As skiing season has come to an end in most of the countries, the National Skiing and Snowboarding Championships will start on the slopes of Himachal’s Lahaul valley at altitude of above 11,000ft from March 26 to 28. The athletes are thrilled to participate in the first of its kind competition in the late March during onset of summer season. Over 150 athletes from eight state associations, Indian Army, ITBP and individual athletes from many states will throng cold deserts of Lahaul-Spit district known for its prolonged winter season. Both skiing and snowboarding races will be conducted in different categories. Earlier Himachal Pradesh Winter Games Association (HPWGA), Lahaul-Spiti administration and local clubs of the district were organising the events in first week of April, but now they have decided to conduct the races from March 26 to 28. The tournament is being organised by Himachal government, HPWGA, Lahaul-Spiti administration, many adventure sports clubs of Lahaul valley in association with Ski and Snowboard India. The event in late winter season was the brainchild of tribal development minister Dr Ram Lal Markanda as he believed this will bring Lahaul valley on the international map of winter sports destination. HPWGA president Ludar Thakur said this will be a first of its kind winter sports tournament of the country. “All preparations will be made in the next few days. The dates of the event will also be finalised in a couple of days. I have talked to the associations and other teams across the nation who are thrilled to know about such an event in late March which is otherwise the summer season," he said. "Weather and environment in Lahaul are completely different from other parts of the country and we shall take its full advantage. In the future, too, we can organise national
As skiing season has come to an end in most of the countries, the National Skiing and Snowboarding Championships will start on the slopes of Himachal’s Lahaul valley at altitude of above 11,000ft from March 26 to 28. The athletes are thrilled to participate in the first of its kind competition in the late March
There are hundreds of homestays in Lahaul and Spiti valleys and almost all units offer amazing panoramic views of the snow-clad Himalayan ranges. While some tourists prefer staying in hotels, some in camps and cottages, there are many tourists who want to stay with local families. This provides them an opportunity to understand the local culture, traditions, and their way of life so closely. They also get to eat local cuisines and can learn some of the recipes. They, while sitting with members of the family, can discuss about the local sightseeing places. Homestay is the best platform to exchange two different cultures. Primarily, Lahaul valley had homestays at Keylong and Jispa only. Then some people registered their houses as homestay at Udaipur. In recent times, Sissu, Khangsar, Gondla, Tandi, Biling, Darcha and almost all the villages of Lahaul have homestay units. Homestays in Lahaul valley are going to be major source of income for the residents as the valley has a limited number of hotels. In Spiti valley, Kaza, Kibber and Tabo had the major homestays which later extended to Pin valley (Mudh), Kee, Dhankar, Langza, Hikkim, Lossar and other areas of the valley. Homestays in Spiti valley have been a major attraction for tourists for years. The number of homestays in Spiti is increasing every year. 435 homestays registered in Lahaul in four days Updated on February 26, 2021 As many as 435 tribals in Lahaul valley registered their houses as homestay units in just four days as district administration is asking maximum residents to take advantage of the special drive with a single-window registration facility. As hotels and homestays in Lahaul valley have the capacity to accommodate maximum of 3,000 tourists, the administration is working hard on increasing the capacity to 10 thousand as soon as
There are hundreds of homestays in Lahaul and Spiti valleys and almost all units offer amazing panoramic views of the snow-clad Himalayan ranges. While some tourists prefer staying in hotels, some in camps and cottages, there are many tourists who want to stay with local families. This provides them an opportunity to understand the local
Concerned for the safety and procreation process of snow leopard and other endangered wildlife species which descend down to lower areas after winter snowfall, the Spiti administration on Monday imposed a complete ban on car rallies in major sanctuary areas. Additional district magistrate (ADM) at Spiti Gian Sagar Negi said it has been seen that various travel agencies organise car rallies especially during winter season in Spiti valley which passes through snow leopard landscapes of Kibber wildlife sanctuary. “Animals like snow leopard, blue sheep, Himalayan serow and ibex descend down to lower elevation after snowfall in higher regions. February and March is the mating season of snow leopards. Passage of heavy vehicular traffic is not only disturbing the natural habitats of the animals but it will also adversely affect the procreation of snow leopards which are highly endangered species,” he said. The ADM imposed a ban on car rallies in Kibber wildlife sanctuary through Lidang, Demul, Komic, Hikkim and Langcha village areas and from Rangrik bridge to Chicham via Kee and Kibber villages with immediate effect. “Any violation of this order will attract legal action under Wildlife Protection Act and Section 188 of CrPC. He added that both state and Centre are making efforts for conservation of these wild animals through different projects and programmes. “The heavy rush of the vehicles and their loud sounds are disturbing the wild animals. Kibber sanctuary is home to snow leopard and many other rare species. Snow leopard sighting tours in winter season are one of the major sources of income for local residents. The car rallies are posing threat to the wild animals and will also indirectly hit the snow leopard sighting tours. This important issue was brought to my notice and imposing ban on car rallies was very important,” Negi added. A
