Escape into an icy cold region of the Himalayas

In the blistering heat of the hot Indian summers an escape into an icy cold region of the Himalayas would be blissful to both body and soul. Travelling to a place like this would also provide a much needed break from the busy and hectic schedules that most people have throughout the year. It pumps in the much needed zeal and enthusiasm in which provides people the energy to go back to their daily jobs.

-->

Rohtang-Pass

Rohtang Pass located in the Himalayas provides all this along with an action packed adventure holiday. Located at a distance of 51 kms from Manali, it lies between Lahaul, Spiti and Leh sectors. Traffic is open from May/June to October/November every year and during rest of the year the roads are eaten up due to the heavy snowfall in the area. The snow cover makes it impossible to cross the mountain pass because of the heavy debris of snow that is deposited.

The pass has the heritage of being an important trade route connecting Kulu valley to Lahaul Spiti and it further goes upto Tibet. This route has been in existence for a long period of time. Rohtang Pass is also significant because it lies at the crossroads of Kulu valley/district to Lahaul and Spiti district.

History

The pass has been a historic trade route for the people residing on both sides of the Pir Panjal. The local name for Rohtang pass can be called to be generic name by which a pass is known. There are many other passes which have particular names. This suggests that this pass is one of the oldest and most significant passes of the region with a major historical and geographical significance.

Pir-Panjal

Location

Rohtang Pass lies at an altitude of 3,978 mts or 13,051 ft. The view of the mountain range offered from this pass is panoramic and breathtaking. There are beautiful sights of glaciers, peaks of mountains and the Chandra River flowing down the Lahaul valley. Just at the left of Rohtang pass are the twin peaks of Geypan. Located at a distance of 51 kms from Manali it lies between Lahaul, Spiti and Leh sectors. During the summers (mid June to October) there is regular bus service between Manali to Keylong/Darcha, Udaipur, Spiti and Leh. The best time to visit Rohtang is between May/June to October/November.

Chandra-River

Rohtang can be easily reached by the roads of Kulu and Manali valleys. Car rental vehicles are also available to cover the entire trip from Manali to Rohtang. Bus tours are also available which ply on a daily basis. It is roughly 2-3 hours drive from Manali to Rohtang Pass due to the sloping terrain and narrow mountain roads.

-->

Jallori-Manali-Rohtang

Where To Stay

There is no such hotel at Rohtang due to the arid and harsh climates. But a variety of accommodation options are available at Manali ranging from traditional hotels to amazing homestay properties. There are also several reputed hotel chains available at Manali. It is pretty easy to find quality accommodation at Manali at affordable prices. The hotels in Manali are not as expensive as that in most metro cities. But for affordable prices one can get quality accommodation, good food and hygienic arrangements.

Green-Manali-Cottage

Government hotels owned by HPDTC are also present in Manali. There are some very good Homestays in Manali that offers good service at value for money. Apart from this there are also several Eco-resorts in Manali that offer good service and proper arrangements.

Religious Significance

Rohtang Pass is of religious significance to both Hindus and Buddhists because of “Beas Kund” origin of the Beas River. It is denoted by an Igloo shaped temple. However this “Beas Kund” should not be confused with another a 4-6 hours trek from Palchan “Beas Kund” where it is found in a Lake. Two streams rise from these two sources which gives rise to the Beas River. This place is also of deep religious significance to Buddhists. Moving further along the road one can find a Buddhist shrine with many colourful flags adorning its structure.

Beas-Kund

Landscape

The landscape at Rohtang Pass comprises of rocky terrain or smooth snowy landscapes. It all depends on which time of the year one decides to visits this Pass. It is probably one of the few Passes in the world where people love going to rather than going through! The snowy landscapes Rohtang presents are one to watch out for as it makes for a breathtaking sight.

Landscape-Rothang

Route (Manali – 12 kms – Palchn – 5 kms – Kothi – 20 kms – Marhi – 10 kms – Rohtang Top)

Palchn is 12 kms from Manali.From Palchn it is 5 kms to Kothi and a further 20 kms Marhi and finally 10 kms to the top of Rohtang. The ascending starts soon after leaving Manali and the road is quite smooth and even till Marhi. Kothi is the last place on this route where people can stay. The only guest houses available are that of PWD or the Forest department. One should try to move from Manali as early in the morning possible as there are traffic congestion problems during the day and the cars move at snail’s pace at daytime.

