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A trip to Himachal is incomplete without a road trip to the mighty and surreal Rohtang Pass. Located on the east side of the Pir Pranjal Range, the Rohtang Pass lies 50 km b north of Manali and connects two of the most beautiful valleys of Himachal, Kullu and Lahaul, Spiti valley. Travelling to Rohtang is no cake walk and the name alone translates to “pile of corpses”.This name was assigned to the pass because of the countless lives which were lost when they tried to traverse but despite all the difficulties, Rohtang is one of the most frequented passes during the 6 months when it is open for public.
The pass has never been very difficult to traverse, on foot, as compared to some other passes in the Himalayas. It earned a name for being risky and dangerous because of unpredictable weather, that cause frequent blizzards and snowstorms, posing a life threatening risk to people who try to cross it. This is the reason behind its nomenclature; Rohtang. The route to the pass is thronged with dangers but the reward at the end of the journey is captivating and calming. Snow capped hills and the cool mountain breeze await and one can almost hear the silence.
The Rohtang pass is open for 6 to 7 months of the year through April, May to October and hence, that becomes the only and the best time to visit Rohtang Pass. Travellers can opt for a lot of adventure sports like mountain biking, skiing, snow scooter riding et cetera. During this time the temperature is nearly around 20 to 32 degree Celsius. If one is looking for snow at the pass then the best time would be late April and early May, there are giant walls of snow on either side. Post June, the snow starts to reduce and is found only towards the top of the Pass.
As the year progresses, the snow becomes lesser and by August, there might not even be any snow except for some at Rohtang Top. August will be the worst time to go to Rohtang if one goes for snow viewing. Although after September, the temperature begins to drop again and the amount of snow increases. Monsoon arrives mid July and stays till August and sometimes it causes heavy turbulence in the roads.
Rohtang is not a cake walk. The adventure and thrill at Rohtang Pass is unparalleled, as are the risks. Adventurers and bikers reach the Pass by braving slippery roads, the dangerous curves, steep falls and sometimes very turbulent weather conditions. Keeping the rough weather in mind, the Rohtang Pass is closed for public for a major chunk of a year. Rohtang Pass somewhat lies in the inhabitable world that continues to befuddle travellers. Perched at an altitude of 13000 feet, the pass is a gateway to Manali-Leh highway. En route, places like Rani Nallah are intimidating obstructions that make the journey dicey. The nallah is situated 6 km before the Pas
s and often tends to irritate the travellers bound for Rohtang.
The most daunting is a 2 km horrifying stretch that’s only muck and slush all the way along. At the beginning of every new season, the road crew has to put themselves out to dig out the road, which goes under the layers of snow. Avalanches and sluggish conditions keep challenging the travellers with new hurdles. The Government of India has started constructing an 8.8 km, two-way tunnel that will go around the Rohtang Pass, thereby creating an alternative link, open all year round, that will be much more convenient and faster. Although there are a lot of difficulties on the way to Rohtang, one cannot deny that the long winding terrains are breathtakingly beautiful. The fall is of a steep thousand plus feet into an abyss but along the mountain passes, one can find many scattered temples and monasteries with multi coloured prayer flags, which when blow, spread a prayer through the air. The roads are barren obviously but the travellers and the very few inhabitants make the place vibrant and full of life. There is no network and the people stop to converse with each other. The cars stop and exchange news and say grace together. It is an actual co-dependent environment of peace.
In order to reach Rohtang Pass, one must get to Manali first, there is no other way to reach the Pass otherwise. Manali can be reached from a lot of different places vis-a-vis Shimla, Delhi and Chandigarh. Rohtang Pass can be reached on a one day trip from Manali. If one is traveling by her/his own vehicle, then Rohtang can easily be a day trip after obtaining a permit from the SDM office in Manali or online. Travelling by public transport is also not a feat because it is no trouble finding a bus going to Manali, considering how it is one of the most visited hill stations of the country. From Manali one can either book or reserve a taxi to get to Rohtang or travel by a HPTDC or HRTC bus.
There are a lot of beautiful places in the proximity like Solang, Rahala Falls, Chandra & Bhaga and of course, Lahaul and Spiti Valley. There are provisions of engaging in adventure sports like paragliding, snow skiing et cetera and then there is the breath taking natural beauty as well. Chandra & Bhaga is an awe inspiring confluence and the Rahala Falls is a splendid sight at 2500 feet.
These activities and locations can definitely be on the bucket list, since one has to travel so much to reach Rohtang or even to get anywhere close but without these also, the Rohtang Pass should be a must visit, at least once in a lifetime. Some travellers have compared the Pass to a pilgrimage since the road is abound with hurdles and difficulties but one the Snow Point is reached, it feels like a penance because it is so quiet and serene.
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April 15, 2024 
