Year: 2012

With all parking places, roads, streets and footpaths occupied with vehicles, tourists struggling in search of rooms and DJs presenting their live performances, Manali had a wonderful but hectic New Year’s Eve and the celebrations are still continued. Over 30,000 tourists from across the country had thronged Manali for New Year celebrations on December 31. Most of the hotels were occupied fully and all the tourist places of Manali were jammed with multitude of tourists. The condition was worse on Manali-Rohtang highway where traffic was moving with speed not more than 5 kmph. Around 5,000 tourist vehicles reached Marhi and Beas Nullah, the snow points of Manali, and frozen the traffic. On Sunday, around 3,500 vehicles thronged Beas Nullah. Police had a tough time restoring traffic between 35-km-long stretch of Manali-Marhi highway. Given the seriousness of matter, police officers had to rush to the spot. Influenced by the happiness of celebrations, tourists had parked their vehicles on the middle of the road and enjoying playing with snow. “We had to use our entire power for smooth running of traffic as thousands of vehicles have reached here suddenly,” Manali deputy superintendent of police Shamsher Singh said. He added that police personnel have been deployed at a certain distance on highway and town to avoid untoward incidents. Taxi operators in Manali are having good business after a long time. However, vehicles registered outside Himachal too are allowed to go to the snow point, even then Manali is facing shortage of taxis for local sightseeing. Disappointment of not reaching Rohtang top is breaking the hearts of tourists but they are enjoying even small patches of snow scattered along the highway. Faces of those providing snow dresses on rent, ski and paragliding instructors are shining with happiness. “Business has picked up the pace and