# Rohtang Pass & Atal Tunnel Status 2026: Open or Closed, Permit, Timings

> Is Rohtang Pass open or closed today? Our dated status page for Rohtang and the Atal Tunnel: the position on 26 October 2026, how the official Rohtang permit works (fee, daily quota, booking slots, documents), Atal Tunnel winter rules, when Rohtang usually closes and reopens, how to check live, and what to do near Manali when it is shut.

- **URL:** https://www.dharamshalastay.com/blog/rohtang-pass-atal-tunnel-status
- **Category:** Transport
- **Published:** 2026-10-26
- **Updated:** 2026-10-26
- **Author:** Dharamshala Stay Team
- **Image:** https://www.dharamshalastay.com/images/places/atal-tunnel.jpg (Portal building of the Atal Tunnel, Rohtang, with the curving approach road and bare mountains on a clear day)

**Short answer:** As of **26 October 2026**, we found **no official order closing Rohtang Pass for the 2026-27 winter**, and the official permit portal showed no closure notice. But winter has started up there: fresh snow fell at the **Atal Tunnel north portal and Sissu on 15 and 25 October 2026** (IANS photos). In past years Rohtang has closed to tourist vehicles between **early October and early December**, and reopened in **May**. Before you go, check the official permit portal, rohtangpermits.hp.gov.in, and local news on the morning of travel.

![The upper Kullu valley of the Beas near Palchan, on the Manali road towards Solang, the Atal Tunnel and Rohtang](https://www.dharamshalastay.com/images/places/kullu-valley.jpg)

We update this page when the status changes. Every line in the status log below gives a date and a source. Planning a winter trip? Read our [Manali in December and January guide](https://www.dharamshalastay.com/blog/manali-in-december-january) as well.

## Rohtang Pass and Atal Tunnel: Quick Facts

| Question | Answer | Source / status |
|---|---|---|
| Status on 26 October 2026 | No official 2026-27 winter closure order found; no notice on the permit portal | Our check, 26 Oct 2026 |
| Altitude of Rohtang Pass | About 3,980 m (13,058 ft) | Wikipedia; HimTimes, May 2026 |
| Distance from Manali | About 50 km (The Tribune calls it the 50-km Manali-Rohtang route) | The Tribune, 17 May 2026 |
| Permit needed? | Yes, for vehicles going beyond the Gulaba barrier. Online only | rohtangpermits.hp.gov.in |
| Permit fee | ₹500 per vehicle, plus a congestion charge of ₹50 (car, jeep, MUV) or ₹100 (bus, HMV) | Official portal, checked 26 Oct 2026 |
| Daily quota (tourism permit) | 800 petrol and 400 diesel vehicles, 1,200 in all | Official portal |
| Booking slots | 10:00 and 16:00, each releasing 400 petrol and 200 diesel permits | Official portal |
| Weekly closure | The Tribune (4 May 2026) reported Tuesdays closed for BRO maintenance; the portal showed "NONE" as the maintenance day when we checked | Conflicting: check when you book |
| Atal Tunnel | 9.02 km long; south portal about 25 km north of Manali | Wikipedia |
| Usual closing | Between early October (early snow, 2025) and early December (2024) | The Tribune |
| Usual reopening | May (Marhi 4 May 2026; beyond Rahni Nala 17 May 2026) | The Tribune |

## Is Rohtang Pass open or closed today?

**On 26 October 2026: not officially closed, as far as we could find, but in the early-snow window.** Here is what we checked:

- **The official permit portal** (rohtangpermits.hp.gov.in, run by the Kullu district administration) was online and listed Rohtang, Special Rohtang and Hamta Pass permits. It showed no closure notice. The booking page returned an error when we tried it, so we could not see slot availability.
- **The Kullu district website** (hpkullu.nic.in) links to the permit portal but had no Rohtang notice.
- **News:** IANS photos show fresh snow and tourists at the Atal Tunnel north portal on 15 and 25 October 2026. We found no report of a Rohtang closure order in October 2026.

**Why it is uncertain:** in 2025 early snow closed Rohtang on **9 October** (The Tribune), and the pass was later open again until the end of November (India.com, 24 November 2025). One snowfall can shut it for a day or for the season. If Rohtang is the main point of your trip, keep a flexible day and check on the morning.

