Solang Valley or Solang Nala, 13 km north of Manali town on Manali-Atal Tunnel highway, is a popular tourist destination of Manali. The valley is often referred to as adventure valley due to availability of almost all the adventure sports like skiing, paragliding, zorbing, horseriding, ATV (all-terrain-vehicles), snow scooter, mini-bunjee, grass skiing, river crossing, trekking, wall climbing etc.
Solang is one of the most visited tourist destinations of Himachal Pradesh. Tourists visiting Rohtang pass also visit Solang after taking a left diversion from Palchan village bifurcation point. It is just 3km from Palchan. Solang nullah (nala) flows next to the main Solang ground. Solang village is on the other side of Solang river and is accessible after 20 minutes of steep trekking.
Solang valley has a ropeway and ski-centre as well. The ropeway (gondola) takes tourists from main ground to Fatru, about 1km above, from where a panoramic view of the entire valley can be seen.
A short trek to Anjani Mahadev Temple, where ice lingam is formed naturally during winter months, starts from Solang valley. Atal tunnel is just 10km north of the Solang. Lahaul valley is just 19km.
A trek/hike to Patalsu peak also starts from Solang via Solang village. This trek is quite popular among the tourists.
History of Solang Valley
Solang used to be a popular grazing land for the local residents who used to bring their cattle and sheep here. The area was amazingly lush green pasture with an abundance of a variety of flora. Later many Bollywood shooting units captured the valley in their camera. It started attracting local visitors and soon it became a famous picnic spot. Some local youths started doing paragliding here which attracted adventure enthusiasts to the valley. Skiers also started developing the natural slopes. To encourage skiing, a bar lift was established here. Soon thousands of tourists started thronging the valley. Other adventure activities also started flourishing here. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi tried hand at paragliding at Solang valley twice before becoming chief minister of Gujarat.
How to reach Solang Valley
Solang valley is 13km from Manali along the highway to Atal tunnel and Lahaul valley. Tourists can hire a taxi to the valley or can come in their private car without the need of obtaining any permit. Local puplic bus also gives its service on Manali-Solang route. Tourists can also hire motorbike (in summer months) to reach the valley.
Do I need permit to visit Solang Valley
No, you need not obtain any kind of permit to visit Solang valley. Anybody can visit the valley anytime. However, police regulate the traffic movement to Solang in the winter months after heavy snowfall.
Best time to visit Solang Valley
Solang has its different charm in different season. Tourists can visit the valley in all seasons. Most tourists visit Kullu-Manali in summer months but those who want to experience snow, snowfall and snow activities visit Solang in winter months.
Can I find hotels in Solang Valley
Yes, many hotels are available in Solang valley. Besides hotels, tourists can spend a night in tent (camping) in Solang.
Things to do in Solang valley
- Paragliding
- Skiing
- Snowboarding
- Gondola Ride
- ATV Ride
- Horseriding
- Snow scooter ride
- Wall climbing
- Camping
- Zorbing
- Grass skiing
- Mini-bunjee jumping
- Trek to Anjani Mahadev
- Trek to Patalsu peak
- and much more.
Dark side of Atal tunnel: After Rohtang, Solang valley loses tourism to Atal tunnel
April 1, 2022
While Atal tunnel has proved to be a boon to local residents of Lahaul valley, it has proved disastrous to the business of Solang valley, Kothi and other nearby tourist destinations as tourists are ignoring other places for Atal tunnel.
Thousands of tourists are visiting Manali every day. But nobody wants to stop at Solang valley, which used to be the most crowded tourist place in Manali until a few months back. The reason is shifting of the focus of tourists from all other places to Atal tunnel and Lahaul valley. As the temperature is rising, tourists want to visit snow-covered high altitude cold areas. Although weather at Solang valley is pleasant with temperatures remaining below 20 degrees C, the destination is wearing a deserted look.
Solang, popularly known as adventure valley of Himachal, is famous for its ropeway, pony ride, ATV rides, zorbing, paragliding, skiing and many other tourist activities. Hundreds of people are earning livelihood from tourism but these days everybody is jobless. Many of them have shut their businesses while some have shifted to new places in search of employment. The highway to Atal tunnel and Lahaul valley passes through Solang valley. Tourists used to stop here for activities but these days they are ignoring the valley.
