Delhi's Bad Air Pushes Many to Manali
Delhi has very bad air pollution. Many other Indian cities also have air that is just as bad, or even worse. Because of this, many people from Delhi are traveling to Manali in Himachal Pradesh to escape the unhealthy air.
Manali is a popular place for winter holidays. But now, it is facing huge traffic jams. Thousands of tourists arrive every day, especially before Christmas and New Year. A large number of these visitors are from Delhi, trying to get away from the pollution there.
Many Cars Arriving
- Around 1,000 cars from outside Himachal Pradesh come to Manali every day.
- On weekends, this number increases to 1,200 to 1,350 cars daily.
- Between December 1st and December 15th, over 15,500 cars from other states entered Manali.
Traffic Jams Everywhere in Manali
This big rush of tourists is causing major traffic problems in Manali. Jams are happening in many places, including:
- The entrance to Manali town
- Roads leading to Hadimba Temple and Old Manali
- Villages like Prini, Aleo, and Vashisht
- The main highway to Atal Tunnel and Rohtang Pass
Videos shared on social media show very bad traffic on the winding roads up to Rohtang Pass.
Tourists Get Stuck and Disappointed
Last weekend, many tourists, especially from Delhi, were stuck in a huge traffic jam near Gramphu. They were hoping to see snow near Rohtang Pass.
Arun Mohan, who lives in Gurgaon, visited Manali with his family. He said, "I came here hoping to see snow and to get away from Delhi's terrible air quality. But in Manali, I am only finding huge traffic jams and no snow. I am really disappointed."
Plans to Manage the Crowds
More tourists are expected from December 20th. Rohit Sharma, a tourism officer for the Kullu district, said that managing traffic is now the most important job for the local government.
- Officials held a meeting to discuss a new traffic plan for the increasing number of visitors.
- Police officers say a new traffic plan will start soon to stop traffic jams.
- More police will be sent to control traffic in Manali and nearby areas.
Past Problems
Last year, on Christmas 2023, a record 14,865 cars from outside the state came to Manali and used the Atal Tunnel. This caused huge traffic jams across the whole region.
Other Areas Also Suffer
Traffic jams are also a problem in Tirthan Valley and on Highway NH-305. This highway goes from Aut to Jalori Jot in the Banjar area of Kullu district.
Panki Sood, a hotel owner from Tirthan Valley, complained about the roads. He said, "Traffic jams happen every day on this highway as more tourists come. This is the worst highway in the country, and traveling here is like a nightmare." He added that locals and tourists suffer because the authorities have not fixed or widened the road for years.
No Snow for Many Tourists
Many tourists who brave the traffic jams hoping to see snow are often disappointed. There has not been much snowfall this season.
Weather Forecast
The weather office has predicted light rain and snow on December 20th and 21st in the higher mountains. This includes parts of Chamba, Kullu, Kangra, Kinnaur, and Lahaul Spiti. After these days, the weather will be dry for the rest of the week.
Rohtang Pass Access
The Kullu government has allowed 4x4 vehicles to travel towards Rohtang Pass until December 28, 2025. This decision was made after checking the road conditions.
