The Manali-Atal tunnel highway has been closed for all vehicles following the snowfall in the upper parts of Himachal on Wednesday. The IMD has predicted widespread snowfall in most parts of the state in the next 48 hours. The entire Lahaul-Spiti district is receiving snow but the accumulation rate is too low. Keylong has received just 5cm of snow while Koksar and Sissu recorded 12cm and 7cm snowfall respectively. Jispa, Darcha and the north portal of the Atal tunnel have also donned a white blanket. Kaza, Kibber, Losar and almost all places in Spiti are also receiving snow. Parts of Kinnaur and the upper parts of Chamba district are also receiving fresh snow. South portal of Atal tunnel near Manali received nearly 10cm of snow while snowfall had begun at Solang valley in the evening time. Rohtang pass, Kunzum, Shinkula and Baralacha are experiencing heavy snowfall where fresh snow accumulation is expected to be more than 30cm. With a fresh layer of snow making the highway slippery at Dhundi, the administration has stopped all kinds of traffic movement towards the Atal tunnel beyond Solang. The administration has asked tourists not to take any risk and move to safe places. Lahaul-Spiti deputy commissioner Sumit Khimta said a travel advisory has been issued following snowfall and low visibility. “The Manali-Keylong highway via Atal tunnel will remain closed till further order. Tourists and local residents are advised to plan travel only after ensuring weather and road conditions. Tourists in Lahaul are advised to stay at safe places until snowfall stops,” he said. Kullu deputy commissioner Ashutosh Garg said all the officials have been asked to remain available and ready with machinery as an alert regarding snowfall has been issued by the IMD. “People should plan their travels only if it’s important. Tourists should
The Manali-Atal tunnel highway has been closed for all vehicles following the snowfall in the upper parts of Himachal on Wednesday. The IMD has predicted widespread snowfall in most parts of the state in the next 48 hours. The entire Lahaul-Spiti district is receiving snow but the accumulation rate is too low. Keylong has received
Lahaul Valley of Himachal Pradesh in the northern part of the country has become the most popular tourist destination of Himachal due to its easy approach after the opening of the Atal Tunnel, Rohtang. Thousands of tourists are visiting Lahaul Valley every day to enjoy its breathtaking beauty. In 2022, as many as 6,22,988 vehicles carrying about 20 lakh tourists entered Lahaul valley via tunnel from Manali besides some tourists reaching here via Leh-Keylong and Kaza-Koksar road. Lahaul Valley, which further has many small valleys, is home to the beautiful landscapes, towering peaks, deep valleys, hanging glaciers, rivers, monasteries, temples, a mix of Hindu-Buddhist cultures and winding roads. Lahaul and Spiti are two sub-divisions of Lahaul-Spiti district. Lahaul and Spiti are divided by the mighty Kunzum pass. However, jurisdiction of Spiti valley begins from Koksar, beyond Gramphu, but its first village is Losar, on the other side of the Kunzum pass. Keylong in Lahaul is the administrative headquarters of the district. Lahaul-Spiti is the largest district of Himachal in terms of geographical area. Lahaul-Spiti is popularly known as mini-Ladakh for its Ladakh-like landscapes. Lahaul-Spiti is also known as the cold deserts of Himachal due to its high altitude barren lands and extremely cold temperature. The district is the coldest in Himachal, with temperature at many places plunging below minus 25 degrees Celsius in winter season. Spiti is colder than Lahaul but many places of Lahaul also record below minus 20 degrees C of temperature. How to reach Lahaul Valley Lahaul valley is just 33 km from Manali along the Manali-Leh highway. The valley starts from the northern end of the Atal tunnel. Atal tunnel is the bridge between Manali and Lahaul. Before tunnel, Lahaul was reachable via Rohtang pass. Rohtang top, 51 km from Manali, is the boundary of Manali
Lahaul Valley of Himachal Pradesh in the northern part of the country has become the most popular tourist destination of Himachal due to its easy approach after the opening of the Atal Tunnel, Rohtang. Thousands of tourists are visiting Lahaul Valley every day to enjoy its breathtaking beauty. In 2022, as many as 6,22,988 vehicles
Aarzoo Rana, 22, from Janjehli in Himachal’s Mandi district, was crowned Winter Queen 2023 on Friday late at night. Nitika from Shimla and Smriti from Kullu were crowned first and second runner-ups respectively. A large number of beauties from many states took part in auditions for the Winter Queen beauty pageant. Finally, 27 beauties were vying for the crown. After multiple rounds for three days which involved catwalks with girls donning different clothes including traditional and western dresses, question and answer round, IQ checks etc. 27 contestants were given chance in both the first and second rounds. 15 were shortlisted for the third round while six of them were chosen for the final round. After two rounds on Friday late night, Arzoo was crowned winner of the contest at 12am. Aarzoo lost over 25 KG of weight to participate in this event. This outdoor event was held amid the bone-chilling cold of Manali. Arzoo said her parents supported her in all her decisions and she started modeling as a hobby from a local event held in the Mandi district. “My parents and all family members were screaming with happiness after I won the pageant. I come from a small village in Janjehli. Now I am fully confident and prepared for similar events anywhere in the country. Our groomers worked hard on our catwalk, posture, and costumes and in elevating our confidence. My father is an ex-army person,” she said. First runner-up Nitika said the completion was very tough and she is happy that there was no snowfall during the completion. She said she would dedicate the crown to her family and her father, who works with Indian Army, is returning back to the job on Sunday. “I’m going back home after learning a lot of things from here.” Second runner-up
