Manali travel guide

Trout fish

Himachal's mountain stream delicacy—rainbow trout farmed in the crystal Beas, Ravi and Spiti rivers; pan-fried with minimal seasoning to preserve the clean flavor; trout farms in Kullu, Manali and Tirthan Valley sell directly; the freshwater taste is completely pure

Siddu

Kullu and Shimla's renowned stuffed roll—wheat bread stuffed with poppy seed-walnut paste and baked in an oven or steamed; softer than Sidu; served with ghee and dal at dhabas throughout Himachal Pradesh; made fresh to order and sold at most hill-station bakeries

Kullu trout

The specific rainbow trout of Kullu Valley's Beas River tributaries—clear, fast mountain water produces fish with exceptional sweetness and clean taste; restaurants in Kullu's Akhara Bazaar and The Orchard Retreat serve it fried or grilled the day it's caught

Dham thali

The Himachali traditional meal platter equivalent—a complete serving of the festival dham components given to those who can't attend the full ceremony; rice, rajma, mash lentil, kaale chane and sweet saffron rice; served as a hospitality gesture at family functions

Babru

Kinnaur and Himachal's thick stuffed fried bread—similar to a kachori but with a thick black sesame-lentil filling; pan-fried in mustard oil; found at roadside dhabas in Kinnaur and at the Rekong Peo markets; a winter mountain food deeply satisfying at altitude