## Rohtang and Atal Tunnel status log

Newest first. "Tourist vehicles" means vehicles with a valid permit beyond Gulaba.

| Date | What happened | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 26 Oct 2026 | Our check: no closure notice on the permit portal or the Kullu district site; no 2026-27 closure order found | Official sites |
| 25 Oct 2026 | Snowfall at the Atal Tunnel north portal; tourists gathered there | IANS photos |
| 15 Oct 2026 | Fresh snow near the Atal Tunnel and Sissu | IANS photos |
| 22 May 2026 | Blizzard at Rohtang; tourist vehicles stopped at Marhi after 8 am; about 10 km jam; vehicles already past Marhi reached the pass | The Tribune, 23 May 2026 |
| 17 May 2026 | Tourist vehicles allowed up to the third curve beyond Rahni Nala (km 46.35) by order of the Kullu District Magistrate; barrier moved from Gulaba | The Tribune, 17 May 2026 |
| 4 May 2026 | Road open to traffic up to Marhi | The Tribune, 4 and 17 May 2026 |
| 3 Feb 2026 | Avalanche near the Snow Gallery at the Atal Tunnel north portal blocked NH-03 | News Arena India |
| 23 Jan 2026 | Heavy snow in Manali; only 4x4s allowed up to Solang Nala | The Tribune, 25 Jan 2026 |
| 1-2 Jan 2026 | Snow at the Atal Tunnel, Sissu, Solang, Rohtang, Marhi and Gulaba; tourist movement towards Rohtang suspended; traffic to the tunnel and Sissu restored later in the day | The Tribune, 2 Jan 2026; PTC News, 2 Jan 2026 |
| 25-26 Nov 2025 | Rohtang closed to vehicles for BRO work; pass to stay open until 30 November | India.com, 24 Nov 2025 |
| 9 Oct 2025 | Early snow closed Rohtang; barrier moved from Marhi to Gulaba; only four-wheelers allowed through the Atal Tunnel towards Lahaul | The Tribune, 9 Oct 2025 |
| 24 May 2025 | Rohtang reopened to tourists for the 2025 season | The Tribune, 17 May 2026 |
| 30 Nov 2024 | After a joint inspection, the Kullu ADM closed the road beyond Gulaba for the winter | The Tribune, 2 Dec 2024 |

## How does the Rohtang permit work?

The permit is for **the vehicle, not for each person**. It is needed to drive beyond the **Gulaba barrier** towards Rohtang. All permits are **online only**, at the official portal **rohtangpermits.hp.gov.in**, managed by the District Administration Kullu.

| Rule | What the official portal says (checked 26 Oct 2026) |
|---|---|
| Tourism permit | For any vehicle visiting Rohtang for tourism. Valid for one day, to and fro |
| Fee | ₹500 for car and jeep, MUV, and bus and HMV |
| Congestion charge | ₹50 (car, jeep, MUV) or ₹100 (bus, HMV) for every vehicle crossing Gulaba Bridge; valid for one day |
| Daily quota | 800 petrol and 400 diesel vehicles |
| Booking slots | 10:00 (400 petrol, 200 diesel) and 16:00 (400 petrol, 200 diesel) |
| How far ahead | Only for the next 2 days from the current date |
| Weekly limit | 3 permits per vehicle per week (Tuesday to Monday) |
| Documents | Valid ID proof, valid PUC (pollution) certificate, vehicle registration date |
| Vehicle age | Not more than 10 years |
| Printout | Compulsory. Details on the permit must match your documents or you will be turned back at the barrier |
| Special Rohtang permit | For private vehicles only: 60 petrol and 40 diesel vehicles a day, issued once per vehicle per season |

**In practice:** most visitors without their own car go with a Manali taxi whose driver arranges the permit. Confirm in writing that the permit is included in the price and which day it is for.

**About Tuesdays:** for years Rohtang has been closed to tourist vehicles on Tuesdays for road maintenance, and The Tribune repeated this on 4 May 2026. The portal's information page, however, showed the maintenance day as "NONE" when we checked. Check the day when you book your permit.

The same portal also issues **Hamta Pass** permits.

