Which Manali Roads Stay Open in November, and When Only 4x4s Get Through

By Nitin Kanish · 24 October 2026

In November you can drive a self-drive car around Manali, up to Solang Valley (about 14 km) and through the Atal Tunnel to Sissu (about 40 km) on most days, but two things decide how far you get: snow and the type of car. Rohtang Pass stays open only with an online permit and only until snow closes it for the winter, and no closing date for 2026 had been announced by 24 October. After a heavy snowfall the Manali administration can stop tourist traffic beyond Solang Nala or allow only four-wheel-drive vehicles, so if Sissu or the Lahaul side is on your list, rent a 4x4.

Below: what is open, how the 4x4-only rule works, the Rohtang permit rules that affect rental cars, weather, daylight and which car fits which plan. Current as of 24 October 2026; road orders change after every snowfall, so check again the evening before each drive.

Planning the trip already? See the self-drive cars available on Hire N Ride in Manali and note which ones are four-wheel drive before you choose your dates.

What is open around Manali in November

The main valley roads are open and normal in November; what changes is the high ground above Solang. Approximate road distances are from Mall Road.

For the Solang drive itself, with timings and parking, see our guide on how far Solang Valley is from Manali by self-drive car.

How the 4x4-only rule after snow works

There is no fixed rule written down in advance. The Manali and Lahaul-Spiti administrations and police announce restrictions as snow falls, but the pattern is clear.

After heavy snowfall on 23 and 24 January 2026, the Atal Tunnel road was blocked for nearly four days. The Border Roads Organisation cleared it and let emergency services through first, while the administration kept tourist traffic from going beyond Solang Nala. When the road was judged safe, tourists were allowed up to the tunnel and on into the Lahaul valley in 4x4 vehicles only, as The Tribune reported on 9 February 2026. Ordinary two-wheel-drive cars had to stay on the Manali side.

So the road beyond Solang can be in one of three states on any November day:

1. Open to all vehicles. The normal state in dry weather, though frost can make shaded stretches slippery early and late.
2. Open to 4x4 vehicles only. Usually the first step after snow has been cleared. Police at the barrier check the vehicle, and a two-wheel-drive car is turned back however carefully it is driven.
3. Closed to tourists. During and just after heavy snow, while the road is cleared.

On a short trip, a 4x4 can be the difference between seeing Sissu under fresh snow and not going at all. A two-wheel-drive car is fine if your plan is the valley, Naggar and Solang.

Rohtang Pass in November: the permit rules that affect a rental car

Rohtang is a separate road from the Atal Tunnel. It climbs from Kothi past Gulaba and Marhi to the pass, and every tourist vehicle crossing Gulaba needs an online permit from the Tourism Development Council Manali, run by the Kullu district administration. According to the official Rohtang permit portal:

• Fees: Rs 500 permit fee plus a Rs 50 congestion charge for a car, jeep or MUV, valid for one day up and back.
• Daily cap: 800 petrol and 400 diesel vehicles, released online in two batches at 10:00 and 16:00.
• Booking window: permits can be applied for only for the next two days, and each vehicle can get only three permits in a week (Tuesday to Monday).
• Vehicle rules: a valid pollution under control (PUC) certificate, and the vehicle's registration date must make it no more than 10 years old. The details on the permit must match the vehicle and your ID, and a printout is compulsory.
• Maintenance day: the portal showed "NONE" on 24 October 2026, meaning no weekly closure day was set.

The age rule is the one renters miss. Of the cars listed in Manali on 24 October, the Jimnys (2023 to 2026) and the 2022 Thar LX qualify; the Fortuner, listed as a 2013 model, does not. If Rohtang is in your plan, ask for the registration and PUC details when you book, as the permit form needs them.

Rohtang closes for the winter when heavy snow makes the road unsafe, on a date set each year by the district administration and the Border Roads Organisation. Light snow fell on the pass on 24 October 2026, so expect short closures after each spell, with the Atal Tunnel and Sissu as the usual alternative.

Atal Tunnel, Sissu and beyond

The Atal Tunnel runs about 9 km under the Pir Panjal range from the south portal above Solang to the north portal near Koksar in Lahaul, at an altitude above 10,000 feet. You do not need a Rohtang permit to use it. From the north portal, Sissu is about 10 km west along the Chandra river, and Keylong about 30 km beyond Sissu.

On the Lahaul side, the district administration publishes a daily road status report. In the report for 19 October 2026, as carried by The Tribune, the Rohtang Pass to Atal Tunnel north portal stretch of NH3 was open from 6 am to 5 pm, and the Darcha to Shinkula road was open only from 10 am to 2 pm because of frost. On 15 October heavy snow had closed the Darcha to Sarchu and Gramphu to Batal stretches, and police helped tourists stranded near Keylong.

On 22 October, Lahaul-Spiti police issued an advisory for the high passes of Shinkula, Baralacha and Kunzum: cross them only in 4x4 vehicles, only after the sun is out, and not before 10 am or after 4 pm, because water on the road freezes into black ice overnight. They also asked drivers to carry anti-skid chains, warm clothing, food and a fully charged phone. A Sissu day trip does not cross those passes, but black ice also forms on shaded bends there.

For a Sissu day in November, a simple plan works best:

• Check the road status and police orders the evening before and in the morning.
• Fill up in Manali, leave around 9 am and drive straight through the tunnel.
• Spend the late morning at Sissu and the lake, start back by 2 pm and be below Solang by about 4 pm.