Rothang-Pass-Road

Also the scenic view offered during this road-trip is quite majestic and one can observe the gradual change of flora from a greenish outlook to a more barren form somewhere before Marhi. Marhi is the last and largest outpost that lies on this stretch of road. There are quite a few dhabas and roadside teashops available here.

-->

Top Tourist Places In Rohtang

Jagat Sukh

It is located at a distance of 6 kms from Manali and lies on the road to Naggar on the left bank of the Beas River. This place is well known for the ancient temples of Lord Shiva and Sandhya Gayatri built in the Shukhara style. These are a major tourist attraction.

Jagatsukh-nala-and-Dam-construction

Arjun Gufa

It lies 4kms from Naggar toward Manali. This village is located near Prini village. This has an appealing view and high mountains.

Arjun-Gufa-kullu-Manali

Solang Valley

It is a valley between Solan village and Beas Kund. It offers sceneries of glaciers, ice topped mountains and peaks. There is also a mountaineering school present in this part. In this school training on trekking, mountain climbing and skiing is imparted. An annual winter skiing festival is also held here.

Solang-Valley

Vashist

Hot water springs are found here in Vashist with sulphur and hot water springs. Vashist is a small village that lies here. It is located on the left side of the river Beas towards Rohtang Pass. There is also a stone temple in the form of a pyramid that is dedicated primarily to Vashist Muni an ancient Hindu saint. A nearby temple of Lord Ram is also located here.

Vashist-Hot-water-springs

Things To Do

One can try a host of activities ranging from skiing, paragliding and other mountain sports offered in the surrounding areas. Paragliding tours are offered at Marhi which can enable one to fly in the skies and kiss the clouds. Besides the road-trip on this rocky terrain is quite an adventure in itself. The car ride can get really bumpy at times so one should be prepared to a jerky ride. One could for shopping at Manali with all sorts of articles and merchandise up for grabs. One of the specialties at Manali is the Tibetan food which should be a delight for anyone with taste buds. The local Himachali wine shops are also worth a try as the wines sold here are pretty delightful and refreshing after a long day of sightseeing. If one goes a few kilometers extra beyond Rohtang the view that is available is mind blowing.

View-of-Rohtang-Pass

All in all Rohtang provides an excellent getaway from the daily hassles of day to day life. The scenic view along with the quality of living is amazing. It is a perfect holiday destination for someone looking for a quiet yet adventurous holiday. For the people interested in trekking it offers sloppy mountain a lot of which is often covered in ice. For others who like to be in peaceful environment the streets of Manali are perfect for a lazy evening walk or an early morning stroll.

Rohtang has a bit for everyone and anyone who visits here is bound to fall in love with this place. The sprawling greens in contrast to the snowy white mountains are bound to make people feel closer to heaven. Quite startling is the sudden change in scenery from green pastures to the arid barren lands is startling to the human eye. The mystic beauty of this place is surely a photographer’s delight. So if anyone wants to escape to a weekend of bliss then Rohtang is surely the place to go to.

Ladakh tourism:The Hemis Festival in Leh

Hemis Monastery is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Ladakh (in the northern state of Jammu and Kashmir). Located 45 km from Leh, the 300 year old monastery is home to the famous Hemis festival which falls in June or July every year.

Hemis-festival-Leh

History of the festival

The Hemis Festival is celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava who founded Tantric Buddhism in Tibet. Also known as Second Buddha, the festival is of huge importance to those celebrating.

Hemis is celebrated on the 10th day of the Tibetan lunar month in the Hemis Monastery, the largest Buddhist monastery in Ladakh.

Hemis-festival

The ceremonies begin with an early morning ritual atop the Gompa where, to the beat of drums and the resounding clash of cymbals and wail of pipes, the portrait of the sacred Guru Rinpoche (another name for the Guru) is brought forward so that all devotees can take blessings.

The most esoteric of festivities are the mystic mask dances. The Mask Dances of Ladakh are referred collectively as chams Performance.

Hemis-festival-mask

At the Festival

A bevy of locals and tourists alike are seen making a beeline in local buses and cabs to the cosy monastery, clearly not equipped to handle the massive surge of humanity. Many travellers also camp outside the night before to get early entry and row side seats to the wonderful traditional dances.

