Astounding Rohtang

High up on the Pir Panjal Range in the lofty Himalayas, Rohtang Pass was the highlight of our Manali vacation. This ancient mountain pass is about 50 kilometers from Manali on the Manali – Leh highway and is a must-experience if you go that side. 

I’m told that this place is open for just about 6 months of the year. It was in the first week of September, 2006 that we there, so you know for sure that if you go around that time of the annum, you might get to go up there too. It is an awe-inspiring drive; the road trip from Manali: Narrow roads that snake through conifers, the scene only getting better with the altitude, little waterfalls, a few tea stalls here and there and no habitation for stretches. The air is cool, the drive is slow and since we had gone when the rainy season was just getting done, we saw some minor land slides, uprooted trees and damaged roads on the way. 

If you want to go right up to the top and maybe find some snow, there are awarm clothes and snow boots that you can borrow for a fee. Halfway up Rohtang Pass you will have to get out of your cars and shift to a horseback ascent. Go further up and you will have to depend on your own two legs to take you all the way up the rocky mountain. How much ever you can climb, you can be sure of to see astounding sceneries. The higher the better. 

I’ll just stop here and let the pictures talk for themselves.