## What are the Atal Tunnel timings and rules?

We found **no official fixed opening hours** for tourists at the Atal Tunnel. It is an all-weather road tunnel, but in winter the police and district administration decide each day how far tourist vehicles may go. Recent restrictions:

| Rule | When and who | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Only four-wheelers through the tunnel towards Lahaul | After early snow, October 2025; Manali police | The Tribune, 9 Oct 2025 |
| Vehicles stopped at Solang Nala; only emergency vehicles beyond | After snow, December 2024 | All India Radio, 24 Dec 2024 |
| Use 4x4s or vehicles with snow chains; no night driving (black ice) | Lahaul-Spiti Deputy Commissioner, December 2024 | The Tribune, 31 Dec 2024 |
| Cross towards Lahaul early (by 8 am, the DC said) and leave for Manali before 2 pm | Same advisory | The Tribune, 31 Dec 2024 |
| Only 4x4s up to Solang Nala | Heavy snow, 23 January 2026 | The Tribune, 25 Jan 2026 |

**No permit is needed for the Atal Tunnel itself.** The Rohtang permit applies only to the old pass road beyond Gulaba.

**Sissu:** the village beyond the north portal is the usual snow stop in Lahaul. In 2025 the Sissu gram panchayat banned tourism activities in its area from mid-January to 28 February for religious ceremonies (The Tribune, January 2025). No notice for early 2027 had been published on 26 October 2026.

## When does Rohtang close and reopen each year?

**Closing:** usually by late November or early December, and sometimes much earlier after snow. Dated examples:

- **2024:** closed beyond Gulaba after an inspection on 30 November (The Tribune).
- **2025:** shut by early snow on 9 October, about a month ahead of the usual time, then open again until 30 November (The Tribune; India.com).

**Reopening:** in **May**, once the Border Roads Organisation has cleared the snow walls, in stages:

- **2025:** Rohtang reopened to tourists on **24 May** (The Tribune).
- **2026:** open to **Marhi from 4 May**, to beyond **Rahni Nala (km 46.35) from 17 May**, with BRO still clearing snow walls of 5 to 20 feet (The Tribune). Some travel sites give 15 or 17 May as the full opening; we did not find an official notice of the exact date.

## How can you check Rohtang and Atal Tunnel status live?

1. **Official Rohtang permit portal:** rohtangpermits.hp.gov.in. If permits are on sale for your date, the road is planned to be open. Closures after fresh snow can still happen on the day.
2. **District Kullu:** hpkullu.nic.in, for orders on the Manali-Rohtang road.
3. **District Lahaul and Spiti:** hplahaulspiti.nic.in. Its "Road Status" page was last updated in May 2024 when we checked, so do not rely on it alone.
4. **Local news:** The Tribune's Himachal pages carry most Kullu and Lahaul road orders within a day.
5. **Weather:** check the India Meteorological Department's Himachal forecasts and warnings before going high.
6. **Your hotel or driver in Manali:** they hear about police barriers first.
7. **Emergencies:** 112 (national emergency), 108 (ambulance), 1077 (disaster helpline, listed on the Lahaul-Spiti district site).

## What can you do if Rohtang is closed?

- **Solang Nala** (about 14 km from Manali): skiing, snow tubing, snow scooters and paragliding when there is snow. See our [Manali winter guide](https://www.dharamshalastay.com/blog/manali-in-december-january).
- **Gulaba and Kothi:** snow points on the Rohtang road below the barrier, when police allow vehicles that far.
- **Atal Tunnel and Sissu:** when the tunnel road is open to tourists. Go early and in a 4x4 after snow.
- **Manali itself:** Old Manali, Hidimba Devi temple and Vashisht.
- **Change your route:** if you are coming from Dharamshala, spend the spare day in Bir or Palampur on the way. Our [Dharamshala to Manali guide](https://www.dharamshalastay.com/blog/dharamshala-to-manali) covers the route, and our [Delhi, Dharamshala and Manali itinerary](https://www.dharamshalastay.com/blog/himachal-itinerary-delhi-dharamshala-manali) shows how to fit it all in.

**Need transport or a room?** [Book a taxi from Dharamshala or McLeod Ganj to Manali](https://www.dharamshalastay.com/taxi/dharamshala-to-manali-taxi), see our [treks](https://www.dharamshalastay.com/treks) around Dharamshala, or stay a night in our checked [hotels in Dharamshala and McLeod Ganj](https://www.dharamshalastay.com/hotels) before the drive.

