वन, परिवहन, युवा सेवाएं व खेल मंत्री गोविंद सिंह ठाकुर ने कहा कि रोहतांग दर्रा कुल्लू तथा लाहौल-स्पिति जिलों का ताज है और इसके वैभव को बनाए रखना अति आवश्यक है। उन्होंने कहा कि रोहतांग पर वर्ष में लगभग आठ महीनों तक बर्फ की एक बड़ी परत उपलब्ध रहती है, जो साहसिक गतिविधियों के लिए एक बेहतर माहौल प्रदान करती है। उन्होंने कहा कि हर वर्ष रोहतांग के दीदार को लाखों देशी व विदेशी सैलानी आते हैं जिससे यहां के पर्यटन को बढ़ावा मिलता है। गोविंद ठाकुर ने कहा कि यद्यपि प्रकृति ने रोहतांग को नैसर्गिक सौंदर्य से नवाजा है, लेकिन राज्य सरकार सैलानियों के लिए अतिरिक्त सुविधाओं के सृजन पर बल दे रही है। उन्होंने कहा कि रोहतांग दर्रे के आस-पास स्कीइंग, पैराग्लाईडिंग, स्नो स्कूटर आदि अनेक साहसिक गतिविधियों की संभावना मौजूद है और इसका समुचित दोहन किया जाएगा। उन्होंने कहा कि इससे पर्यटन को और पंख लगेंगे जिससे युवाओं को रोजगार के अवसर प्राप्त होंगे। वन व परिवहन मंत्री ने शुक्रवार को जनजातीय जिला लाहौल-स्पिति के दो दिवसीय प्रवास के उपरांत कुल्लू वापसी के दौरान रोहतांग, मढ़ी, गुलाबा और कोठी का दौरा किया। उन्होंने इन स्थानों पर ढांचागत विकास, पर्यटन और साहसिक खेल गतिविधियों की संभावनाओं का जायजा लिया तथा अधिकारियों को आवश्यक दिशा-निर्देश जारी किए। गोविंद सिंह ने कहा कि रोहतांग और इसके आस-पास के पर्यटक स्थलों के सौंदर्यीकरण तथा एनजीटी के निर्देशों की अनुपालना सुनिश्चित करने के लिए वन विभाग के माध्यम से विशेष कदम उठाए जा रहे हैं। गुलाबा में लगभग 45 लाख की लागत से नेचर पार्क विकसित किया जा रहा है। इसमें विभिन्न प्रजातियों के पेड़ लगाने के साथ-साथ पर्यटकों के लिए कई सुविधाएं मुहैया करवाई जाएंगी। यह पार्क कारगिल युद्ध के शहीदों को समर्पित किया जाएगा। नेचर पार्क सैलानियों तथा स्थानीय लोगों को अनेक सुविधाएं प्रदान करेगा। 12 हैक्टेयर में बनने वाले
वन, परिवहन, युवा सेवाएं व खेल मंत्री गोविंद सिंह ठाकुर ने कहा कि रोहतांग दर्रा कुल्लू तथा लाहौल-स्पिति जिलों का ताज है और इसके वैभव को बनाए रखना अति आवश्यक है। उन्होंने कहा कि रोहतांग पर वर्ष में लगभग आठ महीनों तक बर्फ की एक बड़ी परत उपलब्ध रहती है, जो साहसिक गतिविधियों के लिए
Kullu-Manali, where the government is promoting ecotourism, has witnessed unprecedented plantation in the last five years as people here have made it a mission to cover all available forest land with different species of trees. All this started after National Green Tribunal (NGT) slammed Himachal government and Kullu administration on various environmental issues multiple times. Concerned over the fragile ecology of Rohtang area being damaged by increasing tourism and increasing number of vehicles, NGT had asked state government to regulate tourism and plant trees. Lakhs of new saplings are being planted every year. Be it forest department, mahila mandal, yuvak mandal, panchayats, hoteliers, taxi operators, stakeholders or villagers, all are rushing for plantation during monsoon season. Burua panchayat of Manali alone has planted more than one lakh saplings in last few years. Both government and private schools have contributed to increase the green cover in the district. While the plantation drive was mostly influenced by environmentalists who are concerned over global warming, the drive was also meant for appeasing NGT as it was unhappy from pollution harming the ecology of Rohtang and nearby area. Over 60 thousand saplings planted below Rohtang in a couple of years earned Sarvottam Paudhropan Puraskar to the forest guard Neeraj Thakur. Kullu divisional forest officer Dr Neeraj Chadha, who helped in making plantation drive a mission in Kullu and implemented NGT order efficiently won Aranya Gaurav Puraskar from Himachal government. “Plantation has become a mission for people here. Be it students, women or elderly, all are coming forward for the green cause. Even these days plantation is continuing at multiple places. Local women are playing an important role. We are providing suitable species to the people and are protecting the area under new plantation by fencing,” DFO Dr Neeraj Chadha said. The mahila mandals in
Kullu-Manali, where the government is promoting ecotourism, has witnessed unprecedented plantation in the last five years as people here have made it a mission to cover all available forest land with different species of trees. All this started after National Green Tribunal (NGT) slammed Himachal government and Kullu administration on various environmental issues multiple times.
