The enthusiasm of biking through the world’s highest motorable passes on Manali-Leh road is proving beneficial for the economy of Manali as more and more bikers are reaching here every year and thus breaking the previous years’ records. Manali-Leh highway has been opened for vehicles and thousands of tourists from abroad are set to start their adventurous journey with the help from experts in Manali. Overseas tourists have started flocking to Kullu and Manali for various adventure activities in Western Himalayas. Biking, jeep safaris, trekking and camping are the main activities that would keep them busy for next five months here. It is villages of Kullu which get maximum benefit from foreigners who usually wish to stay in calm environment away from towns. More than 30 persons are providing bikes on hiring basis and over 5,00 locals are earning good after working as tour guides, cooks, helpers and porters. More than 700 families in Vashisht, Old Manali, Naggar, Manikaran, Kasol, Shuru, Aleo and dozens of other villages are very much dependant on foreign tourists for their livelihood. “Foreigners have started gathering in Kullu to start various adventure activities and smiles are back on the faces of local residents,” a prominent foreigner tourist’s guide Dhani Thakur said. He added that successful biking across some of the highest mountain passes of the world, including Khardung La (17,582 ft), Marismik La (18,314 ft), Baralacha La (16,050 ft) in Himachal and Ladakh is similar to summiting Mt Everest for bikers. “It is dream of all biker to drive on this route. Arrival of more and more tourists is ensuring good income opportunity for locals. Biking and other adventure activities would continue till late October,” he added. Main benefit from foreigners is that they live for months in guest houses in villages and provide earning
The enthusiasm of biking through the world’s highest motorable passes on Manali-Leh road is proving beneficial for the economy of Manali as more and more bikers are reaching here every year and thus breaking the previous years’ records. Manali-Leh highway has been opened for vehicles and thousands of tourists from abroad are set to start