## What is confirmed and what is not (26 October 2026)

| Detail | Status |
|---|---|
| Permit fee, congestion charge, daily quota, booking slots, documents | Confirmed on the official portal, 26 Oct 2026 |
| Tuesday closure | Reported by The Tribune (May 2026); not shown on the portal (26 Oct 2026) |
| 2026 reopening in stages (Marhi 4 May, Rahni Nala 17 May) | Confirmed by The Tribune |
| Exact date the full pass reopened in 2026 | Not found in an official notice |
| Rohtang winter closure 2026-27 | **Not announced** as of 26 Oct 2026 |
| Winter rules for the Atal Tunnel 2026-27 | **Not yet issued**; past rules above |
| Snow at the Atal Tunnel north portal, October 2026 | Reported with IANS photos, 15 and 25 Oct |

## FAQs

**Is Rohtang Pass open or closed now?**
As of 26 October 2026 we found no official order closing Rohtang Pass for the 2026-27 winter, and the official permit portal showed no closure notice. Fresh snow fell near the Atal Tunnel on 15 and 25 October 2026, and in past years Rohtang has closed between early October and early December, so check rohtangpermits.hp.gov.in on the day.

**How do I get a Rohtang Pass permit?**
Online only, at the official portal rohtangpermits.hp.gov.in run by the Kullu district administration. The permit is for the vehicle and costs ₹500, plus a ₹50 congestion charge for cars, jeeps and MUVs. Permits are released at 10:00 and 16:00, can be booked only for the next two days, and you need ID, a valid PUC certificate and a printout. Vehicles must be under 10 years old.

**How many vehicles are allowed to Rohtang each day?**
The official portal lists a daily quota of 800 petrol and 400 diesel vehicles on the tourism permit, 1,200 in all, set under National Green Tribunal norms. A separate special permit for private vehicles allows 60 petrol and 40 diesel vehicles a day, once per vehicle per season.

**Is Rohtang Pass closed on Tuesdays?**
Traditionally yes, for road maintenance, and The Tribune reported a Tuesday closure for Border Roads Organisation work on 4 May 2026. However, the official permit portal showed the maintenance day as NONE when we checked on 26 October 2026, so confirm the day when you book your permit.

**Is the Atal Tunnel open in winter?**
The Atal Tunnel is an all-weather tunnel and stays in use in winter, but tourist access depends on daily police orders. After snow, police have stopped traffic at Solang Nala, allowed only four-wheelers or 4x4s, and advised snow chains, no night driving and an early return towards Manali. No permit is needed for the tunnel itself.

**When does Rohtang Pass open for tourists?**
Usually in May, in stages. In 2026 the road opened to Marhi on 4 May and to just beyond Rahni Nala (km 46.35) on 17 May. In 2025 Rohtang reopened to tourists on 24 May.

**What can I do near Manali if Rohtang is closed?**
Go to Solang Nala for snow activities such as skiing, tubing and snow scooters, visit Gulaba or Kothi if police allow vehicles that far, or cross the Atal Tunnel to Sissu when the road is open to tourists. In Manali itself, Old Manali, Hidimba Devi temple and Vashisht make an easy day.