Concerned for the safety and procreation process of snow leopard and other endangered wildlife species which descend down to lower areas after winter snowfall, the Spiti administration on Monday imposed a complete ban on car rallies in major sanctuary areas. Additional district magistrate (ADM) at Spiti Gian Sagar Negi said it has been seen that
Remaining closed for over 10 months for outsiders, the Spiti valley of Himachal will open for tourists from February 17 with a condition that visitors carry a Covid-19 test report. The decision was taken after a meeting of Spiti Tourism Society (STS) where stakeholders decided that this is the right time to resume the business. Earlier residents had decided not to welcome any visitor till March 31. As Lahaul-Spiti district has no active case of Covid-19 and as vaccine of the disease has also been developed and being administered, the members decided that tourists should be allowed to enter the valley provided that everyone will have to strictly follow the Covid safety protocols. However, residents of Kibber village have denied welcoming the tourists. The society decided that tourists will not visit Kibber village and Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary, famous for snow leopard sighting. Narendra Rana, one of the members of the society, said it was decided in the meeting that it will be the duty of the tour organisers to make sure that each tourist is carrying a valid Covid-19 test report. “Any individual entering the valley without test will have to be rushed to the government hospital for rapid antigen test. Tourists will have to use face cover and maintain social distancing even in open space. Local coronation and vigilance committees have been formed to ensure that all SOPs are being followed by tourists and tour operators. Some of the restrictions can be lifted in April,” he said. Spiti, where majority of population is dependent on tourism, was the first place in Himachal to impose complete lockdown in the valley in March last year. The residents blamed that this remote valley, coldest in the state, has poor medical facilities and prevention was the only remedy to protect its residents
Remaining closed for over 10 months for outsiders, the Spiti valley of Himachal will open for tourists from February 17 with a condition that visitors carry a Covid-19 test report. The decision was taken after a meeting of Spiti Tourism Society (STS) where stakeholders decided that this is the right time to resume the business.
Rohtang pass, country’s first tourist destination that had faced National Green Tribunal (NGT) wrath to prevent it from becoming crowdiest hill station, is no more tourists’ choice thanks to new tourist destinations Lahaul and Atal tunnel. Majority of tourists used to visit Himachal only to see Rohtang pass until last year. Now that Lahaul valley is easily accessible through Atal tunnel, Rohtang pass seems to have been forgotten by both tourists and state government. Tourists now visit the state with two major destinations in mind – Atal tunnel and Lahaul. Not just Rohtang pass, Marhi, Beas nullah, Gulaba, Kothi and other places on the way to this 13,050ft high mountain pass are no more in the wish list of the visitors. Although the road to Rohtang is blocked with snow, tourists are not taking any interest in visiting its lower areas including Gulaba, the famous picnic spot. “Very few tourists used to visit Manali and other parts of Himachal when road to Rohtang pass used to be closed. Now when Manali-Rohtang pass highway is closed, thousands of tourists are visiting this hill town only because of tunnel and Lahaul valley. Tourist crowd decreases suddenly if road to Atal tunnel and Lahaul is blocked after snowfall but it increases when road is open for tourists. Only a few tourists are enquiring about Rohtang pass,” a hotelier Rakesh Thakur said. After thousands of tourist vehicles were reaching Rohtang pass every day, NGT had to take a tough stand including restricting number of vehicles going to the pass for tourism purpose to 1,200 daily. The decision resulted in hues and cries among both local stakeholders and tourists. A private firm that will establish a ropeway to the pass had to face public protests, especially from local taxi operators, for last many years. As
Rohtang pass, country’s first tourist destination that had faced National Green Tribunal (NGT) wrath to prevent it from becoming crowdiest hill station, is no more tourists’ choice thanks to new tourist destinations Lahaul and Atal tunnel. Majority of tourists used to visit Himachal only to see Rohtang pass until last year. Now that Lahaul valley
