A trip to Manali- Rohtang Pass and Solang Valley

Friends, in the last post i had written about tourist spots in and around Manali, which was well-received by you all. In the series on Manali Trip, i would like to share my travel memoir of the best and memorable part of the trip, which was Rohtang Pass.

With great excitement, we started our journey on a pleasant and sunny morning. As we were leaving the city area of Manali behind, the magnificent views of river beas in the backdrop of snow caped hills had started engulfing us and were giving us a feeling of Deja vu. Our driver informed us that these locations have been picturized in many famous bollywood movies such as KKrish, Jab we met, Fanaa, 03 idiots etc. Only then it became clear why the place was looking so familiar to us. 

River Beas in the upper reaches of Manali

As we were approaching Solang valley, snow on the hills was becoming thicker and whiter and green pine trees along the path of beas were looking, as if there was green painting on white canvas. Solang valley is around 15 km from Manali and it took around 45 minutes to reach there. As we were busy capturing beauty of mother nature in it's pristine form, the travel seemed more fascinating than the destination itself. Here are some glimpses of Solang valley through our camera:

As we reached the valley, the place was already buzzing with a large number of tourists engaged in various sports activities. Solang valley is famous among tourists not only for it's stunning views and magnificent landscapes, but it also attracts winter sport lovers and adventure enthusiasts in huge numbers. The experience of paragliding, skiing or snowmobiling in such a picturesque setup is truly unparalleled. One can also enjoy sweeping views of the valley by taking ride in Solang Ropeway.

There is so much to indulge in Solang that one whole day can be spent there and still you will crave for some more time. As we had to proceed for Rohtang Pass, we spent around two hours there taking joyride in ropeway and just sitting amidst magnificence of Mighty Snow-caped Himalayan Ranges. 

As we started climbing up on Manali- Keylong Road, the temperature had started falling rapidly and the landscapes were also becoming more stunning. We also spent some time in Gulaba, taking stroll along with the meandering hilly road and breathing fresh mountain air. Now, we had started our journey for the ultimate destination of the day and we reached Rohtang pass with in one and half hours from Gulaba. Suddenly, we found ourselves surrounded by the humongous layers of snow. I have been to similar places like this in Sikkim, but feeling to be in Rohtang Pass was simply otherworldly. Since we visited the place in the summers of 2016, the place was crowded with tourists from all parts of the world.

Located at staggering height of 13000 ft, Rohtang -La is one of the highest passes in Himalayas and offers some of the most breath-taking views of Himalayas, one can ever see in lifetime. The pass is around 51 km from Manali and serves as the gateway to the Lahaul & Spiti Valleys. The magnificence of natural beauty of the place is such that many famous movies and songs have been shot here.

Walking and playing in snow can rekindle the child inside any person and we were no different. There was childlike joy on all the faces around as we were playing with snow balls. Visiting such places once in a while is highly required for physical and mental detox of those living in cacophony of busy city life.

Like Solang, in Rohtang also, one can indulge in many winter sports such as sledge riding, mountain biking, skiing. This is another reason why this place figures in the itinerary of all the tourists visiting Manali.

After having our share of fun in the snow, we started our return journey to Manali taking unforgettable experience with us.

How to reach Rohtang Pass?

The nearest airport is around 100 km away from Rohtang Pass in Bhuntar. From there, taxis and buses are available to reach Manali & Rohtang. Since there are no stay options near the pass, one has to stay at Manali.

Rohtang pass is well-connected with road network and lot of private and Govt. buses ply on this route. One can also hire taxi to visit Rohtang Pass.

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit Rohtang Pass is September to October and May to June. Maximum no. of tourists visit this place in May-June, therefore getting permit for visit may become dificult. Hence it is advisable to prefer visiting Rohtang in the month of Sept-Oct. You may also get cheaper accomodation during this time as compared to peak tourist season of May & June.

How to get Permit for Rohtang Visit?

Permits can be obtained online by paying fee and congestion charges of Rs. 550/- from the website of Tourism Development Council, Manali rohtangpermits.nic.in. Permits are not issued on tuesday, as pass is closed for maintenance that day. One can also check availability of permits on any given day from the website.

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