Rohtang Pass
Rohtang Pass is a high mountain pass on the eastern end of the Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas around from Manali in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, the pass serves as a vital link between the verdant Kullu Valley and the arid, high-altitude regions of Lahaul and [Spiti district|Lahaul and Spiti] Valleys of Himachal Pradesh, India.
Known for its dramatic topography and stunning panoramic views, Rohtang Pass attracts travelers, photographers, and nature enthusiasts from across the world. The journey to the pass itself is marked by a striking contrast—lush green hills gradually giving way to rugged, snow-clad peaks and barren alpine terrain.
To make the scenic route accessible to visitors, the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation operates a daily sightseeing tour to Rohtang Pass from Mall Road, Manali at an affordable fare. Additionally, the Himachal Road Transport Corporation also runs an eco-friendly Himtarang electric bus service on the same route, offering a sustainable and budget-friendly travel option.
Geography
The pass provides a natural divide between the Kullu Valley with a primarily Hindu culture, and the arid high-altitude Lahaul and Spiti valleys with a Buddhist culture. The pass lies on the watershed between the Chenab and Beas basins. On the southern side of this pass, the Beas River emerges from underground and flows southward and on its northern side, the Chandra River, a source stream of the river Chenab, flows westward.Overview
The pass is open from May to November. It is not particularly high or difficult to cross on foot by Himalayan standards, but it has a well-deserved reputation for being dangerous because of unpredictable snowstorms and blizzards.This pass is an ancient trade route between the people on either side of Pir Panjal. There are many other passes in Lahaul and Spiti which have specific names. This is suggestive of the fact that this must have been the oldest and most frequented pass in the region, or the fact that it is the main pass leading from one cultural region to another, quite different one, to the north. The name Rohtang comes from Persian/ Farsi words Ruh+ Tang which means pile of dead bodies.
The former National Highway 21, the road through the Kullu Valley, terminates at Manali. The road northwards over the Rohtang Pass to Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti district and on to Leh in Ladakh is not a national highway. Nonetheless, the Leh-Manali Highway has become very busy during the summer months as an alternate military route since the Kargil Conflict in 1999. Traffic jams are common as military vehicles, trucks, and goods carriers try to navigate the tight roads and rough terrain, compounded by snow and ice at certain points and the large number of tourist vehicles.
Several episodes of the History Channel's Ice Road Truckers series spinoff IRT Deadliest Roads dealt with truckers crossing the Rohtang Pass to deliver supplies. With increase in Traffic at Rohtang Valley, environmentalists fear its impact on the fragile mountain ecology. A rise in average temperature, and the consequent melting of glaciers, are also issues of severe concern.