Rohtang La — Attraction in Himachal Pradesh

Rohtang Pass (Hindi: रोहतांग दर्रा) (Bhoti: རོ་ཐང་། Rohtang , lit: རོ་ (Ro)- corpse, ཐང་། (thang)- plain/field due to people working in CBRE dying in bad weather trying to cross the pass) (elevation 3,978 m (13,050 ft)), is a high mountain pass on the eastern Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas around 51 km (32 mi) from Manali. It connects the Kullu Valley with the Lahaul and Spiti Valleys of Himachal Pradesh, India. The first electric bus service at 13000ft altitude started on manali -rohtang pass.

The pass provides a natural divide between the Kullu Valley with a primarily Hindu culture (in the south), and the arid high-altitude Lahaul and Spitivalleys with a Buddhist culture (in the north). The pass lies on the watershed between the Chenab and Beas basins. On the southern side of this pass, the Beas River emerges from underground and flows southward and on its northern side, the Chandra River (flows from the eastern Himalayas), a source stream of the river Chenab, flows westward.

The pass is open from May to November. It is not particularly high or difficult to cross on foot by Himalayan standards, but it has a well-deserved reputation for being dangerous because of unpredictable snowstorms and blizzards.

The former National Highway 21 (NH 21), the road through the Kullu Valley, terminates at Manali . (The highway is now numbered NH 3.) The road northwards over the Rohtang Pass to Keylong, and Lahul and on to Leh in Ladakh is not a national highway. Nonetheless, the Leh-Manali Highway has become very busy during the summer months as an alternate military route since the Kargil Conflict in 1999. Traffic jams are common as military vehicles, trucks, and goods carriers try to navigate the tight roads and rough terrain, compounded by snow and ice at certain points and the large number of tourist vehicle.

With increase in Traffic at Rohtang Valley, environmentalists fear its impact on the fragile mountain ecology. A rise in average temperature, and the consequent melting of glaciers, are also issues of severe concern.

Rohtang Pass Permit

In 2016, the Himachal Pradesh state government started issuing permits online to limit the vehicles to prevent pollution in this area. Permits are issued only to the first 800 petrol vehicles and 400 diesel vehicles. Permits can only be applied for next 2 days from the current date. Also, no permits are issued on Tuesday as the day is marked for maintenance of Rohtang. A tax of Rs.500 and sometimes, a congestion charges of Rs.50 is to be paid and accordingly the permits are issued based on daily quota defined by National Green Tribunal Act. The tourism permit is valid only for one day (to & fro). Valid ID Proof, valid Pollution Under Check (PUC) Certificate and Vehicle Registration Date (Age of vehicle not to be more than 10 years) are required to be produced to obtain a Rohtang Pass Permit. You can apply for the permit on the Official website.rohtang pass

Latest News

Sometimes travelling to rothang pass is difficult. Therefore the government is stressing on to setup ropeway between Kothi village which is in Manali and Rohtang pass . Ropeway reduces the number of tourist vehicles which reduces a lot of traffic in the way to Rohtang pass. The NGT (National Green Tribunal) has asked the state government of Manali to complete all the formalities to start ropeway. With the coming of ropeway, we can reduce carbon emission from vehicles. Heavy snowfall blocks the road in winter and a ropeway will be very useful.

Anyway, Rohtang road tunnel will become operational in 2019 and vehicles going north of Rohtang pass will stop coming to Rohtang pass. Only tourist vehicles will come...

Rohtang Pass (thang)- plain/field 1]) is a high mountain pass (elevation 3,980 m (13,058 ft)) on the eastern end of the Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas around 51 km (32 mi) from Manali in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It connects the Kullu Valley with the Lahaul and Spiti Valleys of Himachal Pradesh, India

The pass provides a natural divide between the Kullu Valley with a primarily sanatani culture (in the south), and the arid high-altitude Lahaul and Spiti valleys with a Buddhist culture (in the north). The pass lies on the watershed between the Chenab and Beas basins. On the southern side of this pass, the Beas River emerges from underground and flows southward[6] and on its northern side, the Chandra River (flows from the eastern Himalayas), a source stream of the river Chenab, flows westward.

