9 superb must haves on the Volvo bus from Delhi to Himachal Pradesh

Travelling is a fun part of visiting a new destination. The time in the vehicle, the views and the food in between stops make it all the more exciting to undertake a journey which includes travel. Such is the trip from Delhi to Manali via bus. One can book a seat on a bus to Manali either through HRTC – the official state transport of Himachal Pradesh or a private bus company. The journey from Delhi to Manali is quite long and takes up to 13 hours of sitting time. With astonishing views and wild roads, the experience is totally worth it. 

There are however, certain mandatory items one must carry in their day pack while travelling in the bus. These items will help make your journey organised and seamless. You also won’t find the need to scramble around in your luggage for your things.

1. Power Bank

Everyone carries their gadgets and chargers for a holiday. The inconvenience lies in the lack of charging ports while travelling. A power bank comes handy in times like these where one just needs to connect a cord and they’re good to go. A fully charged 20,000MAh power bank will be more than enough to charge 2-5 devices along the way to Manali.

2. Sweater / Jacket

The journey from Delhi-Manali consists of gradually rising elevation and consistently dropping temperatures. Considering this and the air conditioning of the bus, the air inside tends to get a little chilly. Carrying a jacket, sweater, shawl or a poncho in your day pack is the best way to escape the cold and easy to pull out when needed. 

3. Water Bottle/s

Being seated for long hours in the bus under air conditioning may result in the body severely dehydrating. This may lead to irritation and   Hydrating oneself while travelling is always an added health benefit. Therefore it is absolutely necessary to carry a water bottle while travelling from Delhi to Manali.

4. Food / Snacks

Buses departing from Delhi for Manali usually stop for food and washroom breaks once or twice along the way. They tend to stop for 15 to 30 minutes and although some people manage to eat within this time frame, some do not. Hence it is advisable to carry a burger or a sandwich on the bus going to Manali in case you end up unable to eat when the bus stops.

5. Basic Toiletries 

A bus journey usually means you have to go all the way to the destination to get freshened up. Some people, however, manage to freshen up during one of the bathroom breaks the bus stops for. If you are one of these people who would like to freshen up, a pouch filled with basic toiletries like toothpaste, toothbrush and a face wash in your day pack is a quick way to freshen up quickly.

6. Wallet

Money and id proofs are necessary for whenever you’re travelling via any mode of transport. These are usually stored in our wallets and thus end up in one of our garment pockets for easy access. While travelling by bus however, one may find needing the wallet less than required. It is better to carry your wallet in your day pack. This makes it easier to use when needed as well as keeps it safe from pickpockets.

7. Gadgets

Gadgets like mobile phones and tablets can be stored in the day pack to easily access them for any urgent work or for contacting anyone if required. Important and expensive gadgets can also be carried in the day pack for extra protection. 

8. Polythene bags for nausea

Carrying a couple of polythene bags for nausea during a bus ride is extremely important. Especially for the bus ride from Delhi to Manali. The increasing altitude and the winding roads can contribute to both altitude sickness as well as motion sickness. In any worst case scenario if you tend to get sick along the way, you’ll always have a bag at arm’s length to puke in. 

9. Medication

A small box of medication containing tablets for fever, cold, fatigue, nausea as well as motion sickness is a must have during the bus ride to the high mountains. If possible, carry a wound dressing kit as well for safety precautions in the case of any injury.

These items can be carried on any and every bus ride and/or journey to and from any destination. Do make sure that everything in the bag is organised in a way through which accessing them makes it easier.