In the blistering heat of the hot Indian summers an escape into an icy cold region of the Himalayas would be blissful to both body and soul. Travelling to a place like this would also provide a much needed break from the busy and hectic schedules that most people have throughout the year. It pumps in the much needed zeal and enthusiasm in which provides people the energy to go back to their daily jobs.

Rohtang Pass located in the Himalayas provides all this along with an action packed adventure holiday. Located at a distance of 51 kms from Manali, it lies between Lahaul, Spiti and Leh sectors. Traffic is open from May/June to October/November every year and during rest of the year the roads are eaten up due to the heavy snowfall in the area. The snow cover makes it impossible to cross the mountain pass because of the heavy debris of snow that is deposited.

Rohtang Pass (Photo: Rema)

The pass has the heritage of being an important trade route connecting Kulu valley to Lahaul Spiti and it further goes upto Tibet. This route has been in existence for a long period of time. Rohtang Pass is also significant because it lies at the crossroads of Kulu valley/district to Lahaul and Spiti district.

History

Pir Panjal (Photo: Mohsin Shakil)

The pass has been a historic trade route for the people residing on both sides of the Pir Panjal. The local name for Rohtang pass can be called to be generic name by which a pass is known. There are many other passes which have particular names. This suggests that this pass is one of the oldest and most significant passes of the region with a major historical and geographical significance.

Location

Chandra River (Photo: Tanmay Sachan)

Rohtang Pass lies at an altitude of 3,978 mts or 13,051 ft. The view of the mountain range offered from this pass is panoramic and breathtaking. There are beautiful sights of glaciers, peaks of mountains and the Chandra River flowing down the Lahaul valley. Just at the left of Rohtang pass are the twin peaks of Geypan. Located at a distance of 51 kms from Manali it lies between Lahaul, Spiti and Leh sectors. During the summers (mid June to October) there is regular bus service between Manali to Keylong/Darcha, Udaipur, Spiti and Leh. The best time to visit Rohtang is between May/June to October/November.

Jallori Manali Rohtang (Photo: Arsh)

Rohtang can be easily reached by the roads of Kulu and Manali valleys. Car rental vehicles are also available to cover the entire trip from Manali to Rohtang. Bus tours are also available which ply on a daily basis. It is roughly 2-3 hours drive from Manali to Rohtang Pass due to the sloping terrain and narrow mountain roads.

Where To Stay

Green Cottage in Manali (Source : The Other Home)

There is no such hotel at Rohtang due to the arid and harsh climates. But a variety of accommodation options are available at Manali ranging from traditional hotels to amazing homestay properties. There are also several reputed hotel chains available at Manali. It is pretty easy to find quality accommodation at Manali at affordable prices. The hotels in Manali are not as expensive as that in most metro cities. But for affordable prices one can get quality accommodation, good food and hygienic arrangements.

Snow Valley Resort in Manali (Source : The Other Home)

Government hotels owned by HPDTC are also present in Manali. There are some very good Homestays in Manali that offers good service at value for money. Apart from this there are also several Eco-resorts in Manali that offer good service and proper arrangements.

Religious Significance

Beas Kund (Photo: Hitendra Gupta)

Rohtang Pass is of religious significance to both Hindus and Buddhists because of “Beas Kund” origin of the Beas River. It is denoted by an Igloo shaped temple. However this “Beas Kund” should not be confused with another a 4-6 hours trek from Palchan “Beas Kund” where it is found in a Lake. Two streams rise from these two sources which gives rise to the Beas River. This place is also of deep religious significance to Buddhists. Moving further along the road one can find a Buddhist shrine with many colourful flags adorning its structure.

Landscape

Rothang Landscape (Photo: Kartikay Pande)

The landscape at Rohtang Pass comprises of rocky terrain or smooth snowy landscapes. It all depends on which time of the year one decides to visits this Pass. It is probably one of the few Passes in the world where people love going to rather than going through! The snowy landscapes Rohtang presents are one to watch out for as it makes for a breathtaking sight.