Himachal ski and snowboard championships begin at Hamta slopes January 31, 2021: With participation of nearly 200 athletes from the state, the two-day-long Himachal ski and snowboard championships have started at Hamta slopes near Manali on Sunday. As Solang and other slopes of the state have no snow this year, the races are being conducted at Hamta at altitude of about 10,000ft for the first time. Junior and senior alpine, cross-country skiing and snowboarding races in different categories are being organised. The best performing athletes will be selected for senior and junior national championships starting in a few days. Cabinet minister Ram Lal Markanda inaugurated the tournament and said winter sports infrastructure will be strengthened in Kullu and Lahaul-Spiti districts. “Both the districts have huge possibilities in winter sports. Performance of our athletes is outstanding. We shall soon host national championships,’ he said. Himachal Pradesh Winter Games Association (HPWGA) is organising this tournament in the wilderness, away from Manali town. Cabinet minister Govind Thakur will attend the tournament for prize distribution ceremony on Monday. HPWGA president Ludar Thakur said, “Snow conditions on slopes are perfect for races. Unfortunately we spent the whole January in wait for snowfall. We searched for alternate slopes at Lahaul and around Manali and finally selected this slope. We plan to maintain this slope in the future as well. Now we are eying the national tournament at Auli and Gulmarg.” HP Skiing and Snowboarding Competitions from Jan 31 January 27, 2021: As athletes are waiting for good snowfall on the slopes of Himachal for two months, the professional skiers will now throng Hamta valley at an altitude of about 10,000ft for senior and junior skiing and snowboarding championships on January 31 and February 1. Himachal Pradesh Winter Games Association (HPWGA) had lost hopes to host national
Himachal ski and snowboard championships begin at Hamta slopes January 31, 2021: With participation of nearly 200 athletes from the state, the two-day-long Himachal ski and snowboard championships have started at Hamta slopes near Manali on Sunday. As Solang and other slopes of the state have no snow this year, the races are being conducted at
Stranded in snow, Delhi, Rajasthan tourists rescued from Hamta January 27, 2021: Three tourists – two from Delhi and one from Rajasthan – who got lost in snow-covered jungle at Hamta above Manali on Tuesday night were rescued by the police with help of local volunteers. Police control room received an SOS call at 112 in the night time that some tourists have lost their way back to Manali in the snow-laden forests of Hamta. A team of two cops, two home guard jawans and a volunteer driver rushed to the expected location and started combing the area with help of three local residents. Kullu SP Gaurav Singh was quoted saying that the team searched for them at Sethan, Pandu Ropa, reservoir area and all possible locations for the whole night. “The search and rescue team successfully located them from about 2km below Sethan nullah in Hamta forest where they had stranded in the snow,” he said. The tourists were identified as Shahid, 32, Imran Khan, 22, both residents of Karol Bagh, New Delhi and Rehan, 12, resident of Rajasthan. “They were safely dropped at their hotel in Manali. We have been repeatedly requesting tourists not go to higher regions without hiring a local guide and return back on time. Getting stranded in bone chilling cold can be fatal,” he said. Another Avalanche hits Manali-Atal tunnel highway January 7, 2021: Another avalanche hit the Manali-Atal tunnel highway at MSP-6 between Solang and Dhundi on Thursday. Fortunately, nobody was harmed as the highway is closed due to snowfall for all kinds of vehicular movement. According to Atal tunnel project officials, a massive avalanche had hit the highway but no loss of human or property was reported. "The snow has been cleared. We have also cleared snow from Solang to the south
Stranded in snow, Delhi, Rajasthan tourists rescued from Hamta January 27, 2021: Three tourists – two from Delhi and one from Rajasthan – who got lost in snow-covered jungle at Hamta above Manali on Tuesday night were rescued by the police with help of local volunteers. Police control room received an SOS call at 112
Over 300 tourists stranded without meal following unexpected snowfall at the south portal of Atal tunnel were rescued in an operation that continued till 1 am on Saturday. All were rescued to safety after struggles of over 6 six hours amid snowfall. While some vehicles were freed from snow in the night time, other vehicles were evacuated on Sunday. The Atal tunnel has been closed for tourist movement due to inclement weather conditions and heavy snowfall in the area. Tourist movement is now being restricted to Palchan village only. As many as 250 tourist vehicles had reached the Atal tunnel on Saturday early morning. All vehicles were sent back by Lahaul-Spiti police as it was snowing heavily in the valley. Tourists then stopped at the south portal of the tunnel and Dhundi to enjoy snowfall. As snowfall intensified, Kullu police stopped tourist movement towards the tunnel. While some tourists returned back to Manali, others stayed there for a longer time. With the increasing depth of snow on the road surface, the vehicles started slipping. A large number of vehicles collided with each other. Drivers were finding it difficult to keep cars on road which were slipping outwards towards the edge. This resulted in a road blockade. This took a long time for tourists to understand how to deal with the situation but it was too late till then as over 15cm of snow had accumulated on the road. After receiving information about tourists getting stranded at the tunnel, a police team from Kullu with help of police units at Atal tunnel launched the rescue operation. Border Roads Organisation (BRO) started clearing snow from the road and police took help from 4X4 vehicle operators of Manali. Tourist vehicles were freed and brought down one by one. More than 300 tourists in
