Manali, the picturesque tourist town of Himachal Pradesh, witnessed an extraordinary surge in tourist arrivals over the extended weekend. According to official traffic data collated over three days, more than 7,000 tourist vehicles entered the town, signalling a strong revival of travel sentiment in the hill state.
The influx began steadily on Thursday, with over 1,550 vehicles arriving in Manali. The numbers witnessed a sharp spike on Friday, nearly doubling to touch the 3,000 mark. The momentum continued on Saturday, with approximately 2,500 vehicles making their way into the popular mountain retreat. By Sunday, the arrival figures moderated, settling around 1,500 vehicles as the weekend cycle shifted towards tourist departures compared to fresh arrivals.
The heavy inflow has provided a much-needed boost to the local hospitality sector. Premium and standard hotels in Manali recorded a rise in occupancy rates, climbing from 70 per cent to 75 per cent. Tourism stakeholders expressed satisfaction with the footfall, noting that visitors arrived from neighbouring states as well as various districts within Himachal Pradesh.
However, tourists and local business operators alike are awaiting the restoration of the Rohtang Pass, which remains officially closed for tourist movement at present. The Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Manali, Gunjit Singh Cheema, confirmed that tourists would soon be permitted to travel up to Marhi.
He stated that the Border Roads Organisation is actively working to restore the road up to Rohtang Pass, and once cleared, arrangements to facilitate tourist movement will be implemented immediately. Currently, visitors are paying substantial mountain bike charges to reach the snow point from Koksar.
The craving for snow remained the primary draw over the weekend, leading to massive traffic build-ups. On Sunday, the number of tourist vehicles at Koksar crossed the 2,500-mark. The congestion resulted in a three- to four-kilometre-long line of parked vehicles stretching from the two turns at Koksar up to Gramphoo. Tourists made the most of the pleasant weather, enjoying the thick snow cover. Local tourism businessmen Dalip and Vikram remarked that Saturday saw a fair-like gathering at the Koksar snow point, with visitors frolicking in the snow throughout the day.
The administration also issued a critical safety advisory for travellers heading towards the Shinkula Pass in Lahaul-Spiti. Officials stressed that the journey should only be undertaken in 4×4 vehicles because the road is covered in slippery, compacted snow, posing a constant risk of accidents. Traffic movement at both Rohtang Pass and Shinkula Pass remained smooth on Sunday. Meanwhile, Manali experienced light drizzling on Sunday afternoon, while higher peaks received a fresh spell of mild snowfall.
