A slightly longer waiting time may be required to open the pass for tourists, though. In the meantime tourists can head up to Marhi and Beas nullah, just below Rohtang Pass, to enjoy 1.5-3 m snowdrifts.
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) are doing their best to clear snow from the highway but bad weather caused some delay in opening the pass for tourists. April and May snowfalls kept on blocking the roads but currently traffic from Kullu, Lahaul and Pangi will be allowed to travel till Marhi.
Initially only 1200 vehicles will be allowed to proceed till Marhi, and the Tourism Department will probably use JCB machines to increase parking capacity and remove snow. In Marhi, temporary toilets have been set up for tourists as well as dustbins that have been placed at regular intervals.
Local hoteliers suffer lower occupancy rates than usually due to snow as there are booking cancellations due to heavy snowfalls and many tourists keep postponing their Manali trip until the Rohtang Pass opens. As soon as the pass opens, Manali will likely see a surge in tourism.
Rohtang Pass Opens for Cars
News in Asia
Rohtang Pass, a high mountain pass connecting the Kullu Valley with the Lahaul and Spiti Valleys about 50 km from Manali in Himachal Pradesh, India, is expected to open for vehicular transport from May, 15.