The picturesque hill town of Manali is currently grappling with relentless traffic chaos, transforming a winter getaway into a nightmare for thousands of visitors. With the Christmas and New Year season at its peak, the influx of tourists, a significant number escaping the toxic air of Delhi, has brought vehicular movement in and around Manali to a standstill.
Unprecedented Vehicle Influx Overwhelms Roads
Official data paints a stark picture of the congestion. According to the tourism department, an average of 1,000 vehicles from outside Himachal Pradesh are entering Manali every single day. This number surges dramatically to between 1,200 and 1,350 on weekends. A staggering statistic reveals that over 15,500 out-of-state vehicles reached Manali between December 1 and December 15 alone. This massive influx is directly triggering long, interminable traffic jams at key locations.
The worst-affected areas include the main entrance to Manali town, the road leading to the historic Hadimba Temple, the lanes of Old Manali, and the villages of Prini, Aleo, and Vashisht. The situation is equally dire on the highway heading towards the iconic Atal Tunnel and Rohtang Pass, with social media flooded with videos of chaotic snarls on the winding mountain roads.
Tourist Dreams of Snow Dashed by Gridlock
For many tourists, the journey has been deeply disappointing. Last weekend, thousands, including numerous Delhi residents, found themselves stuck in a massive traffic jam near Gramphu while heading to Rohtang Pass in hopes of witnessing snowfall. Arun Mohan, a resident of Gurgaon visiting with his family, expressed his frustration: "I came here hoping to witness snowfall and to get away from the terrible AQI of Delhi but all I am getting in Manali are huge traffic jams and no snow. I am really disappointed."
This disappointment is compounded by the lack of significant snowfall this season, leaving tourists who braved the jams empty-handed. The rush is anticipated to skyrocket further from December 20, putting additional strain on the already crippled infrastructure.
Administration Scrambles for Traffic Management Plan
Facing a crisis, the local administration has made traffic management its top priority. Rohit Sharma, the Kullu District Tourism Development Officer, stated that a meeting chaired by the Deputy Commissioner was held to formulate a strategy. "Police officers say a traffic plan will soon be implemented to prevent traffic snarls. Additional forces will be deployed to manage traffic in and around Manali," Sharma confirmed.
The problem is not confined to Manali. Traffic jams are also a daily hassle in the serene Tirthan Valley and on the NH-305 from Aut to Jalori Jot in Kullu's Banjar subdivision. Local hotelier Panki Sood from Tirthan Valley criticized the state of the highway, calling it "the worst highway in the country" and stating that travelling there is "nothing short of a nightmare." He highlighted the long-pending demands for road repair and widening that have gone unheeded, causing suffering for both locals and tourists.
The administration has extended permission for 4x4 vehicles to move towards Rohtang Pass until December 28, 2025, after reviewing the route's condition. Meanwhile, the weather department has predicted light rain and snowfall in the higher reaches of districts like Chamba, Kullu, and Lahaul Spiti on December 20-21, which may temporarily ease pollution concerns but could complicate traffic further. The region is bracing for the peak holiday rush, hoping the promised traffic measures will bring some relief to the gridlocked hills.
