Snow Is Back Above Manali. Plan Your Bike Ride Around It

Manali has turned cold again. On the afternoon of 6 October 2026, light snow began falling on Rohtang Pass, Baralacha and Kunzum while Manali, Kullu and Keylong got rain, according to Divya Himachal. The paper put the minimum temperature near the Atal Tunnel at Sissu at minus 3°C. Two days earlier, The Tribune reported that both ends of the Atal Tunnel were already under snow. More than 4,000 tourist vehicles had reached Manali in two days, and about 1,500 a day were heading to Solang Nala.

For anyone on a bike rental in Manali, this is the most rewarding and the trickiest stretch of the riding year. The snow is close enough for a day ride, but the roads up to it can close to two-wheelers at short notice. This guide sets out where those limits usually fall, which passes you need, how far each snow point is from Mall Road and what to ride instead when the high roads shut. It is written for riders and for the hosts who keep their bikes ready for them.

What changed this week

The snow arrived in two waves. By the first weekend of October, rain and snow had already dropped temperatures in Manali sharply, and visitors were coming especially to see snow higher up, The Tribune reported. Solang Nala, Anjani Mahadev and Hamta were busy, and brief jams were reported on the Manali–Rohtang road and the Left Bank road. Manali's SDM said Rohtang Pass was open to tourists with an online permit.

The second wave came on 6 October. Bol Chaal News, citing Amar Ujala, reported up to about 10 cm of snow in the higher areas of Lahaul-Spiti and Pangi, with Rohtang and the Pir Panjal peaks turning white.

There was also a short, unusual closure. For President Droupadi Murmu's visit to the Atal Tunnel and the Hadimba Devi temple, the Kullu administration restricted traffic from Palchan towards the tunnel on 7 October. The Tribune said all tourist destinations in Kullu would reopen from 11 am on 8 October. The official permit portal was still issuing Rohtang permits for 7 October that evening, so the pass had not closed for the season.

Why two-wheelers feel the snow first

When snow settles on the road, the first step is usually a barrier beyond which only four-wheelers or 4x4s may go. Bikes are the most exposed. Three recent episodes show the pattern:

• October 2025: after two days of snow around the Atal Tunnel, Rohtang and Marhi, police restricted traffic beyond Solang Nala and Gulaba. The Tribune reported that only four-wheelers were allowed through the tunnel and that the Marhi barrier had moved down to Gulaba after nearly 25 cm of snow. "Vehicular movement beyond Solang Nala has been restricted as they risk skidding on the snow-covered road," Manali police said.
• January 2026: after an inspection found heavy snow, black ice and sub-zero temperatures, the district banned all vehicles beyond Gulaba, The Tribune reported.
• March 2026: about 1,500 vehicles were stranded near the South Portal after sudden overnight snow, the Hindustan Times reported. The district then barred traffic from Nehru Kund towards the South Portal, with barriers at Nehru Kund and Solang Nallah and only 4x4 emergency and local vehicles allowed through.

The lesson is simple. On the tunnel road, snow-day limits tend to start at Nehru Kund or Solang. On the Rohtang road, they tend to start at Gulaba. Plan every high ride so that being turned back at one of those points still leaves you with a good day.

The three snow roads from Manali

All distances below are from Mall Road, from our route check using OpenStreetMap routing. Times on the ground will be longer in traffic or on wet roads.

1. Solang Nala and the Atal Tunnel

• Palchan: about 10 km, where the Solang and Rohtang roads split
• Solang Nala: about 12 km
• Atal Tunnel South Portal: about 24 km
• Sissu, beyond the tunnel: about 38 km

The Prime Minister's Office describes the Atal Tunnel as 9.02 km long at about 3,000 m. The South Portal stands 25 km from Manali at 3,060 m, and the North Portal near Teling village, Sissu, at 3,071 m. It opened on 3 October 2020 and has entry barriers at both portals. Inside, the tunnel is lit and monitored, but the approach roads on both sides are fully exposed to the weather. Early-season snow often settles there first.

Crossing into Lahaul has its own paperwork. The Himachal government's e-Aagman portal says vehicles entering Lahaul and Spiti need an e-pass: an e-permit per vehicle for the Atal Tunnel–Rohtang–Koksar–Chandertal circuit and an e-ticket for other places. If you want the full run to Sissu on a clear day, our Manali to Sissu ride guide covers the route.

2. Rohtang via Kothi, Gulaba and Marhi

• Kothi: about 12 km
• Gulaba: about 20 km
• Marhi: about 33 km
• Rohtang Pass: about 49 km, at nearly 4,000 m

Rohtang is the only one of the three that needs a permit booked in advance. According to the official Rohtang permit portal, run by the Kullu district administration:

• The tourism permit applies to all vehicles visiting Rohtang for tourism, and is valid for one day, there and back.
• The daily quota is 800 petrol and 400 diesel vehicles, released online at 10:00 and 16:00.
• You can apply only for the next two days, and each vehicle can get only three permits a week (Tuesday to Monday).
• You need valid ID, a valid PUC certificate and the vehicle's registration date. Vehicles more than 10 years old are not allowed.
• A printout is compulsory, and the portal's FAQ says issued permits cannot be cancelled.
• A separate congestion charge applies to every vehicle crossing Gulaba bridge.

The portal's fee table lists ₹500 plus a ₹50 congestion charge for cars, jeeps and MUVs. It does not list two-wheelers separately, so check the form for your bike before you build a day around it. A permit does not guarantee an open road. The Tribune noted last year that Rohtang normally stays open until mid-November, but snow can close it for the day, or for the season, earlier.

