Category: Travel & Tourism
Rohtang Pass is still open for tourists in early November 2026, but the season is near its end. As of the morning of 6 November 2026, the pass was open with a permit required and snow cover present, while the Atal Tunnel was clear.
This is a road-status and permit guide for November. For a general Manali trip plan, read our earlier Manali in November guide.
Current status
As of 2 November 2026, no official order closing Rohtang Pass for the 2026–27 winter had been issued, and the official permit portal showed no closure notice. The pass reopened for the 2026 season on 17 May 2026 and usually stays open until the first heavy snow, generally in late November. One storm can shut the top for a day, so check the portal and local news on the morning of travel.
Fresh snow fell at the Atal Tunnel north portal and Sissu on 15 and 25 October 2026. The Atal Tunnel itself stays open through the year, except for rare closures for maintenance or extreme weather at the portals.
Rohtang permit: fee, quota and booking
A permit is needed for vehicles going to Rohtang Pass as tourists. The permit system was set up by the National Green Tribunal to control the number of vehicles and reduce environmental damage at the pass.
- Fee: ₹550 per light vehicle (₹500 permit fee + ₹50 congestion charge). Buses and heavy vehicles pay a higher congestion charge.
- Daily quota: 1,200 vehicles a day — 800 petrol and 400 diesel.
- Booking: Online only, at rohtangpermits.hp.gov.in. Permits are released twice a day, at 10 AM and 4 PM, each release holding roughly 400 petrol and 200 diesel permits.
- Note: The portal moved to rohtangpermits.hp.gov.in from the older rohtangpermits.nic.in address. Check the portal for the weekly maintenance day, as it can change.
If the quota is full, try the next date, try the 4 PM release, or visit Solang Valley instead — no permit is needed there and it offers a similar snow experience, 14 km from Manali.
Atal Tunnel: no permit needed
The Atal Tunnel is 9.02 km long and connects the south portal near Dhundi, on the Manali side, to the north portal at Sissu in Lahaul Valley. It bypasses Rohtang Pass entirely and needs no permit. If your destination is Lahaul Valley, Spiti Valley or Leh, use the tunnel — it saves about 4 to 5 hours compared with the old Rohtang road.
For entry into Lahaul, register on the e-Aagman portal. A SADA entry fee also applies for Lahaul entry.
What to keep in mind
Rohtang Pass is 3,978 metres (13,050 feet) high. After heavy snow, the district administration can stop tourist traffic beyond Solang Nala or allow only 4×4 vehicles. In past years, the pass has closed to tourist vehicles between early October and early December, and reopened in May.
Check the official permit portal on the morning of travel, carry warm clothing, and keep the Atal Tunnel as a backup if Rohtang is shut or sold out.
Sources: dharamshalastay.com status check, 2 November 2026; chalomanali.com live status, 6 November 2026; IANS photos of snowfall, 15 and 25 October 2026.
