Himachal
Travel Tips & Guides
Should You Visit Post-Monsoon Himachal this Year?
The monsoon mayhem in Himachal Pradesh is over. But is it safe to travel to Himachal now? The short answer is Yes. Here is why…
The entire Himachal Pradesh has witnessed unprecedented disaster this monsoon. Hundreds of roads including highways were damaged, power and water supply was affected and mobile and internet connectivity remained disrupted for weeks in July and August due to floods and landslides. Places like Manali, Kasol, Shimla and Kinnaur were completely cut off. Thousands of stranded tourists had to be evacuated from Kullu-Manali and Lahaul-Spiti.
It was really bad.
But now, Himachal is returning to normalcy, slowly but surely. The gates to the mountains are reopening but there still remain some hiccups. The road condition being top of them.
Following are the answers to your top travel queries about visiting popular spots in Himachal Pradesh in the rest of the year in 2023. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask in the comments section.
Should I visit Kullu-Manali in the winters of 2023?
Yes. But you may face traffic jams. The damaged Chandigarh-Manali highway is still being repaired and rebuilt between Mandi and Manali. At some spots between Mandi and Manali, vehicles these days are moving on single lanes which is leading to traffic jams. The Left Bank road from Kullu to Manali is also open for traffic.
What is the present condition of the Chandigarh-Manali highway in Mandi and Manali?
The highway from Chandigarh to Mandi is in good condition. The problem of bad road and traffic jams starts after Mandi. Over a dozen stretches of Chandigarh-Manali highway were washed away or damaged between Mandi and Manali due to floods, flash floods and landslides in July and August. The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) is presently rebuilding these stretches of the highway. The NHAI has announced a deadline of October 15 for restoring complete connectivity.
Which are the spots where I can face traffic jams on the Chandigarh-Manali highway?
6 Mile, 7 Mile, 9 Mile and Pandoh in Mandi district and Raison, 15 Mile, 18 Mile, Kalath, Alu Ground and Volvo Bus Stand near Manali in Kullu district. These are the places where highway was damaged.
What is the condition of the roads to Parvati and Tirthan valleys in Kullu district?
The same. These two roads were also damaged and are being repaired. If the traffic increases, you may get stuck in traffic jams. But even if you get stuck in jams, it won’t be for a long time. From Manali till Atal Tunnel, the road had remained largely unaffected. Roads had also got damaged in Lahaul Spiti but have been repaired.
What about visiting Shimla, Kinnaur, Chamba and Kangra?
All these four districts are also open for travellers. Both Chandigarh-Shimla and Shimla-Kinnuar highway had caved in in September but now have been reopened for traffic. The roads to Chamba and Kangra had remained mostly safe from floods and landslides.
Has the bus service from Manali been resumed?
Yes. The Himachal Pradesh Roads Transport Corporation (HRTC) has also resumed its state and inter-state ordinary as well as luxury Volvo buses from Manali.
What about adventure sports in Manali and other parts?
After a two-month ban, adventure activities like rafting, paragliding and trekking have resumed in Manali and elsewhere.
Is there still a danger of landslides in Himachal?
Most landslides occur in Himachal during monsoon months of July and August. There have hardly been any landslides in Himachal ever since the monsoon started weakening in mid-September. Likewise, there have been no floods and flash floods in recent weeks. So, it’s perfectly safe to travel to Himachal now.