## Sources

- [Rohtang Pass online permits, District Administration Kullu (official portal, checked 26 October 2026)](https://rohtangpermits.hp.gov.in/)
- [Rohtang permit fees, quota, booking slots and documents (official portal, checked 26 October 2026)](https://rohtangpermits.hp.gov.in/Home/InformatoryScreen)
- [Special Rohtang permit for private vehicles (official portal, checked 26 October 2026)](https://rohtangpermits.hp.gov.in/SpecialPermit/InformatoryScreen)
- [District Kullu official website (checked 26 October 2026)](https://hpkullu.nic.in/)
- [District Lahaul and Spiti, road status page (official, last updated May 2024; checked 26 October 2026)](https://hplahaulspiti.nic.in/road-status/)
- [Manali: Fresh snowfall near Atal Tunnel (IANS photos via Social News XYZ, 25 October 2026; checked 26 October 2026)](https://www.socialnews.xyz/2026/10/25/manali-fresh-snowfall-near-atal-tunnel-gallery-2/)
- [Manali: Fresh snowfall blankets Atal Tunnel and Sissu (IANS photos via Social News XYZ, 15 October 2026; checked 26 October 2026)](https://www.socialnews.xyz/2026/10/15/manali-fresh-snowfall-blankets-atal-tunnel-and-sissu-gallery)
- [Blizzard triggers traffic snarl, tourists stranded for hours at Rohtang Pass (The Tribune, 23 May 2026; checked 26 October 2026)](https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/himachal/blizzard-triggers-traffic-snarl-tourists-stranded-for-hours-at-rohtang-pass/)
- [Kullu administration eases access on Manali-Rohtang stretch, tourist rush returns (The Tribune, 17 May 2026; checked 26 October 2026)](https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/himachal/kullu-administration-eases-access-on-manali-rohtang-stretch-tourist-rush-returns/)
- [Rohtang route set to reopen up to Marhi (The Tribune, 4 May 2026; checked 26 October 2026)](https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/himachal/rohtang-route-set-to-reopen-up-to-marhi-tourists-to-get-snow-access/)
- [Snow-covered Rohtang stretch draws tourist rush to Manali (HimTimes, 18 May 2026; checked 26 October 2026)](https://himtimes.com/himachal-snow-covered-rohtang-stretch-draws-tourist-rush-to-manali/)
- [Avalanche shuts NH-03 near Atal Tunnel (News Arena India, 3 February 2026; checked 26 October 2026)](https://newsarenaindia.com/states/avalanche-shuts-nh-03-near-atal-tunnel/69113)
- [Snowfall transforms Manali into dazzling winter wonderland (The Tribune, 25 January 2026; checked 26 October 2026)](https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/himachal/snowfall-transforms-manali-into-dazzling-winter-wonderland/)
- [Rohtang Pass closed for tourists after fresh snowfall (PTC News, 2 January 2026; checked 26 October 2026)](https://www.ptcnews.tv/nation/rohtang-pass-closed-manali-snowfall-update-tourist-ban-atal-tunnel-traffic-solang-nala-traffic-jam-4419421)
- [Rohtang Pass to stay open until 30 November (India.com Hindi, 24 November 2025; checked 26 October 2026)](https://www.india.com/hindi-news/india-hindi/rohtang-pass-closing-date-announced-as-of-now-kullu-rohtang-pass-open-8197624/amp/)
- [Rohtang Pass closed to traffic after snowfall (The Tribune, 9 October 2025; checked 26 October 2026)](https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/himachal/rohtang-pass-closed-to-traffic-after-snowfall/)
- [Snow-clearance operations on key roads in Lahaul-Spiti district intensified: DC advisory (The Tribune, 31 December 2024; checked 26 October 2026)](https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/himachal/snow-clearance-operations-on-key-roads-in-lahaul-spiti-dist-intensified/)
- [Snow between Atal Tunnel and Solang Nala strands tourist vehicles (All India Radio News, 24 December 2024; checked 26 October 2026)](https://newsonair.gov.in/hi/%e0%a4%ae%e0%a4%a8%e0%a4%be%e0%a4%b2%e0%a5%80-%e0%a4%95%e0%a5%87-%e0%a4%85%e0%a4%9f%e0%a4%b2-%e0%a4%9f%e0%a4%a8%e0%a4%b2-%e0%a4%b0%e0%a5%8b%e0%a4%b9%e0%a4%a4%e0%a4%be%e0%a4%82%e0%a4%97-%e0%a4%b8/)
- [Rohtang Pass shuts beyond Gulaba as black ice makes roads treacherous (The Tribune, 2 December 2024; checked 26 October 2026)](https://tribuneindia.com/news/rohtang-pass-shuts-beyond-gulaba-as-black-ice-makes-roads-treacherous)
- [Ban on tourism activities in Sissu from Jan 15 to Feb 28 (The Tribune, 3 January 2025; checked 26 October 2026)](https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/himachal/ban-on-tourism-activities-in-sissu-from-jan-15-to-feb-28)
- [Atal Tunnel (Wikipedia, checked 26 October 2026)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atal_Tunnel)
- [Rohtang Pass (Wikipedia, checked 26 October 2026)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rohtang_Pass)

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