Over 300 tourists stranded without meal following unexpected snowfall at the south portal of Atal tunnel were rescued in an operation that continued till 1 am on Saturday. All were rescued to safety after struggles of over 6 six hours amid snowfall. While some vehicles were freed from snow in the night time, other vehicles
Lahaul Snow Festival 2022 Start Date: January 13, 2022 End Date: March 31, 2022 (tentative) Address: Lahaul and Spiti, Himachal Pradesh, India Main attractions: Traditional (winter) festivals, Local culture, Local cuisines, Lahaul tribal dresses, Snow Craft, Snow Queen contest, Winter and traditional sports, Folk Dance, Folk Music, and many more Influence: Within Lahaul Valley Venue: All villages of Lahaul with centre at Keylong and Udaipur First Event: 2021 (25 Jan to 31 March) Purpose: To boost winter tourism and cultural tourism besides preserving and revival of long-forgotten local traditions. Organizers: DC Lahaul Spiti, Local MLA, SDMs, all government officials and local stakeholders with support from all the residents. Funding: With a mutual contribution by residents under the guidance of local administration. Achievement: Won SKOCH Silver Award in governance category on March 20, 2021. Timing: Opening at 10 AM on 13th January at Udaipur, and cultural and other programmes will continue all days daily. How to reach Lahaul: Delhi/Chandigarh > Manali > Atal Tunnel > Lahaul How to reach Spiti: Delhi/Chandigarh > Shimla/Karsog >Rampur > Kinnaur > Spiti Two month-long Snow Festival from 13 January 2022 Updated on December 30, 2021 With an aim to promote winter tourism, tribal culture, local festivals, and traditions, the two-month-long snow festival will start in Himachal’s Lahaul-Spiti district from January 13, 2022. The first snow festival was organised from January 25 to March 31 last winter season when opening of the Atal tunnel had provided winter access to the snow-blanketed valley. After the festival remained successful, the second winter festival will start from Udaipur after worship at Trilokinath temple by lamas and Brahmins. The festival, which will be celebrated in snow-covered valley at different places for over two months, will showcase Lahauli festivals, local culture, cuisines, dresses, folk songs and dances, winter sports and many
Lahaul Snow Festival 2022 Start Date: January 13, 2022 End Date: March 31, 2022 (tentative) Address: Lahaul and Spiti, Himachal Pradesh, India Main attractions: Traditional (winter) festivals, Local culture, Local cuisines, Lahaul tribal dresses, Snow Craft, Snow Queen contest, Winter and traditional sports, Folk Dance, Folk Music, and many more Influence: Within Lahaul Valley Venue:
Anticipating all-time high tourist rush in Manali during New Year celebrations, Kullu police have imposed many strict traffic rules in the district, especially on Manali-Atal tunnel highway as over 8,000 vehicles are expected to enter the tunnel. Record 5,450 vehicles had entered Atal tunnel from both ends on Sunday. Now police said number of vehicles entering the 9.02km long tunnel, which has become the major tourist spot of Himachal, can go beyond 8,000 in next few days. Police have made no-overtaking zones, tow-away zones and marked special parking places. A heavy fine is being slapped on traffic rule violators. Kullu superintendent of police Gaurav Singh said 130 cops have been deployed between Manali and Atal tunnel to check traffic and Covid-19 violations besides ensuring tourist safety. He said 40 such cops have been deployed in Manikaran and units having 15 cops each have been deployed at Tirthan, Jibhi and Jalori pass. “Manali is a small town with limited carrying capacity. We shall allow tourist vehicles as per available carrying capacity. The vehicles shall be staggered before reaching Manal and will be allowed in batches of 500 and 1,000. Tourists will observe slow-moving traffic during this time. Once the first batch reaches Palchan, Solang valley and beyond, another batch will be allowed. Road between Palchan to tunnel will be no overtaking zone. The vehicles will again be allowed batch-wise through the tunnel,” the SP said. He added that tourists generally stop anywhere after watching snow or scenic place but vehicles cannot be parked anywhere. “If there is space by roadside, vehicles can be parked. Otherwise, such vehicles will be towed. Once the vehicle leaves Solang for Atal tunnel, it cannot take u-turn from midway and vehicle needs to go till south portal of the tunnel. At portal of the tunnel, tourists
Anticipating all-time high tourist rush in Manali during New Year celebrations, Kullu police have imposed many strict traffic rules in the district, especially on Manali-Atal tunnel highway as over 8,000 vehicles are expected to enter the tunnel. Record 5,450 vehicles had entered Atal tunnel from both ends on Sunday. Now police said number of vehicles
