Rohtang Pass in Manali: Himalayan Snow Point at 3,978 m

Updated August 2026. Road status here changes fast. For this season’s exact opening date, this week’s live snow status and the current-year permit quota, see our Rohtang Pass opening date & live snow status 2026 guide.

Rohtang Pass at a glance

The quick facts most people search for, in one place.

About Rohtang Pass

Rohtang sits on the Manali-Leh Highway and works as the natural gateway between the green Kullu Valley on the Manali side and the stark, high-desert Lahaul and Spiti country on the far side. From the top you look down both ways: the wooded Beas valley behind you, the bare Chandra valley ahead. For decades this was the only road link to Lahaul, which is why it carries so much history for the region. Bikers, families and honeymooners all make the run up for the same reason, the snow and the sense of standing on a real Himalayan crossing rather than a viewpoint.

The pass takes its name, loosely “pile of corpses” in the local tongue, from how dangerous the crossing once was in bad weather. It is far safer today, but the altitude and the sudden weather still command respect. On a Manali itinerary it usually pairs with Solang Valley and the trek base at Beas Kund, both on the same side of town.

Atal Tunnel or Rohtang Pass: which one do you actually need?

This is the question that trips up most 2026 trip planners, so settle it first. The Atal Tunnel opened in October 2020. At about 9 km it runs under the Rohtang massif and drops you at Sissu in Lahaul in roughly 30 to 45 minutes, all year, snow or not. Rohtang Pass is the old road over the top, open only in the warm months, and it is where the snow play happens.

• Choose Rohtang if: Go over Rohtang Pass if your goal is snow at altitude, sledging and skiing, and the classic pass experience. This is what most Manali tourists want.

• Choose the tunnel if: Take the Atal Tunnel if you want to reach Lahaul quickly, want to see Sissu and Koksar, or if Rohtang is closed or its daily permit quota is full. The tunnel needs no Rohtang permit.

Plenty of day trips now do both: snow at Rohtang in the morning, then the tunnel across to Sissu for lunch and a waterfall. The two are separate routes, and the tunnel is not a substitute for the Rohtang permit if you plan to drive up to the pass itself.

Rohtang Pass permit: fees, quota and how to apply

A permit is compulsory for any vehicle going beyond the Gulaba checkpoint towards Rohtang. Apply online at rohtangpermits.nic.in, at least 24 hours before your visit, and carry a printout with a valid photo ID. You can also get a permit from the sub-divisional magistrate office in Manali, but the online route is simpler and the daily slots fill early in peak season.

• Vehicle permit: Rs 500 for cars, buses and trucks. Bikes pay no permit fee but still need a permit.

• Congestion charge (for crossing Gulaba): Rs 50 for bikes and cars, Rs 100 for buses and trucks, valid for one day.

• Daily quota: to control pollution, only 800 petrol and 400 diesel vehicles are allowed up each day, so book early.

• No permits are issued on Tuesday, when the road is closed for maintenance. Vehicles older than 10 years are not allowed.

For the full fee breakdown, vehicle rules and the exact steps, see our dedicated guide to the Rohtang Pass permit and entry fees. For the current-year quota and this week’s live status, check the Rohtang opening-date and snow-status guide. One thing worth repeating: the Atal Tunnel to Lahaul does not need this permit, only the drive up to and beyond Rohtang does.

How to reach Rohtang Pass from Manali

The road runs about 51 km from Manali up the old Leh highway, through Gulaba and then Marhi, and takes 2 to 2.5 hours when the traffic is light. On busy summer weekends the last stretch can crawl, so leave early. Marhi, roughly the halfway mark, is the main halt for tea and hot food, and it is where a lot of visitors stop for snow when the Rohtang quota is full or they are travelling without a permit. Gulaba, lower down, is the checkpoint where permits and congestion charges are verified.

Most people go up by private taxi, with the operator arranging the permit, or self-drive with their own permit. Bikes are popular in season. Public transport is limited, so the how-to-reach detail, transport options and current road advisories live in our how to reach Rohtang Pass guide. If you are heading to Lahaul rather than the pass, the Atal Tunnel is the faster, all-weather route via Sissu, Koksar and on towards Gramphu.

Best time to visit, snow point and altitude

Rohtang is only open in the warm half of the year, so timing matters more than at most Manali sights.

For snow

The heaviest, freshest snow is right after the road reopens, from mid-May into June, when the cut through the drifts can leave walls of snow taller than a car on either side. June is the busiest month, with bikers, families and honeymooners all arriving together. If deep snow is the point of your trip, this is the window.

For clear roads and quiet

September and October are drier and far less crowded, and this is when travellers coming down from Lahaul and Spiti use the pass. There is usually still old snow near the top. July and August bring the monsoon, with blizzards, landslides and sudden closures, so the road can shut at short notice in those months. From November to April the pass is snowbound and closed.

A note on altitude

At nearly 4,000 m, some visitors feel altitude sickness: headache, breathlessness or nausea. Go up slowly, drink water, avoid alcohol and heavy exertion, and keep your time at the top reasonable. Anyone with a heart or lung condition should check with a doctor first. Carry warm layers even in June, because the temperature at the pass stays cold whatever the calendar says.

Things to do at Rohtang Pass

Almost everything here is built around the snow. Gear for the activities below is rented on the spot, so you do not need to bring your own.

Prices are negotiated on the spot and change with the season, so treat the figures above as rough guidance rather than fixed rates.

What to carry

There are no shops or restaurants at the top, so come prepared.

• Heavy woollens, a windproof jacket, a cap and gloves. It stays cold even in summer.

• Sturdy waterproof shoes, or rent gumboots and a snow suit on the way up.

• Sunglasses and sunscreen. Glare off fresh snow is strong and burns quickly.

• Water and snacks, plus a power bank. Mobile signal is patchy past Gulaba.

• Your permit and a valid photo ID, kept handy for the checkpoint.

• Carry your litter back down. Leaving waste at the pass can attract a heavy fine, and staying overnight is not allowed, so plan to return to Manali the same day.

Plan your Rohtang trip from Manali

Sorting the permit, a snow-worthy vehicle and the timing yourself can be fiddly, especially in peak season. A guided Manali tour package folds the Rohtang or Solang snow day into a wider itinerary with transport and the permit arranged for you, which is why families and honeymooners tend to book it that way. For a trip built around the pass itself, see our Kullu Manali Rohtang Pass tour.

Every TravelTriangle itinerary is customisable and booked through verified local agents. “In peak season, book your Rohtang permit slot the day before and start the drive by 7 am, before the Gulaba queue builds,” says our Manali travel desk.

Before you go

Rohtang Pass rewards a bit of planning: go up early, sort the permit a day ahead, dress for real cold whatever the season, and give yourself time to acclimatise at altitude. Do that and it is one of the most memorable days on any Manali trip. When you are ready, browse our Manali tour packages, and check the live opening and snow status before you set off.