Tag: when will rohtang open

Manali may witness a surge in tourism as Kullu administration on Friday announced to throw open Marhi, the summer snow point, for tourists from Sunday while Rohtang pass will also open for vehicular traffic in a few days. The officials informed that Rohtang will be opened for vehicular traffic before May 15. However, it may take little more time to open the pass for tourists. Till then tourists can go to Marhi and Beas nullah, just below Rohtang pass, where they can see 5 to 10ft of rarely touched pure snow. Till now, tourists were allowed to go till Gulaba only and they had to hike on steep trails to reach the snow. Kullu deputy commissioner Yunus said Border Roads Organization (BRO) was clearing snow from the highway with target to open Rohtang in first week of May but inclement weather has delayed work by a few days. “Fresh snowfall blocks the road again and again. BRO is working hard to resume traffic on the highway before election. Given the convenience of tourists and people of Lahaul, Pangi and Kullu, vehicles would be allowed to go till Marhi from Sunday,” he said. Yunus added that parking arrangement for about 400 vehicles has been made at Marhi after removing snow and efforts are on to double the capacity by Sunday. Only 600 vehicles would be allowed to go till Marhi on Sunday. Department of tourism has been asked to deploy a JCB machine to remove snow and increase parking capacity. “The permits to go to Marhi will be available online from Saturday. The permits for tourist vehicles can be obtained on website between 10am and 4pm. However, 600 permits for Sunday would be available in the afternoon. After this, permits for 1,300 tourist vehicles will be available every day and permit