With end of June, the tourist footfall in Kullu-Manali has started to decrease as summer vacations in most schools have ended and monsoon has arrived in many parts of the country. The hoteliers say its safe to visit Kullu-Manali in monsoon season as the highway has mostly widened and this is the best time to visit as hotels are easily available at reasonable tariff. They said enough snow is available at Rohtang pass and taxis are easily available for a discounted fare. The peak summer tourist season in Himachal has come to an end. The tourist footfall has dropped by nearly 50 per cent in a week. The hotel occupancy which was nearly 100 per cent last week has plunged below 50 percent. The hotel occupancy is expected to drop to less than 25 per cent in a week as monsoon showers are likely to bring respite from the heat in plains. “We saw peak tourism season for less than 20 days in June when all hoteliers did good business. With beginning of July, tourists start avoiding hill stations. July and August are the leanest business months,” a hotelier Ramesh Thakur said. Most hotels are giving huge discounts on room tariff to attract more tourists in off-season. The parking and traffic jam problem has finished here. The taxi rent too has suddenly dropped as cabbies are not getting passengers easily. Most of the hoteliers say this was the worst summer season for them as they did not see 100 per cent occupancy in June which is rare for them. They blamed long traffic jams, inadequate parking, unavailability of permit for vehicle to go to Rohtang pass and extremely high taxi fare for this. Most tourists had bad experience as they had to spend all nights in long traffic jams between
With end of June, the tourist footfall in Kullu-Manali has started to decrease as summer vacations in most schools have ended and monsoon has arrived in many parts of the country. The hoteliers say its safe to visit Kullu-Manali in monsoon season as the highway has mostly widened and this is the best time to
After witnessing a sudden surge in tourist footfall that left both hotels and roads choked in Manali last week, the hoteliers on Thursday said hotel occupancy has dropped to 60-70 per cent while traffic congestion too has finished in the tourist town. The long-weekend last week took toll on the infrastructure of Manali. As the maddening crowd and multiple traffic jams for hours that irked tourists have ended, the hoteliers said they are inviting tourists to Manali to enjoy cold and calm environment. The taxi fares too have come down to half of what was being charged until few days back. They said if tourists want to see the miracle of nature in the form of snowfall in mid-June, this is the right time to visit Manali. Manali Hoteliers’ Association president Anup Thakur said 30 to 40 per cent of the rooms in most hotels are empty. “We confess that tourists had to face some problems like traffic jams, non-availability of rooms, high taxi fare and room tariff. We assure tourists that things have improved now. The problem of traffic jams has almost gone due to better traffic management and spreading of tourist vehicles to other tourists attractions of the district like Hamta, Jana, Naggar and Manikaran,” he said. He added that rooms are easily available in hotels at reasonable price and buses from Delhi and Chandigarh are reaching Manali on time. “As many tourists are visiting Lahaul and Rohtang together, taxis for Rohtang pass are easily available. The taxi operators of Manali are charging fair price. The traffic at some points is moving very slow due to road construction works but we have got rid of hour-long jams starting from Kullu,” he added. Hoteliers said the availability of high mountains of snow at Rohtang pass has ensured prolonged tourism
After witnessing a sudden surge in tourist footfall that left both hotels and roads choked in Manali last week, the hoteliers on Thursday said hotel occupancy has dropped to 60-70 per cent while traffic congestion too has finished in the tourist town. The long-weekend last week took toll on the infrastructure of Manali. As the
