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 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.

Rohtang pass has polar climate köppen(ET) and snow falls sometimes even in summer.

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. 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.

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 vehicles.

A waterfall on the way to Rohtang

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][9]

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.[10]

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. And Also 100 permits are issued for the Private Number Vehicle 60 Petrol and 40 Diesel Vehicles person which first applied from the Special Rohtang Pass Permit Quata. For the Private vehicles special permits are given from since May 2019.Permits can only be applied for next 6 days from the current date. Also, no vehicles can visit Rohtang Pass on a Tuesday as that day is marked for maintenance of Rohtang. So there is no permits are issued for the Tuesday by Himachal Pradesh Tourism. 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 ″HIMACHAL TOURISM AND KULLU DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION″. 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.[11] rohtang pass

Sometimes travelling to Rohtang 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.[12]

The Atal Road Tunnel will become operational in 2019 and vehicles heading to Lauhaul and Spiti can directly cross using the tunnel. The road on the pass will no longer be maintained due to excessive costs.

View of Rothang Pass

Atal Tunnel has been excavated and will become operational in 2019. It will obviate the need to travel through Rohtang Pass. While it now takes 4 to 6 hours to ascend, negotiate and descend the Rohtang Pass, it will take only about 30 minutes to travel through the Atal Tunnel.

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  A panoramic view of distant Himalayan peaks from Rohtang Pass, May 2009
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  Mountains near Rohtang Pass
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  Leh-Manali Highway as seen from near the Rohtang Pass
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  Rohtang Pass during winter on Leh-Manali Highway
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  Tourist Vehicles at Rohtang Pass, May 2009
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  A view of Dhabas (road-side eateries) at Marhi and Leh-Manali Highway on the way to Rohtang Pass, May 2009
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  View from top of Rohtang
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  Traffic jam descending from Rohtang, 2004
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  Tourist rest stop at the south approach to Rohtang Pass, 2007
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  Steep switchback descent from Rohtang Pass summit towards Manali, 2007
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  Wine shop on the way to the pass
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  North approach to Rohtang Pass Summit, 2007
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  Summit of Rohtang Pass, altitude 13,000 feet above Sea Level, 2007
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  Summit of Rohtang Pass 13,000 ft above Sea Level, October 2007
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  Near Rothang Pass and the Lady, July 2015

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rohtang Pass.

• Photos of Rohtang Pass & the road from Keylong to Manali