C6 Manali – A home away from home (Offbeat workation in Manali) Last Updated: June 12, 2021

I came across C6 Manali while looking for unique experiences for a workation in Himachal Pradesh. After reading several articles on off-beat places to stay in Manali for a workation, I couldn’t find a place of my choice because they were either beyond my budget or they were not exactly what I was looking for.

 C6 Manali is a community living space for travelers from around the world. I found this place on hostelworld.com while looking for budget-friendly properties to stay in Manali.
 

The idea of community living hasn’t been very rampant in India but what is community living in the first place?

The concept refers to a group of people living together as a part of a community that believes in certain common goals.
 

At C6 Manali, the goal is to have a home away from home.
 

This property is located in the Dhungri Village of Manali, Himachal Pradesh amidst an apple orchard. It is secluded from all things touristy but still situated in the heart of Manali.

The people who stay at C6 usually end up extending their stay because of its homely environment and the peace the place brings with it. The surreal views and clean fresh air also attracts travelers to come here. Over 80% of people who stay at C6 are international travelers and they opt for long-term stays.
 
It took me some time to get my head around the reason behind the existence of C6. It was hard to understand the concept in the first instance but I decided to book a one-way trip to Manali with my cousin anyway and stay at C6 for a week. Little did I know that this place will turn out to be one of the most unique experiences of my life.

To know more about the concept of C6, you can check out this video that I shot with the host, Sanjay Das.

C6 is built around the concept of having a shared co-living space irrespective of any biases like age, gender, nationality, and religion. It is for people to come together and experience life in the mountains. People stay here anywhere from two weeks to a year.

The property has 12 beds divided between four rooms. along with two shared bathrooms and two shared toilets for everyone to use. There is also a shared kitchen where individuals are free to cook for themselves or choose to cook and eat together with others.

The best part about C6 is the personal space you get while still living in a community environment.

No one was forced to do anything and there are no stringent house rules either. The only thing that is expected to be avoided in the presence of large social gatherings and parties that would defeat the purpose of the place.

Our tentative plan was to head back home in a week but we enjoyed our workation at C6 so much that we extended it by a few more days.
 

As people with full-time jobs, our main priority was the wifi connection and strong network for calls. We confirmed this a few times before deciding to stay at C6.

The peaceful environment with surreal mountain views made it an ideal spot for “working from the mountains”.

We stayed in a three-bedroom that we had to ourselves. We used a shared bathroom, toilet, and kitchen. All the basic facilities were on point. Cleanliness was not the main concern at C6.

The place felt homely and comfortable. We took a couple of days to acclimatize to the cold weather but the rest was fine.

My favorite time of the day at C6 was the morning which was filled with abundant sunshine and the blissful sound of nature all around.

We had several spots to work from. We spent the day working outdoors and evenings were spent working indoors from our room as it got cold around 6 PM.

There were enough charging points for us.

Most of the tourist places were a good 30-40 minutes walk from C6. We explored Manali and nearby places on weekends. On weekdays, we spent most of our time working at C6, away from the crowds.

The per-night cost at C6 also did not burn a hole in our pocket. The longer you stay, the cheaper it gets. The cost includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You are either free to cook for yourself or eat what has been cooked by others in the house.

A local aunty brings you fresh cow’s milk every morning and the host helps you with fresh groceries every two days.
 

During work breaks, you can enjoy the sunshine, talk to others in the house, play with adorable mountain dogs of C6, or simply just admire the beauty of the place that is in the middle of an apple orchard and surrounded by mesmerizing mountain views all around.

After spending nearly two weeks working from the mountains, we felt more productive and connected to nature.

A huge part of our experience was also because of the host, Sanjay because made us feel at home. The conversations we had with him were also worthwhile and will make us want to come back again for him.

Be it a workation or a soul-searching experience or simply a slow travel holiday, C6 is an ideal space to stay.

It is not your regular hotel/ AirBnB nor is it a homestay. You leave this place with memories of a holistic experience that can be hard to explain in words sometimes.
 

There is nothing fancy about this place. You have all basic amenities that you need in your life.
 

The conversations you have with people here will count as a major part of your experience.
 

C6 Manali is not just special because of its mesmerizing location but also because of the people who have left positive memories at the place.
 

The positive and homely vibes of C6 will make you want to stay for longer. If you can’t, you are sure to come back next time.

Most of the people who have stayed at C6 have come back or have wanted to be back again. The place has been majorly running on word of mouth.

Staying at C6 has been a rejuvenating experience for my cousin and me. Something that we will cherish forever.

If you are looking for a unique workation experience, I can vouch for C6 to be the perfect option for you.

Do note this place is open mainly for solo travelers or a group of 2-3 people at the most. This is not a place for social gatherings or parties. The concept of C6 is more on the lines of having a home away from home.

You can check out more about our C6 experience on my Instagram too.