Best Hostel In Old Manali
What is your idea of a perfect hostel? For me, it is clean dorms, a nice common area, good food, good view, fast internet, good hospitality and a nice crowd. The Monkbase Cafe & Hostel In Old Manali checks all boxes. In March 2022, I stayed there for 3 days during my fortnight long road trip to Himachal. And, the experience was so good that I’m 100% sure I’ll stay at the same place on my next trip to Manali.
Monkbase Manali Location
The hostel is situated in Old Manali. The closest landmark is Manu Temple. The road to get there is pretty narrow and steep. You can easily get an auto from the bus stop. The location is one such factor where Monkbase aces it pretty well. You can a pretty mountain view from all balconies and even the cafe. The cafe also has a balcony seating.
Price
The price for dorms ranges between 350-450 for a six bunk room and 450-600 for a four bunk room. Whereas a private room ranges anywhere between 800-1200 depending on the demand and season. The price also depends on the number of days you are willing to stay, you can negotiate a better price or opt for a package in case you are planning to stay for a long time.
Personal Experience
We stayed in a private room suitable for 2 person. It was comfortable and had basic amenities like hot water supply and tv(which we never used). The room offered a big walkable front gallery which had stunning views of the mountain. The room was decent in terms of size. There was no room heater by default but could be arranged for on a special request. The season was not very cold during our stay, blankets were good enough to sleep comfortably.
Food
The quality and taste of food was above average. However, the price seems to be little on the higher side in way that the price offered for room does not correlate well with the food prices. If looked at the price and the cafe in isolation on not in correlation with room tarriff, then it justifies the price pretty well. There is a wide variety of options in the menu to choose from. There is no room service for food though. Everyone has to go to the cafe for food.
Internet
There is high speed 100 mbps wifi available in rooms as well as cafe. The cafe is setup in such a way that it can serve as a nice working space. You can choose to relax inside the cade and work or sit in the balcony with a view and work while sipping a hot cup of tea.
Hospitality
The hospitality that we received in Monkbase from staff and the owners was really good. The place is jointly owned by two random strangers who met on a trip to manali, became friends and eventually business partners. Both of them seem to be really kind. In case you have any special requests or any help required during your stay, you can talk to them without any hesitance.
Parking
Monkbase does have a dedicated parking in the basement but getting your car to the hostel itself is very tricky because of the narrow streets. I parked there the first day, but thereon I was parking slightly far from manu temple which is at a distance of roughly 100-150 metres.
Conclusion – Hostel In Old Manali
If you are looking forward to stay for a long workation or even during your short solo trip, Monkbase can be a really good choice. The view is stunning, food is delicious, internet is fast and property is high on hospitality. It is close to Manu temple and even Hadimba temple is close as well. All in all, if you are looking for a budget hostel that has everything one would require from a hostel, then Monkbase is right on money. In case you’re looking for nice destinations in Himachal which are worth exploring. Then you can also checkout Jibhi.
FAQs
What is Monkbase Cafe & Hostel and where is it located?
Monkbase Cafe & Hostel is a budget hostel in Old Manali that offers clean dorms, a nice common area, good food, good view, fast internet, good hospitality and a nice crowd. It is located near Manu Temple, which is a landmark in Old Manali.
What are the prices for dorms and private rooms at Monkbase?
The prices for dorms range between 350-450 for a six bunk room and 450-600 for a four bunk room. Whereas a private room ranges anywhere between 800-1200 depending on the demand and season. The price also depends on the number of days you are willing to stay, you can negotiate a better price or opt for a package in case you are planning to stay for a long time.
How is the food quality and variety at Monkbase?
The food quality and taste at Monkbase is above average. However, the price seems to be little on the higher side in way that the price offered for room does not correlate well with the food prices. If looked at the price and the cafe in isolation on not in correlation with room tariff, then it justifies the price pretty well. There is a wide variety of options in the menu to choose from. There is no room service for food though. Everyone has to go to the cafe for food.
How is the internet speed and connectivity at Monkbase?
There is high speed 100 mbps wifi available in rooms as well as cafe. The cafe is setup in such a way that it can serve as a nice working space. You can choose to relax inside the cafe and work or sit in the balcony with a view and work while sipping a hot cup of tea.
How is the hospitality and service at Monkbase?
The hospitality and service at Monkbase is really good. The place is jointly owned by two random strangers who met on a trip to Manali, became friends and eventually business partners. Both of them seem to be really kind. In case you have any special requests or any help required during your stay, you can talk to them without any hesitance.
