Himachal

Places to Visit

Top 8 Reasons to visit Rohtang Pass in October

Want to visit the magnificent Rohtang Pass in October? Well, you have chosen a good time of the year. Here is why…

Rohtang La, Rohtang Darra or simply the Rohtang Pass is one of the grandest mountain passes of the Western Himalayas.

This high but easily accessible mountain pass near Manali connects the Kullu valley with the neighboring Lahaul Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh and gives stunning 360-degree views of the mighty Himalayas.

In the old days, Rohtang Pass was the only route used by the people of Lahaul Spiti to reach the Kullu valley and vice-versa.

Today, the majestic Rohtang Pass is a major tourist attraction as thousands of people reach here to get awestruck by the awesomeness of this place. You can visit the Rohtang Pass for six months of a year except in winters when it’s closed due to heavy snowfall.

So, when should you ideally visit the Rohtang Pass? The time of the year when you get the best out of the glorious Rohtang Pass without missing a thing.

In this article, we will tell you why October can be one of the best months to visit Rohtang, as we found out during our recent trip. We will also give details on how to get a permit from Kullu administration for visiting the Rohtang Pass, what precautions to take, what to wear, where to stay and how exactly to reach here from Manali. We’ll also talk about why visiting Rohtang Pass in November can be riskier, especially after November 15.

Here’s wishing you a mesmerizing trip to Rohtang Pass in October.

1. Good weather conditions

To begin with, the weather here is almost ‘pleasant’ by the Rohtang Pass standards in October. The average maximum day temperature remains less than 10 degrees Celsius in October. A great relief, given the fact that this mountain pass remains buried under heavy snow for the six months of a year! It’s mostly sunny in October and you can have a great time at the top in the company of mighty mountains.

It can also get really windy here especially towards the afternoon and the temperature can also drop suddenly if clouds come in. So, if you are visiting Rohtang Pass in October, you should keep a pair of warm clothes with you including a jacket or a sweater may be.

2. Spectacular views

A view of the surrounding mountains from Rohtang Pass in October.

Since the weather is mostly sunny in October, you get 360-degree views of the mountain ranges from the top of the Rohtang Pass. You also get an amazing view of the Kullu valley on the one side and Lahaul and Spiti valleys on the other.

3. Less traffic and easy permit

The National Green Tribunal has put a cap on number of vehicles that can visit the Rohtang Pass daily. — The National Green Tribunal has put a cap on the number of vehicles that can visit the Rohtang Pass daily.

In October, both Manali and Rohtang Pass are not crowded at all, making it easier to get permit from the Kullu administration. To protect the eco-sensitive Rohtang, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has put a cap on the number of vehicles that can go up to the Rohtang Pass daily. As per the NGT orders, a maximum 1200 vehicles (800 petrol and 400 diesel) can be allowed to visit the Rohtang Pass daily. While in summer months especially in June, the number of applicants rise tremendously, in October there are very few people, who apply for the permit.

4. Snowfall in October

Though the weather is mostly sunny at Rohtang Pass in October but you may even witness a light snowfall, if you are lucky. The weather at Rohtang Pass, which is located at an altitude of around 4000 meters, can change suddenly and it starts to snow as has been witnessed multiple times by tourists.

5. Not risky

October is the month when winters slowly start to take over the mountains and most shepherds move down with their flock from higher to lower reaches. But it’s not risky to visit the Rohtang Pass in October. The Rohtang Pass doesn’t receive heavy snow in October, and it remains open and accessible. Also, the dangerous black ice, a thin film of ice that covers high altitude roads and makes driving extremely risky, does not appear in October.

6. Last chance

October is also the best month to visit Rohtang Pass before the onset of full winters as the Pass is officially closed for all traffic by November 15. It is reopened after a gap of around six months in April -end or May, depending upon the snow condition. So, either you go to Rohtang in October and before November 15 or six months later.

7. Kullu Dussehra

Deities at Kullu Dussehra. — Kullu Dussehra is celebrated every year in October.

October is also the month when Kullu Dussehra, a weeklong international festival, is held in Kullu. Along with the Rohtang Pass, you can also visit the Kullu Dussehra for a day and make the best of your trip. Read here why you should visit Kullu Dussehra at least once in your lifetime. Moreover, if you have time, you can also visit the nearby Sissu village in October. Here is why you should actually visit Sissu in October.

8. Shela Sar or Dashsuhar lake

A view of the Shela Sar or Dashsuhar lake near Rohtang.

There is also a beautiful glacial lake near Rohtang Pass you can visit. Located at an altitude of around 4246 meters, Shela Sar or Dashsuhar lake is also a site of pilgrimage. But you need to do a trek of around three hours to reach here. It’s a steep climb up to the lake and you should not attempt this trek without professional mountaineering guides. October is a good month to visit the lake as the trek route is not crowded at all and it’s safe also unlike the monsoon months.

What to do in Rohtang Pass?

A view of the Rohtang Pass lake. — Rohtang Pass lake.

You can enjoy pony rides amidst snow-capped mighty peaks in Rohtang Pass in October. You can also drive around in snow scooters, which are available here. There is also an artificial lake, which has been created by preventing the flow of glacial water at the Rohtang Pass. This lake has become a major tourist attraction here.

You can also visit the dome-shaped stone temple with a water source inside. Many believe that the Beas river originates from here even though the river source actually is in the nearby Beas Kund in the Pir Panjal range.

Permit for visiting Rohtang Pass

You can’t visit the Rohtang Pass without first having taken permission from the Kullu administration. You can apply online on the Kullu administration’s website for a permit. This is the link.

The permission is given instantly after you fill a form online giving details about the vehicle, number of passengers etc and after paying a fee of Rs 550 per vehicle. But you get permission only if on a given day the number of allowed vehicles has not crossed over the vehicle quota fixed by the NGT.

How to reach Rohtang Pass

Rohtang Pass is situated around 53 kms from Manali town. You can either hire a cab or drive yourself to the top as the roads are wide and the views beautiful.

There are two routes to approach the Rohtang Pass. You can take the Manali-Palchan-Solan valley-Atal Tunnel-Koksar-Rohtang Pass route and then return via Marhi-Gulaba-Kothi-Palchan-Manali route or vice versa. You should go from one route and return from the second route.

Where to stay near Rohtang Pass

You will find good places to stay in Manali or in Palchan, Kothi and Gulaba. If you want to avoid staying in the main Manali town then you can also choose to stay in hotels between Kullu and Manali. Check here the best places to stay around Manali.

Altitude sickness

Rohtang Pass is located at an altitude of around 4000 meters. This altitude falls in the category of ‘very high’ and is ranked below ‘extreme’ and ‘ultra.’ The oxygen level starts to dip at such a high altitude. The effective oxygen level at 4000 meters is 12.7%.

This is the reason many people start complaining of altitude sickness. It’s advisable that people with heart diseases should avoid higher altitudes. According to America’s National Institute of Health, patients with coronary heart disease should avoid elevations of 3500 meters and above.

Visiting Rohtang Pass in November

Rohtang Pass is closed on 15 November every year due to snowfall and dip in temperature. However, the year 2023 was an exception when the Rohtang Pass was officially closed on September 29. But in any case, visiting Rohtang Pass is not advisable in November especially after November 15. The weather can change suddenly and you can get trapped as has happened many a times in the past. So, if you want to be on the safer side then you should ideally visit the Rohtang Pass in October only.