Rohtang pass, which was closed since December following winter snowfall, will open for tourists from June 1 as Kullu administration on Wednesday decided to throw open pass after ensuring safety and all necessary arrangements for lakhs of visitors. Lakhs of tourists from the country were waiting for the opening of Rohtang pass, the top tourist destination of Himachal Pradesh. Tourists will get a chance to have fun in 5 to 20ft of pure white snow. The peak summer tourist season in Himachal starts after the opening of Rohtang pass. Kullu deputy commissioner Yunus said Tourists can now go to Rohtang pass from June 1. “The road to pass was opened on May 19 but it will open for tourists from June 1. Tourists will have to obtain permit for their vehicle to be able to go to Rohtang pass. Following National Green Tribunal order, permits to 1,300 vehicles are being issued for each day. However, the pass will remain closed every Tuesday for maintenance purpose,” he said. Hoteliers, taxi operators, tourists and local residents were demanding to thrown open Rohtang pass as soon as possible. Opening of the road to Rohtang was delayed by about three weeks due to heavy snowfall this season. Since Border Roads Organization (BRO) cleared snow from Manali-Rohtang road, vehicles are plying through a deep gallery with high walls of snow on both sides. The narrow road can accommodate only one vehicle at a time. Allowing tourists would have jammed the pass completely. “We have deployed JCB to clear snow to make adequate parking space for tourist vehicles. This task is very difficult. Currently, tourists are being allowed till Marhi and Beas nullah where lakhs of tourists have already visited this season,” Yunus added. The taxi drivers are being given garbage bags which they will keep
Rohtang pass, which was closed since December following winter snowfall, will open for tourists from June 1 as Kullu administration on Wednesday decided to throw open pass after ensuring safety and all necessary arrangements for lakhs of visitors. Lakhs of tourists from the country were waiting for the opening of Rohtang pass, the top tourist
देश-विदेशों से कुल्लू-मनाली आने वाले हजारों पर्यटकों के लिए यह अच्छी खबर है कि अब वे बर्फीली चादर ओढे़ विश्व प्रसिद्ध रोहतांग दर्रे का दीदार कर सकेंगे। कुल्लू के उपायुक्त यूनुस ने रोहतांग दर्रे को पर्यटकों को खोलने के लिए अनुमति प्रदान कर दी है। अब एक जून से पर्यटक वाहन रोहतांग तक जा सकेंगे। यूनुस ने कहा कि राष्ट्रीय हरित अधिकरण एनजीटी के नियमों की पालना करते हुए रोहतांग दर्रे के लिए प्रतिदिन 1300 वाहनों को ही अनुमति प्रदान की जा सकती है। इसके लिए उन्हें आॅन लाईन परमिट प्राप्त करने की सुविधा उपलब्ध करवाई गई है। उन्होंने रोहतांग जाने के इच्छुक पर्यटकों व अन्य लोगों से आॅन-लाईन परमिट प्राप्त करने को कहा है ताकि उन्हें किसी प्रकार की असुविधा न हो। गौरतलब है कि रोहतांग दर्रा भारी बर्फबारी के चलते गत दिसम्बर माह में यातायात के लिए बंद हो गया था। इसे हाल ही में 19 मई को बहाल किया गया और अब पहली जून से इसे पर्यटकों के लिए भी खोल दिया जाएगा। उपायुक्त ने कहा कि जिले में पर्यटन सीजन चरम पर है। बर्फ के रोमांच का आनन्द लेने के लिए हर रोज देश के सभी भागों से तथा विदेशों से हजारों की संख्या में सैलानी आ रहे हैं। उन्होंने कहा कि स्थानीय लोगों, सैलानियों, टैक्सी यूनियनों, होटल यूनियनों से हर रोज रोहतांग पर वाहनों की आवाजाही की अनुमति के लिए आग्रह पर रोहतांग दर्रें तथा सड़क के दोनों ओर बर्फ की मोटी परत को हटवाकर पार्किंग की व्यवस्था की गई है। इसके लिए सीमा सड़क संगठन ने युद्ध स्तर पर कार्य किया है। उन्होंने कहा कि रोहतांग बहाल होने के बाद बड़ी संख्या में वाहनों के लिए पार्किग की उपयुक्त व्यवस्था बनाना एक बड़ी चुनौती है, क्योंकि सड़क के दोनों ओर पर्याप्त जगह नहीं है। यूनुस ने बताया कि ब्यास नाला व मढ़ी तक यातायात पहले ही बहाल कर दिया
देश-विदेशों से कुल्लू-मनाली आने वाले हजारों पर्यटकों के लिए यह अच्छी खबर है कि अब वे बर्फीली चादर ओढे़ विश्व प्रसिद्ध रोहतांग दर्रे का दीदार कर सकेंगे। कुल्लू के उपायुक्त यूनुस ने रोहतांग दर्रे को पर्यटकों को खोलने के लिए अनुमति प्रदान कर दी है। अब एक जून से पर्यटक वाहन रोहतांग तक जा