“Our business is hit hard after opening of Atal tunnel. Tourists are not stopping here. We had good business when we had snow and Atal tunnel was closed. Now that all tourists want to visit Atal tunnel and Lahaul valley only, we have no tourists. I had never imagined that Solang can become tourist-less,” a pony ride operator Bhagat Ram said.
Roshan Lal, who offers ATV (all-terrain bike) rides to the tourists said, “It’s ‘achhe din’ for Lahaul residents and ‘bure din’ for us. The main ground of the valley is empty and we are struggling to get customers on the highway. Hundreds of people used to work here. Now 50 per cent are home, some have moved to other areas and a few of us are still trying our luck here. Unfortunately, business is not allowed near Atal tunnel, and outsiders are not allowed to work in Lahaul valley. The tunnel has brought misfortune to us.”
Not just Solang valley, Kothi, Gulaba and other places between the tunnel and Manali too have lost business to the tunnel and Lahaul. Rohtang pass, too, is no more the top tourist destination of Himachal. The title has now been transferred to Atal tunnel.
Some say ban on adventure activities like paragliding is weighing heavy on Solang, but most local residents say it is Atal tunnel that has outshined other places. Meanwhile, a huge tourist crowd is heading to Lahaul valley to enjoy cold weather amidst the snow. On the other side, upper Gulaba, Marhi, Rohtang pass, and other snow points of Manali are still closed to tourists.
Tourist throng Solang valley for snow
January 28, 2022
As the Atal tunnel is closed for tourists following heavy snowfall, thousands of tourists have thronged the Solang valley near Manali to enjoy snow and snow activities.
Tourist footfall was plunging sharply after January 10 when the country witnessed a sharp spike in Covid-19 cases. People had started hesitating in travelling. But, the tourist footfall has started increasing once again. A large number of tourists, mostly from neighbouring states, are visiting Manali. Solang valley is crowded with tourists who are enjoying skiing, paragliding, tube slide, snow scooter and ATV ride and winter photography.
The road between Manali and Solang becoming slippery at many places, it is causing traffic jams. Most tourists are coming in their private vehicles and are unable to drive on snow and ice and are causing jam. The parking at Solang is also covered with snow and tourists are parking vehicles on the road sides. A large number of tourists are visiting Hamta, Nehru Kund and Kothi for snow.
As fear of Covid-19 has almost finished again, the majority of tourists are ignoring Covid safety protocols. Be it town or tourist place, very few tourists are wearing face masks.
Tourists enjoy skiing, paragliding at Solang Valley
November 29, 2020
Days after heavy snowfall at Solang valley of Manali, tourists have thronged the valley to enjoy skiing, paragliding and other adventure activities.
While local skiers are practicing at Solang valley slopes, tourists are also experiencing the winter sports for fun. Paragliding above snow-covered valley is another thrilling experience for them. Zorbing on snow slope is a unique experience for tourists. Some are trying to make snowman and some are hurling snowballs at each other. A large number of honeymooners are also heading to Manali to enjoy the winter season.
A tourist from Punjab Bhupinder Saini said he headed to Manali for his honeymoon as his family members were afraid of rising Covid-19 cases in other states. “Earlier we had planned to visit Kerala or Goa. My parents were skeptical about safety in air travel and faraway places. The news about snowfall in Manali changed our all plans. We are enjoying snow and adventure activities. We will be staying here for a week and will explore all the places. My wife is watching snow for the first time at Solang valley. She is super excited,” he said.
The night curfew and unavailability of tourist buses between Delhi and Manali are preventing a large number of tourists from reaching the winter wonderland. But tourists from neighbouring states are managing to reach here in private cars and after hiring taxis.
Tourists are being allowed to reach only till Solang valley where snow accumulation is over 60cm. Road to Atal tunnel is still closed for tourists for safety reasons. Thronging of a large number of tourists at Solang has resulted in traffic jams as well. Vehicles are moving on narrow trail. Sides of the road and parking space are still covered with snow and tourists are stopping vehicles on the mid-road which is resulting in traffic jam.
“It was the worst jam between Palchan and Solang valley on Saturday. Traffic was again moving at snail’s pace on Sunday. Tourists are parking vehicles on the highway and are going to enjoy the snow. Everyone wants to reach Solang valley as other snow points are closed for tourists. Despite jam, tourists are enjoying every moment,” a local taxi driver Yash Pal said.
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