Masks and monks-Hemis-Festival

Masked lamas perform elaborate dances, special music performances and commentaries in front of a large but intimate crowd. The half day ceremony is watched in awe by thousands. As a spectator try and get a seat as close to the main courtyard. These fill fast, so arrive at the festival as early as 7 in the morning. Tickets are available for Rs 500/- to sit very close to the performance. It is a great experience to sit and watch this marvellous show with the locals. They too, come dressed in their traditional cummerbunds and head gear for this annual ceremony.

Hemis-masks-festival

Outside the monastery, the ambience is nothing short of a fair. Local food, artefacts and knick-knacks are on display. This is a good occasion to pick up local handicrafts as all merchants come and display their wares at the festival.

Things To Do in Ladakh

Some of the most stunning landscapes in India can be found in one place, Ladakh where there are many natural wonders. The tricky terrain of Ladakh has kept it a secret from tourists until recently. Now it stands as one of the most enchanting locales in the country with some of the finest experiences this spectacular land has to offer and plenty of places for tourists to explore.

1. A True Attraction

One of the most intriguing occurrences in the world is the Magnetic Hill in Ladakh, which is located 30 kilometres from Leh. Here, switched off vehicles move up a steep mountain at the speed of 20 kilometres/hour. The ride is an unbelievable, almost magical experience.

2. Trekking Trails

Trekking in Ladakh is an exceptional and incomparable experience. Choose from all-day treks as well as shorter ones to manoeuvre mountain slopes and reach a remote village or monastery. Longer treks can last up to 21 days and sometimes even more. These spectacular but testing trans-mountain journeys will offer up some of the most dazzling landscapes in the world and involve camping in the middle of nowhere. Treks limited to the Indus Valley, are possible to arrange in May and other routes are safe and accessible after July. A route called Chaddar is considered one the world’s most exciting trekking trails. Irrespective of what trail you choose, prior arrangements and supplies are essential. The terrain is tricky and deceptive, and you should not make the mistake of underestimating the conditions.

Trekking in Ladakh

3. River Rafting

Rafting options are widely available on River Indus and many of its tributaries. The stretch between Spituk and Saspol is the most suitable for rides and the ideal location for tourists to experience the sport without pushing their luck. Beyond Saspol, even ardent adventure seekers would require highly skilled professionals to guide the journey. The most tumultuous route is between Padum and Nimo. To take on this journey, advance preparation is imperative. Even with professional guides and participants, rescue crews are a pre-requisite when taking on the mighty Zanskar.

The-Indus-River

4. Photographer’s Paradise

Ladakh is considered one of the most stunning places in India for photography, if not the best. Even though, or perhaps because it was, opened to the general public only in 1974, it is not over-exposed and has mystique. In just the last decade its elusive beauty has become the toast of the film making and photography world. Photographers brave the long journey to reach far flung corners of Ladakh and capture its unreal beauty of film. Ladakh’s natural terrain resembles lunar landscapes with spurts of azure pools set within golden mountain-sides. To take back images of the local life in Ladakh, opt for one of the communal homestays here. These are homestays where the entire village operates as a team to promote eco-tourism. These native villagers have access to the beautiful local monasteries and by staying with them you can obtain an insider’s view into rituals and festivals; a priceless experience.

Paradise

5. Drives of a lifetime

A trip to Ladakh is incomplete if one hasn’t driven on the Manali-Leh route. This journey is possible the best part of a trip to Ladakh. The journey is set along breath-taking locales. Driving isn’t the only option of undertaking this journey, private taxis can also be hired in Manali to reach Leh. More often than not, taxi drivers can be cajoled into letting guests take the wheel. The route of Delhi-Manali-Leh is significantly longer than a Delhi-Leh flight. But without a shadow of a doubt it is worth the extra time and money spent. Another unbelievable driving route is in Khardungla. At 18380 above sea level this the highest motorable road in the world and offers the most splendid and incomparable vistas to visitors.

Mountain range Ladakh

6. Life in Leh

Leh is famous for the Victory Peak, which was built in the 16th century by King Tashi Namgyal. A very important religious and historical monument Leh’s Sunni Mosque that is over 400 years old. Other than due to its age, the mosque is important because it a rare amalgam of Islamic and Tibetan architecture. Most Buddhist monasteries in Leh can be covered within two days. An idyllic way to experience the real life and culture of Leh is by living with a local family. Many families have opened their homes to visitors as homestays. By staying with them, one can experience Leh’s rich culture through food, music, and conversation as well as learn about their history through elders who have lived it first-hand.