After Kullu administration had established a check-post to regulate number of vehicles going to Rohtang pass at Gulaba in compliance with National Green Tribunal (NGT) order, another check post has been established at Kothi village, 14km from here to strictly adhere to the order. The administration is receiving many complaints about people crossing Gulaba barrier illegally. The fingers were raised at functionality of the check-post as the staff was allowing more than permissible number of vehicles. Manali administration also caught many vehicles red-handed and fined them heavily. As all vehicles are checked for permit at Gulaba, the slow processing speed here was resulting in over 5km-long jams. The new check-post at Kothi, 10km before Gulaba, will assist the Gulaba check-post and will stop the illegal entry of the vehicles. All the vehicles going to Marhi, Rohtang pass, Ladakh, Lahaul-Spiti or Pangi will have to first show their permit at Kothi check-post. Those having a valid permit will be allowed to proceed to Gulaba. Manali sub-divisional magistrate Ashwani Kumar said the vehicles will be first stopped at Kothi barrier which will also help in controlling the traffic at Gulaba and till Rohtang. “I had called a meeting where officials from all the departments were present on Monday. We discussed on various issues including functionality of Gulaba check-post and traffic jams. The barrier established at Kothi has been made functional,” he said. Talking about illegal plying of vehicles in contempt of NGT order, Ashwani said the new check post will cross check the illegal entry of such vehicles and those not complying with order would not be spared. “We are strictly complying with NGT directives. We have warned people that if anything wrong is found, the offenders will be dealt with strictly. If anybody try to make us fool by disobeying tribunal
After Kullu administration had established a check-post to regulate number of vehicles going to Rohtang pass at Gulaba in compliance with National Green Tribunal (NGT) order, another check post has been established at Kothi village, 14km from here to strictly adhere to the order. The administration is receiving many complaints about people crossing Gulaba barrier
As the general elections have ended, tourists who gave a miss to hill stations in May have started to make a beeline to Manali to get respite from the scorching heat of the plains. The elections have badly hit the summer tourism of Himachal as hoteliers claim they have never seen such a poor business in May month. With elections ended and hills of Manali still experiencing fresh snowfall, hoteliers believe they see a good tourist crowd till the end of June. The tourist footfall is increasing gradually but most of the tourists are ending up stuck in traffic jams for hours. The charm of snow along Manali-Rohtang road is attracting tourists to Manali. A number of tourist vehicles entering Manali is increasing every day. But the long traffic jams at multiple places between Bhuntar and Marhi are ruining their holiday mood. While a one-way bridge at Dobhi has become the worst bottleneck, NHAI has failed to stop sliding of a small stretch at 16 Mile where sometimes vehicles are forced to wait for 1 to 2 hours for their turn. The traffic is moving at snail’s pace on Bhuntar-Ramshila stretch of the highway where road construction is continuing. It has become a routine to face traffic jams from Manali to Marhi, the snow point of Manali. The hoteliers say May and June are the months when lakhs of tourists throng Manali and most hotels remain occupied. They rue that not just elections but it is poor infrastructure that is irking the tourists and putting a negative impact on the tourism industry. Manali Hoteliers’ Association president Anup Ram Thakur said the condition of the road from Kiratpur (Punjab) to Manali is not good which is affecting the tourism. “Unscientific construction of four-lane highway without conducting proper study of the area
As the general elections have ended, tourists who gave a miss to hill stations in May have started to make a beeline to Manali to get respite from the scorching heat of the plains. The elections have badly hit the summer tourism of Himachal as hoteliers claim they have never seen such a poor business