Route (Manali – 12 kms – Palchn – 5 kms – Kothi – 20 kms – Marhi – 10 kms – Rohtang Top)

Roads that takes to Rothang Pass (Photo:Sankara Subramanian)

Palchn is 12 kms from Manali.From Palchn it is 5 kms to Kothi and a further 20 kms Marhi and finally 10 kms to the top of Rohtang. The ascending starts soon after leaving Manali and the road is quite smooth and even till Marhi. Kothi is the last place on this route where people can stay. The only guest houses available are that of PWD or the Forest department. One should try to move from Manali as early in the morning possible as there are traffic congestion problems during the day and the cars move at snail’s pace at daytime.

Also the scenic view offered during this road-trip is quite majestic and one can observe the gradual change of flora from a greenish outlook to a more barren form somewhere before Marhi. Marhi is the last and largest outpost that lies on this stretch of road. There are quite a few dhabas and roadside teashops available here.

Top Tourist Places In Rohtang

Jagatsukh nala and Dam construction ( Photo : Bala Dasoji)

Jagat Sukh-It is located at a distance of 6 kms from Manali and lies on the road to Naggar on the left bank of the Beas River. This place is well known for the ancient temples of Lord Shiva and Sandhya Gayatri built in the Shukhara style. These are a major tourist attraction.

Arjun-Gufa ( Photo : Jyoti)

Manali city from Arjun Gufa (Photo : Jyoti)

Arjun Gufa- It lies 4kms from Naggar toward Manali. This village is located near Prini village. This has an appealing view and high mountains.

Solang Valley ( Rajinder Singh)

Solang Valley-It is a valley between Solan village and Beas Kund. It offers sceneries of glaciers, ice topped mountains and peaks. There is also a mountaineering school present in this part. In this school training on trekking, mountain climbing and skiing is imparted. An annual winter skiing festival is also held here.

Vashist ( Photo : Adarsh Gupta)

Vashist- Hot water springs are found here in Vashist with sulphur and hot water springs. Vashist is a small village that lies here. It is located on the left side of the river Beas towards Rohtang Pass. There is also a stone temple in the form of a pyramid that is dedicated primarily to Vashist Muni an ancient Hindu saint. A nearby temple of Lord Ram is also located here.

Things To Do

One can try a host of activities ranging from skiing, paragliding and other mountain sports offered in the surrounding areas. Paragliding tours are offered at Marhi which can enable one to fly in the skies and kiss the clouds. Besides the road-trip on this rocky terrain is quite an adventure in itself. The car ride can get really bumpy at times so one should be prepared to a jerky ride. One could for shopping at Manali with all sorts of articles and merchandise up for grabs. One of the specialties at Manali is the Tibetan food which should be a delight for anyone with taste buds. The local Himachali wine shops are also worth a try as the wines sold here are pretty delightful and refreshing after a long day of sightseeing. If one goes a few kilometers extra beyond Rohtang the view that is available is mind blowing.

View of Rohtang Pass (Photo: Rema)

All in all Rohtang provides an excellent getaway from the daily hassles of day to day life. The scenic view along with the quality of living is amazing. It is a perfect holiday destination for someone looking for a quiet yet adventurous holiday. For the people interested in trekking it offers sloppy mountain a lot of which is often covered in ice. For others who like to be in peaceful environment the streets of Manali are perfect for a lazy evening walk or an early morning stroll.

Rohtang has a bit for everyone and anyone who visits here is bound to fall in love with this place. The sprawling greens in contrast to the snowy white mountains are bound to make people feel closer to heaven. Quite startling is the sudden change in scenery from green pastures to the arid barren lands is startling to the human eye. The mystic beauty of this place is surely a photographer’s delight. So if anyone wants to escape to a weekend of bliss then Rohtang is surely the place to go to.

If you want to be notified next time, subscribe to the RSS Feed or say hello via Twitter @theotherhome. You can plan your dream holiday with us, visit The Other Home.