Manali to Rohtang Pass with the Right Permit

Rohtang Pass needs a little more preparation than most day trips from Manali. It is about 51 km by road from Mall Road, but the permit, checkpoints and mountain traffic matter as much as the distance. Keep two to three hours each way and most of the day free.

Arrange the vehicle permit before making any fixed plan around snow or arrival time. Once that is in place, the drive becomes much easier to enjoy.

Arrange the permit before the rest of the day

Every vehicle going to Rohtang Pass for sightseeing needs a permit for the chosen date. Apply through the Rohtang permit portal and carry a printed copy in the car. A phone screenshot is useful as a backup, but it does not replace the printout required at the checkpoint.

The one-day tourism permit covers a visit to the pass and the return journey. The normal daily limit is 800 petrol vehicles and 400 diesel vehicles. Half the permits are released at 10 am and the remaining half at 4 pm, with dates opening only for the next two days.

For a car, jeep or MUV, the portal currently lists Rs 500 for the permit and Rs 50 as the congestion charge. These amounts were checked on 22 September 2026 and can change, so confirm the total before paying.

Keep the following ready before you begin the application:

• A valid identity document
• The vehicle registration details
• A valid pollution certificate
• The driver's details and the date of travel

The current rules do not allow a vehicle more than ten years old. Make sure the names, registration number and travel date match the documents you will carry. The portal also has a separate special-permit section with different limits. Do not choose it simply because a normal slot is unavailable; use the category that fits the journey shown on the application page.

Do not assume that Rohtang closes on the same weekday throughout the season. Maintenance days can change. Check the date shown on the permit page before paying and once again before leaving Manali.

The old pass road climbs through Gulaba and Marhi

Use Rohtang Pass as the destination. From Manali, the road climbs past Kothi towards the Gulaba check barrier, then continues through the Marhi side before reaching the pass.

This is the old pass road. It does not go through the Atal Tunnel. A map may show a journey time close to two hours, but a permit check, a slow queue or changing weather can easily lengthen it. Allow two to three hours from central Manali and keep the same margin for the return.

Leave early enough to make the climb without watching the clock. The right departure time can change with the day's traffic controls, so confirm it with the driver or your host on the previous evening.

A taxi is the simpler choice for most guests

A return taxi is usually the easiest way to visit Rohtang when you would rather not manage the vehicle rules yourself. Before agreeing to the trip, ask whether the quote includes the Rohtang permit, congestion charge, waiting time, parking and the full return to your hotel.

Taxi prices can change with the approved local tariff, vehicle type and season. Ask to see the current fare chart and agree on the complete amount before departure. A low quote that leaves the permit or waiting charge unclear can make the morning unnecessarily awkward.

If you are taking your own car, complete the permit in advance and carry the original vehicle documents with the printout. Check the tyres, fuel and weather conditions before leaving. A permit allows the journey; it does not guarantee that the road will remain open if conditions become unsafe.

Rohtang and Sissu are two different outings

Rohtang Pass sits high on the old mountain road above Gulaba and Marhi. Sissu lies in Lahaul on the route through the Atal Tunnel. They are not two stops on one simple circuit.

Choose Rohtang when the pass itself is the reason for the day and you are comfortable arranging the tourism permit. Choose the drive from Manali to Sissu when you want to cross the Atal Tunnel and spend time beside the Chandra River in Lahaul.

Solang Valley is another separate plan. It works well as a shorter half-day from Manali, while Rohtang needs more road time, a permit and a generous return margin.

Let the weather decide what the pass feels like

Rohtang is close to 3,978 metres above sea level. Even on a clear morning, the air can feel cold and the weather can turn quickly. Carry a warm outer layer, water, sun protection and any regular medicines in the car.

Walk slowly after arriving and keep the first stop gentle. If someone develops a persistent headache, dizziness, unusual breathlessness or feels unwell, return to a lower altitude and seek local medical help.

Do not make snow the promise of the day. Snow cover depends on recent weather, and snow clearance or a fresh spell can also bring new restrictions. The wide mountain views and the climb through the upper valley are part of the outing even when there is no fresh snow beside the road.

Stay within open visitor areas, keep away from traffic lanes and unstable snow edges, and bring every wrapper back with you. If the police or road team asks vehicles to turn around, accept the change without trying to find another way through.

Keep eight to ten hours for the outing

A comfortable Rohtang day from Manali usually needs eight to ten hours from departure to return.

• Keep two to three hours for the climb.
• Leave one to two hours for safe stops and time at the pass.
• Keep two to three hours for the return.
• Hold the remaining time as a buffer for the permit barrier, traffic and a meal stop.

Carry the printed permit, identity document, vehicle papers, pollution certificate, water, a warm layer, sun protection, comfortable shoes, medicines and some cash. Start back while there is still a useful daylight margin, especially when cloud or traffic begins to build.

If you are still arranging the wider stay, the Manali destination page will help you separate the town walks, Solang, Sissu and Rohtang into days that feel spacious rather than hurried. Our guide to reaching Manali is useful when the arrival and departure journey still needs to be fitted around them.

Photograph: Himalayas from Rohtang Pass by Aman Gupta, taken on 24 May 2009. Centre-cropped, resized and converted to WebP by 2050 XP. The photograph and this adapted version are available under CC BY-SA 3.0.