3. The Hamta road via Prini and Sethan

• Prini: about 5 km, across the Beas
• Sethan: about 16 km

This is the quieter snow road. It climbs east from Prini into the Hamta valley towards the base of the Hamta Pass trek, above 10,000 ft. The pass itself is reached only on foot. The same portal now issues one-day Hamta passes: a ₹100 congestion charge for two-wheelers, with a quota of 100 a day, and ₹200 for cars and jeeps, with a quota of 400. It asks for the same ID, PUC and registration details, with the same 10-year age limit, and a printout. When the pass system began in 2022, the district allowed vehicles only between 6 am and 6 pm, with a check post at Prini, local site Discover Kullu Manali reported.

A go or no-go routine for snow days

The evening before

• Read the Meteorological Centre Shimla forecast on mausam.imd.gov.in. Look for snow, wind alerts and the days the weather is expected to clear.
• Check for Kullu district or police advisories. Local news usually carries them the same day.
• If Rohtang is the plan, check permit availability on the portal and book at the 10:00 or 16:00 release.

On the morning

• Ask your host and your hotel what they have heard about the road. Local people often know about a barrier before it reaches the news.
• Leave once the sun is on the road rather than at dawn. Overnight wet patches freeze, and shaded bends stay icy longest.
• Set a turnaround time and keep to it. Aim to be heading down by about 2 pm. By our calculation, sunset in Manali is at about 5:57 pm on 8 October and 5:31 pm on 31 October on a flat horizon. In the valley the light goes earlier behind the ridges.

At a barrier

If police stop two-wheelers, turn round. Don't try to talk your way through, and don't ride around the barrier. The road beyond may be packed snow or black ice, and recovery teams are busy with stranded cars on days like this.

Riding a cold, wet mountain road

You will meet wet tarmac, meltwater and slush long before deep snow. A few habits make the biggest difference:

• Slow and smooth: brake gently and early, use engine braking downhill and avoid sudden throttle or steering inputs.
• Read the surface: treat shiny patches, shaded bends, painted lines and streams across the road as slippery until proved otherwise.
• Know when to stop: if snow is sticking to the road or visibility drops, turn back. Snow points near the road are just as good from a safe parking spot.

What to wear: a full-face helmet for you and your pillion, waterproof gloves, layers under a windproof jacket, a rain shell and boots that grip on wet ground. Carry a charged phone and some cash.

Which bike: if you are choosing a bike rental in Manali for snow season, start with the listings. Those we saw on 7 October included the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 and Himalayan 411, the Classic 350 and Suzuki Access 125 scooters. Hire N Ride's Manali page suggests scooters for shorter, easier rides and motorcycles for longer mountain routes and higher altitudes. That is sound advice in snow season too. Listings showed 120 km included per day, which covers a Rohtang round trip of about 98 km. Check your own booking for the limit.

Documents: the Manali page asks for a valid two-wheeler licence at least six months old (MCWG for geared bikes, or a gearless licence for scooters) and a minimum age of 18. Fuel is not included, so fill up in town before a high ride.

Good rides when the high roads close

A snow day up high is often a clear, crisp day lower down. These rides stay close to town:

• Hadimba Devi temple, Dhungri: about 2 km. The wooden pagoda temple in a cedar forest was built in 1553 by Maharaja Bahadur Singh. President Murmu visited it this week, so expect extra interest.
• Vashisht and Jogini Falls: about 3 km to Vashisht, with its hot springs and temple, then a walk to the falls. Our Vashisht and Jogini guide explains where to park.
• Naggar by the Left Bank road: about 22 km south along the east bank of the Beas, for the castle and old village.
• Solang Nala, if it is open: on many snow days Solang is as far as the road goes, and it is often where the snow is. Park where the police tell you to and walk.

For hosts: getting a Manali bike ready for snow season

Hire N Ride works like Airbnb for vehicles. Each host has a professional profile, and every completed trip adds to their reviews. More reviews bring more bookings, so a bike that starts first time on a cold morning and has fresh tyres and good brakes earns its host a lot.

Snow season also makes paperwork matter. Both the Rohtang and Hamta passes ask for a valid PUC certificate and the registration date, and turn away vehicles more than 10 years old. Riders will ask about this before they book. Hire N Ride manages the business side for hosts, including compliance and reminders:

• Vehicle surveys, so the bike's condition is recorded before and after each trip
• GPS management
• Insurance renewal reminders
• PUC certificate tracking
• RC paperwork, so riders have the registration details they need for permits
• Permit expiry reminders
• Servicing schedules for brakes, tyres, chain, battery and lights

If you own a bike or scooter in Manali, start on the List Your Vehicle page.

Conclusion: let the snow set the plan

Fresh snow above Manali is a gift for riders, as long as you plan for it. Check the forecast and advisories the night before. Book a Rohtang permit or Hamta pass only when the roads look likely to be open, and leave once the sun is up. Turn back early, and accept a barrier at Solang or Gulaba as part of the day. Keep a valley ride ready for the days the high roads close. With a well-kept bike rental in Manali from a reviewed Hire N Ride host, these first cold weeks of the season can be the best riding of your trip.

Next steps, whichever side you're on:

• Book a ride: choose a bike or scooter from a reviewed local host on the Manali bike rental page.
• Become a host: list your two-wheeler on the List Your Vehicle page and start building your reviews.

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Images: Sai Subhang Boorlagadda and Anil Gadi (both CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia Commons, credited in captions. Facts checked on 7 October 2026. Weather, road restrictions, permit rules, fees and quotas change quickly in the mountains, so check the official portals and local advisories before you ride.