If you want to go further, our guide to a Manali car day to Keylong and Kardang monastery after the first snow covers the road beyond Sissu.

Weather and daylight in November

The latest readings show where things stand. On 23 October 2026 the IMD weather station in Manali recorded a maximum of 21.2°C and a minimum of 7.2°C, both slightly above normal. Its seven-day forecast has light rain on 24 and 25 October and clear or partly cloudy skies from 26 to 29 October, with minimums of 7 to 9°C. IMD Shimla expects isolated light rain or snow across the state on 24 and 25 October and dry weather from 26 to 30 October, with a 2 to 3°C fall in minimum temperatures first.

Daylight is the other limit. Calculated times for Manali are below; the valley gets dark before the official sunset.

Two holidays fall in the month: Diwali on Sunday 8 November and Guru Nanak Jayanti on Tuesday 24 November. If your dates include those weekends, plan for busier roads to Solang and the tunnel, and start early.

Driving on frost and black ice

November trouble around Manali is usually not deep snow but thin ice you cannot see:

• Start late, finish early. Leave after 9 am, when the sun has been on the road for a while, and be off the high road by 4 pm. This matches the police advice for the passes.
• Watch the shade. Bends under trees or cliffs can stay icy all day; dark, wet-looking patches may be ice.
• Use low gears. Go down slopes in second or third gear and avoid hard braking or sharp steering. In a Jimny or Thar, engage four-wheel drive before you need it, not after the car starts to slide.
• Carry the basics. Warm clothes, water, snacks and a charged phone. Ask when you book whether snow chains come with the car.
• Turn back when told. If police at Solang Nala or the tunnel close the road or allow 4x4s only, follow the order. In an emergency call 112; the Lahaul-Spiti district police control room in Keylong is on 89880-92298.

Which car to rent for Manali in November

On 24 October 2026 these cars were listed on Hire N Ride in Manali:

Prices change, so check the current rate when you book. Fuel is not included. With 300 km a day, local driving rarely hits the limit: Manali to Sissu and back is about 80 km, Rohtang and back about 100 to 110 km.

If you have not rented a car in Manali before, read our guide to documents and security deposits for Manali car rentals first, and keep your driving licence and ID with you for checks at Solang Nala, the tunnel and Gulaba.

A three-day November plan with a 4x4

1. Day 1, the valley. Old Manali and Vashisht in the morning, the left-bank road to Naggar in the afternoon.
2. Day 2, Solang and Sissu. Check the road status the night before. Leave around 9 am, stop briefly at Solang, go through the Atal Tunnel to Sissu, start back by 2 pm. If the road is closed beyond Solang, spend the day at Solang and keep Sissu for day 3.
3. Day 3, Rohtang or a spare day. With a permit and an open pass, drive up via Kothi and Gulaba and come down by early afternoon. If not, use the day for Sissu.

Our Himachal bike and car rental guide lists the other routes you can drive from Manali, Kasol and Bhuntar.

Frequently asked questions

Can I drive a normal car from Manali to Sissu in November?

Yes on dry days, when the road through the Atal Tunnel is open to all vehicles. After snowfall the administration can stop tourist traffic beyond Solang Nala or allow only 4x4 vehicles, as it did in February 2026, and then a two-wheel-drive car is turned back. Rent a 4x4 if Sissu matters to your trip.

Is Rohtang Pass open in November 2026?

On 24 October 2026 the permit portal was still issuing permits (about 590 of the 1,200 daily permits had been taken), and light snow had fallen on the pass that day. Rohtang closes for the winter after heavy snow, on a date set by the district administration and the Border Roads Organisation; no 2026 closing date had been announced. Check the portal for your date.

How much is the Rohtang permit and who can get one?

Rs 500 plus a Rs 50 congestion charge for a car, jeep or MUV. The vehicle must have a valid PUC certificate and be no more than 10 years old, and you can apply only for the next two days. The daily cap is 800 petrol and 400 diesel vehicles.

Do I need a permit for the Atal Tunnel?

No. The Rohtang permit is only for the road over the pass past Gulaba. The Atal Tunnel road to Sissu does not need it, but it is subject to the snow restrictions and timings set by the Manali and Lahaul-Spiti administrations.

What time should I leave Manali for a Sissu or Rohtang day?

Around 9 am, once the sun has been on the road, and plan to start back by 2 pm. Lahaul-Spiti police advise against driving the high passes before 10 am or after 4 pm because of black ice, and sunset in Manali is between about 5:15 and 5:31 pm in November.

Which Hire N Ride cars in Manali are 4x4?

On 24 October 2026, the Maruti Jimny Allgrip Pro (from Rs 4,299 a day) and the Mahindra Thar LX (from Rs 5,399 a day). Both include 300 km a day and a Rs 5,000 refundable deposit. The Toyota Fortuner listing shows "2WD" in its name but 4WD in its specs, so confirm before booking it for a 4x4-only day.

Conclusion

Manali in November by car is mostly easy driving on quiet roads. The town, Naggar and Solang are open to any car in dry weather. The Atal Tunnel road to Sissu usually stays open, but after snow it can close beyond Solang Nala or open to 4x4s only, and Rohtang needs a permit and a vehicle no more than 10 years old until snow shuts it. Rent a four-wheel-drive car if Lahaul is in the plan, drive between about 9 am and 4 pm, and keep a spare day for the weather.

Ready to drive? Book a self-drive car rental in Manali with Hire N Ride and choose a 4x4 if Sissu or Rohtang is on your list.