The pass is open from May to November. It is not particularly high or difficult to cross on foot by Himalayan standards, but it has a well-deserved reputation for being dangerous because of unpredictable snowstorms and blizzards.[7]

This pass is an ancient trade route between the people on either side of Pir Panjal. The local name for this pass is a generic name of pass.[citation needed] There are many other passes in Lahaul and Spiti which have specific names (Kunzam La, Baralacha La, etc.). This is suggestive of the fact that this must have been the oldest and most frequented pass in the region, or the fact that it is the main pass leading from one cultural region to another, quite different one, to the north. The name Rohtang comes from Persian/ Farsi words Ruh+ Tang which means pile of dead bodies.[citation needed]

The former National Highway 21 (NH 21, now numbered NH 3), the road through the Kullu Valley, terminates at Manali. The road northwards over the Rohtang Pass to Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti district and on to Leh in Ladakh is not a national highway. Nonetheless, the Leh-Manali Highway has become very busy during the summer months as an alternate military route since the Kargil Conflict in 1999. Traffic jams are common as military vehicles, trucks, and goods carriers try to navigate the tight roads and rough terrain, compounded by snow and ice at certain points and the large number of tourist vehicles.

Several episodes of the History Channel's Ice Road Truckers series spinoff IRT Deadliest Roads dealt with truckers crossing the Rohtang Pass to deliver supplies.[8 With increase in Traffic at Rohtang Valley, environmentalists fear its impact on the fragile mountain ecology. A rise in average temperature, and the consequent melting of glaciers, are also issues of severe concern.As the pass gets blocked by snow and the road over the pass closes from November to May rendering Lahaul and Spiti districts north of the pass inaccessible, a need was felt to build a tunnel under the pass. The project was announced by the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on 3 June 2000. The work was started by BRO on 6 May 2002. The foundation stone of the project was laid on 28 June 2010 by Sonia Gandhi in her capacity as the Chairperson of National Advisory Council. The road tunnel called Atal Tunnel has been excavated and became operational on 3rd October 2020 after formal inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It obviates the need to travel over the Rohtang Pass. While it takes 4 to 6 hours to ascend, negotiate and descend the Rohtang Pass, travel through the Rohtang Tunnel takes only...

It was to the most beautiful high mountain pass in the Indian Himalayas, but more importantly at Rohtang La. Standing at 13,050 feet above sea level and about 51 kilometers from Manali, Rohtang La offers a lifetime experience to every adventure lover as it boasts scintillating stretches and true niche in natural beauty.

The Rohtang La Route: Test of Endurance and Beauty

The drive to Rohtang La is breathtaking yet high on challenge since there are hardly narrow winding roads that snake through deep valleys and steep mountainsides. The scenery while moving up is so dramatically different. Here, the greenery of Manali's pine forests gives way to rocky terrain, snow patches, and glistening waterfalls cascading off the cliffs. The higher you ascend, the colder the air gets, and you can almost sense the crispness in the mountain air.

View from Top: Scenic View

Once up there, the view is magic completely. I was surrounded by towering snow-capped peaks, wide stretches of ice, and a sky so clear it was almost within reach. It is quite thin; with each breath one takes, it feels like one wants to remind oneself of just how high one is. The silence is only pierced by an occasional gust of wind as if adding to the ethereal quality of the place.

From the top, one can see the entire Pir Panjal range in all its glory, with the Chandra River snaking through the valley below. On one side, the whitewashed expanse of glaciers catches the light, and on the other, deep valleys plunge dramatically. It is not easy to lose one's location when paces are quite an endeavor in the immensity of beauty brought on by landscapes.

Adventure Activities: Fun in the Snow

One of the big attractions at Rohtang La is the scope of snow activities. In late summer, snow lay on the ground, and I just couldn't resist playing around with snow sledding and making snowmen. Those interested in a bit of an adrenaline rush can even ski or snowboard. What is remarkable is that one would see this kind of winter wonderland in June only, and it would seem like a different world altogether.

Weather and Preparation

A word of warning: the weather at Rohtang La is unpredictable. Within minutes, it can cover the pass in thick fog, reducing visibility almost to nil. On the day of my visit, the sky was clear and blue in the morning, but within a few hours, heavy clouds rolled in, and a chilly wind picked up. It is always advisable to wear warm clothes, even in summer, and carry good jackets, gloves, as well as a cap.

Environmental Concerns

Rohtang La is definitely on the 'must-go' list, but one needs to be conscious of the fragile environment. There was severe littering, and the increase in tourist numbers has put an immense strain on the ecosystem. Visitors need to do their bit to take back their waste, so this pristine landscape remains untouched for generations to come.

Final Thoughts

Rohtang La leaves you utterly humbled by its raw beauty and majestic landscape. Whether adventure or a desire to bask in mountain serenity, Rohtang La invites experiences like no other. Though demanding, the journey to the top will be worth every moment for the view and the unforgettable feeling with nature that you will carry even once you leave there.

Nothing less than a visit to Manali can be said complete without a view of Rohtang La, sure to be nothing but speechless and wonder-struck by the wonders of...