Top Reasons Why You Can Avoid Visiting Atal Tunnel in December-end

A view of jam-packed atal tunnel in winters

Planning to visit Atal Tunnel in the festive last week of December? Here is why you can probably avoid it…

Lakhs of people start thronging Manali in the last week of December for the Christmas and the New Year celebrations. The tourist rush is at its peak in Manali in the last week of December. However, a large number of tourists also head for the nearby Atal Tunnel and Sissu village in the hope that they may witness snowfall. Read on to know why you would not like to be part of this crowd.

1. Atal Tunnel is highly crowded

An overcrowded Atal Tunnel on Christmas in 2023.

Don’t want to be in a crowded place while holidaying? Then you can stay away from visiting the Atal Tunnel in December-end especially on Xmas and New Year’s Eve. The Atal Tunnel is chock-a-block with vehicles and people in December-end especially on these two particular days.

2. There are traffic jams everywhere

Manali-trafic-jam — Horrible traffic jam near Manali on the Atal Tunnel road. This photograph had gone viral few years back.

Even reaching Atal Tunnel can turn out to be nightmarish due to frequent traffic jams in the last week of December. You will face traffic jams not only in Manali but on your way up to the Atal Tunnel at places including Nehru Kund, Palchan, Solang valley etc and also near the entry to the tunnel.

If your idea of holidaying is not getting stuck in traffic jams and bumping into known faces then maybe you should stay somewhere peaceful near Manali.

3. Atal tunnel gets choked with vehicles

Traffic jam inside the Atal Tunnel on New Tear's Eve. — Traffic jam inside the Atal Tunnel on New Tear’s Eve.

If you don’t like the idea of getting stuck in a traffic jam for hours and that too in a mountain tunnel then this is another reason for you to not visit the Atal Tunnel during this festive time.

According to Lahaul Spiti police, a whopping 28210 vehicles crossed the Atal Tunnel in just 24 hours during Christmas in 2023, triggering huge traffic jams not only inside the tunnel but all the way from Manali till here. It’s best to avoid such a crowded place, no?

4. Parking at Atal Tunnel is a major hassle

Parking hassle at Atal Tunnel during festive time in winters. — Where to park your car?

As per the local police figures, there were nearly 1.5 lakh people, who entered Atal tunnel on Xmas. Just imagine how big this number is for a small place like Atal Tunnel. With such huge traffic and crowds, parking becomes a major hassle not only at the Atal Tunnel but also in the nearby Sissu village.

It’s a struggle to find a decent parking space near the Atal Tunnel despite the huge deployment of traffic cops.

5. You may even get stranded

Policemen helping move a stuck vehicle outside atal tunnel in snow.

There is also the risk of getting stranded at the Atal Tunnel if the weather changes suddenly in December. You can get caught in heavy snowfall, which makes driving highly risky and highly dangerous. Every year in winters, hundreds of stranded tourists are rescued by the local police from the Atal Tunnel and the nearby areas that fall in the Lahaul Spiti district.

What is the best time to visit the Atal Tunnel then?

A view of the Atal Tunnel in April. — A view of the Atal Tunnel in April-end.

You should ideally visit the Atal Tunnel when it’s less crowded and driving not risky at all. The best time to visit the Atal Tunnel is in May and June even though it’s a bit crowded at this time but there are no risks and then again from September till November. You can also visit after April 15 if the road has been opened by then by the Kullu administration.

From September till November, it’s not crowded at all. Even in November you should visit the Atal Tunnel only after checking the weather forecasts. July and August are not recommended due to a risk of landslides and flash floods in the entire Himachal Pradesh including on Manali to Atal Tunnel road.