Rohtang La Pass: A Journey through India's Alpine Paradise

Rohtang La Pass is a high mountain pass located in the eastern Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It is located about 51 kilometers from the town of Manali at an altitude of about 3,978 meters (13,050 feet) above sea level.

Location	Indian state of Himachal Pradesh
Mountain Range	Himalayas
Rohtang la elevation	3,978 meters (13,050 feet)
Route	Leh-Manali Highway

Why Rohtang Pass is famous?

The pass is a popular tourist destination because of its spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and valleys and offers stunning views of the area’s glaciers and peaks., as well as its strategic location on the border between the Kullu and Lahaul and Spiti districts, which are known for their rugged beauty and Buddhist monasteries. It is also an important transportation route, connecting the Kullu Valley with the Lahaul and Spiti districts and providing access to the Keylong and Leh regions of Ladakh.

However, the pass is only open for a few months each year, typically from May to November, due to heavy snowfall during the winter months. It can be reached by car or motorcycle, and there are also treks available for those who prefer to travel on foot.

The name Rohtang means “pile of dead bodies” in Tibetan, due to the number of people who throughout history have lost their lives trying to cross it. The Rohtang Pass is in the Pir Panjal Himalayas and is a natural division between the green and humid Kullu Valley, predominantly Hindu in culture, and the arid and high valleys of Lahaul and Spiti which are mainly Buddhist. Known for being a road of great scenic beauty, Rohtang Pass offers stunning views of the area’s glaciers and peaks.

The Rohtang pass is on the watershed between the Chenab River and the Beas River. The pass remains open from June to October, when the snow allows the transit. It is a place of big tourist interest, both national and international. There is a mountain resort where tourists can enjoy sledding and skiing.

This pass is an old commercial route between people on both sides of the Pir Panjal mountain range and is surely the oldest pass in the area. In the busiest months traffic jams are very common due to the large number of military vehicles, trucks, buses, and tourists trying to go north.

This road requires constant attention if you do not want to have a scare, the narrowness and difficulty of the terrain, the snow and ice at certain points, the large number of vehicles transiting and the unpaved sections make the danger of the driving huge.

A motorbike crossing the Rohtang Pass

Trucks in Rohtang Pass, John Hill

Rohtang Pass Permits

Since 2016, it is necessary to obtain a permit to travel through the Rohtang La Pass. The pass is located in a sensitive border area and access is restricted to protect the environment and maintain security.

To transit through the pass, tourists and other travelers need to obtain a permit from the Rohtang La Pass Control Office. The permit can be obtained online or in person, and it is valid for a specific date and time. It is generally necessary to book the permit in advance, as the number of permits issued each day is limited due to environmental and security considerations.

In addition to the permit, travelers also need to have a valid government-issued ID, such as a passport or driver’s license, and a valid vehicle registration certificate if traveling by car or motorcycle. Yo can get the permit in this website: https://rohtangpermits.nic.in

Truck crossing in Rohtang Pass, Brian Sokol

Rohtang Tunnel

There is a tunnel called the Rohtang Tunnel that passes under the Rohtang La Pass in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The tunnel is also known as the Atal Tunnel, named after the former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

The tunnel is an engineering marvel and was constructed to provide a year-round transportation route through the Rohtang La Pass, which is usually only accessible for a few months each year due to heavy snowfall. The tunnel is 8.8 kilometers (5.5 miles) long and has a diameter of about 8 meters (26 feet). It was constructed using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM) and was completed in October 2020 after more than a decade of construction.

The tunnel is open to all types of vehicles and provides a safer and more efficient transportation route between the Kullu Valley and the Lahaul and Spiti districts, as well as access to the Leh region of Ladakh. It is also expected to boost tourism and economic development in the region.