After remaining blocked for over five months, Manali-Rohtang Pass-Keylong highway has finally opened for vehicular movement as Border Roads Organization (BRO) on Sunday morning cleared snow from north face of Rohtang at 4am. Working under pressure to connect Lahaul valley by road before election on May 19, BRO jawans had to work over 12 hours a day under extreme weather conditions. This season the entire area has received extremely heavy snow, more than last many years. Earlier it was assumed that road will not open before May 25 as BRO on Friday had to cut through 20 to 30ft high mountains of snow in 5km stretch. Last year traffic on Manali-Keylong highway was resumed on April 5 while it opened on April 28 in 2017. A BRO official said Rohtang pass and nearby areas are still getting snow, which largely affected their work this season. “The Manali-Keylong road was opened at 4am today. We worked all night to achieve this deadline as people of Lahaul wanted to go to cast poll. We had to search the road under 10 to 50ft deep snow. A large number of avalanches have hit the highway. Our primary goal was to connect Lahaul valley and provide relief to the residents. Now we shall focus on clearing snow from Keylong-Sarchu stretch. Our machines and jawans are advancing towards 16,050ft high Baralacha pass as well,” he said. “BRO officials had informed on Saturday morning that their two teams advancing towards 13,050ft high Rohtang from Manali and Lahaul sides will meet between Rohtang and Koksar tonight at any cost. Today morning at 4am they connected Manali with Lahaul. Some vehicles went to Lahaul via Rohtang pass on Sunday,” Manali sub-divisional magistrate Ashwani Kumar said. Ashwani added that road will not be opened for general traffic movement for
After remaining blocked for over five months, Manali-Rohtang Pass-Keylong highway has finally opened for vehicular movement as Border Roads Organization (BRO) on Sunday morning cleared snow from north face of Rohtang at 4am. Working under pressure to connect Lahaul valley by road before election on May 19, BRO jawans had to work over 12 hours
Manali may witness a surge in tourism as Kullu administration on Friday announced to throw open Marhi, the summer snow point, for tourists from Sunday while Rohtang pass will also open for vehicular traffic in a few days. The officials informed that Rohtang will be opened for vehicular traffic before May 15. However, it may take little more time to open the pass for tourists. Till then tourists can go to Marhi and Beas nullah, just below Rohtang pass, where they can see 5 to 10ft of rarely touched pure snow. Till now, tourists were allowed to go till Gulaba only and they had to hike on steep trails to reach the snow. Kullu deputy commissioner Yunus said Border Roads Organization (BRO) was clearing snow from the highway with target to open Rohtang in first week of May but inclement weather has delayed work by a few days. “Fresh snowfall blocks the road again and again. BRO is working hard to resume traffic on the highway before election. Given the convenience of tourists and people of Lahaul, Pangi and Kullu, vehicles would be allowed to go till Marhi from Sunday,” he said. Yunus added that parking arrangement for about 400 vehicles has been made at Marhi after removing snow and efforts are on to double the capacity by Sunday. Only 600 vehicles would be allowed to go till Marhi on Sunday. Department of tourism has been asked to deploy a JCB machine to remove snow and increase parking capacity. “The permits to go to Marhi will be available online from Saturday. The permits for tourist vehicles can be obtained on website between 10am and 4pm. However, 600 permits for Sunday would be available in the afternoon. After this, permits for 1,300 tourist vehicles will be available every day and permit
Manali may witness a surge in tourism as Kullu administration on Friday announced to throw open Marhi, the summer snow point, for tourists from Sunday while Rohtang pass will also open for vehicular traffic in a few days. The officials informed that Rohtang will be opened for vehicular traffic before May 15. However, it may