Aarzoo Rana, 22, from Janjehli in Himachal’s Mandi district, was crowned Winter Queen 2023 on Friday late at night. Nitika from Shimla and Smriti from Kullu were crowned first and second runner-ups respectively. A large number of beauties from many states took part in auditions for the Winter Queen beauty pageant. Finally, 27 beauties were
With the minimum temperature in Himachal remaining below normal and many places reeling under sub-zero temperatures; the cold waves have hit hard the hill state which is waiting for its first heavy snowfall of the season. Himachal is waiting for its season’s first spell of heavy snowfall. The feeble western disturbances originating from the Mediterranean sea have failed to bring the desired amount of snow so far. But, the state is reeling under dry cold conditions which are also affecting the neighbouring states. While the temperature in some upper parts of Himachal has plunged below minus 15 degrees C, the mercury in the mid-hills has also plunged below the freezing point. The minimum temperature in many parts of Spiti has dropped below minus 15 degrees C. The Nako lake of Kinnaur has also frozen where children are learning ice skating. Spiti river has frozen at its source. The water in hand pumps too is freezing at night time. Losar, Kibber, Komic, Langza, Hikkam, Chicham, Kee, Rangrik, Hal and Kaza villages have frozen with temperatures plunging below minus 15 degrees C. Lahaul-Spiti district headquarters Keylong recorded the lowest temperature of minus 11 on Wednesday morning at 8:30am. The temperature at many other villages in Lahaul is below minus 10 degrees C and all the water sources have frozen. A thin layer of ice is depositing on the Chenab river. The Chandratal lake has also frozen completely and become walkable. On Wednesday morning, Manali recorded a minimum temperature of minus 2.2 degrees C. The temperature at Atal tunnel, Gulaba, Hamta and other higher places in Manali is much lower. The water sources are partially freezing here. The temperature is too much lower in the morning and evening time, but people are enjoying basking in the sun at day time. The Bhrigu, Dashaur and
With the minimum temperature in Himachal remaining below normal and many places reeling under sub-zero temperatures; the cold waves have hit hard the hill state which is waiting for its first heavy snowfall of the season. Himachal is waiting for its season’s first spell of heavy snowfall. The feeble western disturbances originating from the Mediterranean
The increasing craze for 9.02km-long Atal tunnel has resulted in record 12,73,699 vehicles traversing it from both sides in 2022, nearly 60 per cent more than that in 2021. Nearly 6,22,988 vehicles carrying about 20 lakh tourists entered Lahaul valley via tunnel from Manali while about 6,50,711 vehicles exited Lahaul through the tunnel, with a total 12,73,699 vehicles. About 3,76,870 vehicles entered the district and around 4,23,071 vehicles exited the district through the tunnel, making it total 7,99,941 vehicles using the tunnel in 2021. Lahaul-Spiti superintendent of police Manav Verma shared in the district police facebook page that 2022 witnessed an increase of about 4.73 lakh vehicles, mostly tourist vehicles. “The highest traffic in Atal tunnel was recorded in the months of June (2,25,045), May (2,11,824) and December (2,02,974). The highest traffic recorded in a single day was on December 25 on Christmas Day, which was recorded at 19,383. This was the highest number of vehicles since Atal tunnel, Rohtang, was inaugurated by the PM Narendra Modi on October 3, 2020,” he shared. Lahaul valley has seen huge traffic influx after opening of the tunnel. However, most of the tourists are visiting only the Atal tunnel and returning back to Manali on the same day. The craze for the tunnel is so high that more than 10,000 vehicles crossed the tunnel for a total of 16 days in 2022. Many tourists want to see this modern tunnel built at altitude of 10,020ft from sea level while others visit it to see the snow at its northern end. Some are visiting Lahaul valley via tunnel and others use it while travelling to Ladakh or Pangi valley. Majority of visitors are tourists from different states. Almost every tourist visiting Manali is reaching the tunnel which has also become a new snow point,
The increasing craze for 9.02km-long Atal tunnel has resulted in record 12,73,699 vehicles traversing it from both sides in 2022, nearly 60 per cent more than that in 2021. Nearly 6,22,988 vehicles carrying about 20 lakh tourists entered Lahaul valley via tunnel from Manali while about 6,50,711 vehicles exited Lahaul through the tunnel, with a
