3 hours here, including transfer time and pauses, and wear proper walking shoes because November trails can be dry but uneven. If you have any seniors in the group or you’d rather keep the day relaxed, your driver can usually recommend a lower-effort viewpoint alternative near the road rather than the full trek route.
End with a slow walk at the Kullu Riverfront / Dussehra Ground area. It’s a nice, open way to close the day: broad views, fresh air, and enough space to stretch after the afternoon outing without committing to another proper sightseeing stop. This is also the best time for a few final photos before heading back, since the light softens nicely around sunset and the town cools down. If you want, grab tea or a light snack nearby, then return to your stay in Manali by cab after dark rather than trying to stretch the evening too far.
Leave Kullu after an easy breakfast and head up the Manali–Prini–Solang road with your driver; for a group of 5, a private cab is the smoothest way because you can stop for photos without worrying about shared-cab timing. The first stop is Atal Tunnel entry point / Snow Point drive, which usually takes around 2 hours with pauses for valley views. In November, the road can feel crisp and very clear in the morning, and if you get lucky with early snow conditions the landscape changes fast as you climb. Keep a light jacket, gloves, and some cash for small roadside tea stalls or parking-style quick stops.
By late morning, roll into Solang Valley, where the vibe shifts from scenic drive to full adventure zone. This is the best place to pick one or two activities for your group of 5 rather than trying to do everything: paragliding if the weather is stable, ATV rides if you want something playful, or the ropeway if you’d rather keep it easy and focus on the mountain views. Typical operator rates vary a lot by season, but a rough budget is ₹1,500–₹3,500 per person depending on the activity, and November can be busy on weekends, so go before noon if you want shorter queues. For lunch, stop at a dhaba by the Beas or a simple roadside veg place in the corridor—ask for plain roti, dal, aloo sabzi, rice, curd, and no onion-garlic versions if you need Jain-friendly food; most family dhabas can manage this if you ask clearly. Expect about ₹200–₹450 per person, and keep it unhurried.
After lunch, give yourselves time to enjoy the mountain air and one more round of activity or just a slow walk around Solang Valley instead of packing the whole afternoon. From there, begin the return via Naggar, where Naggar Castle is a lovely late-afternoon stop: quieter than Manali, great for a heritage pause, and especially nice in softer light before sunset. Entry is usually modest, and the surrounding views toward the valley are the real reward. Finish with tea and snacks at Naggar Market or a small local café nearby—look for a simple place serving hot kahwa, maggi, or veg snacks, which usually costs around ₹150–₹350 per person. This is the right kind of final stop for a Diwali trip: calm, scenic, and not rushed, before you head back to your stay with the evening cold settling in.
Set off from Manali by 5:00–6:00 AM so you can clear the hills before traffic builds and still have daylight on the plains side. For a group of 5, a private taxi/tempo traveller is more comfortable than a bus because you can control stop timing, keep luggage together, and avoid the late-evening scramble in Delhi. Expect 12–14 hours on the road with one or two restroom/tea breaks; I’d plan to reach the city edge around dinner time, then head straight into the planned Old Delhi evening rather than checking into your hotel first if everyone is still energetic.
Use Murthal as your practical lunch halt, especially if your group wants clean, reliable vegetarian North Indian food after the mountain drive. The most popular stops along the highway are Amrik Sukhdev, Garhwal Dhaba, and Haveli; for a Jain-friendly group, ask clearly for no onion, no garlic, and keep to simple dishes like tawa roti, paneer, dal, aloo gobi, curd, and lassi. Budget around ₹200–₹400 per person, and try not to overstay—30–45 minutes is enough if you want to keep the Delhi evening on track.
If you reach Delhi in reasonable time, do a short heritage detour first with a drive-by or quick stop around Jama Masjid and the lanes of Old Delhi—best kept to a light, non-rushed visit since the area gets busy and parking is easiest when your driver drops you near the edge and waits. From there, head to Shri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir in Chandni Chowk, one of the most important Jain temples in the city; it’s a very fitting stop for your trip, usually calm in the evening, and the area is best respected as a quiet spiritual visit rather than a sightseeing dash. After that, finish with a simple, Jain-friendly bite near Paranthe Wali Gali—ask for bina pyaz, bina lehsun, bina paneer-onion fillings and stick to plain options at older shops or nearby vegetarian eateries such as Bikanervala or Natraj Dahi Bhalla in the Chandni Chowk area if you want something easier to manage. Keep this last leg flexible, then rest up for your Delhi to Mumbai departure the next day.
If your train or flight timing gives you a few spare hours, keep the last Delhi morning easy and centered around Connaught Place. Start with coffee at Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters or United Coffee House if you want a sit-down breakfast, or grab a quick South Indian plate at Sagar Ratna in the inner circle. This area works well for a group of 5 because you can eat, rest your bags a bit, and do a little last-minute shopping without straying far from New Delhi Railway Station. Expect breakfast to cost around ₹250–₹600 per person depending on how leisurely you go, and most cafés open by 8:00–9:00 AM.
From there, take a short cab or auto to Janpath Market. It’s the easiest place for quick souvenirs: shawls, woollens, brass items, handloom dupes, juttis, and small gift buys. Walk the stretch slowly and bargain politely; November weather is usually good for browsing without rushing. You’ll find lots of casual cafés and clean washrooms around Connaught Place if you need a quick pause before lunch.
For your final proper meal, head toward Lajpat Rai Market / nearby old-city vegetarian spots and keep it simple and Jain-friendly. A safe approach is to ask for Jain thali, no onion-no garlic meals, or plain dhokla, poori-sabzi, and dal-chawal at a reputable vegetarian place nearby. If you want a dependable stop close to transit, look for established veg restaurants around Connaught Place, Paharganj, or the Chawri Bazaar side depending on where you’re heading next; budget roughly ₹250–₹500 per person. For a Jain group, always confirm oil, hing, and gravy base before ordering.
After lunch, give yourselves enough time to reach New Delhi Railway Station calmly. Aim to leave your restaurant by the station with at least 30–45 minutes to spare, and more if you have checked luggage. Keep water, snacks, and any train essentials in hand, because once you enter the station zone, it’s easier to stay put than to run back out for something forgotten.
For the return to Mumbai, choose your departure with comfort in mind: if you’re still set on rail, the overnight train from New Delhi Railway Station is the practical backup, but if your schedule allows, a Delhi to Mumbai flight is the smoother option after a full mountain trip. If you take the flight, the easy rule is to leave for the airport early enough that you’re not stressing over Delhi traffic; if you take the train, arrive at the station well ahead of time and keep your platform, coach number, and tickets ready. For a group of 5, stay together near the entrance or a fixed landmark inside the station so boarding is less chaotic.