Manali packed with tourists: Long weekend rush brings traffic jams, hotels nearly full

PTC Web Desk: Manali is buzzing again as tourists from across the country have started pouring into the popular Himachal Pradesh hill town during the long weekend.

Thousands of tourist vehicles reached Manali over the past two days, while a large number of visitors also arrived by Volvo buses. The sudden rise in tourist numbers has brought the town back to life, with Mall Road, local markets and major attractions remaining busy throughout the day.

The rush has also brought some relief to tourism businesses that had been waiting for a pick-up. Hotels, homestays, taxi operators and shopkeepers are seeing increased activity as visitors make the most of the holiday break.

Rohtang, Sissu and Solang see tourist rush

Tourists have been visiting several popular destinations around Manali, including Rohtang Pass, Sissu, Atal Tunnel and Solang Valley.

The drop in temperature has added to the attraction of the higher reaches. Some visitors have arrived hoping to witness snowfall, while others are exploring the mountains, enjoying scenic views and taking part in adventure activities.

Trekking is also drawing visitors, with Hamta and Bhrigu Lake among the routes attracting tourists. Many travellers are heading towards these trails to experience the mountain landscape and spend time outdoors in the cool weather.

The road towards Rohtang and Sissu remained busy as tourist vehicles continued to move through the area. Those crossing the Atal Tunnel into Lahaul were also seen enjoying the scenery and local tourism activities in Sissu.

Long weekend brings traffic trouble

The heavy tourist inflow has, however, created major traffic problems in and around Manali. Videos showing long queues of vehicles have been circulating on social media. Traffic moved slowly on several stretches, including the Manali entry route, Mall Road, the road towards Solang Valley and the route leading to the Atal Tunnel.

In some places, tourists reportedly took hours to cover distances that would normally take much less time.

Hotels nearly full, tourism businesses cheer

The long weekend has provided a much-needed boost to the local tourism industry. Many hotels and homestays are operating at high occupancy, while taxi operators, restaurants and shopkeepers are also benefiting from the increased footfall.

With tourists continuing to arrive from different parts of the country, the rush is expected to remain high.

Authorities have appealed to tourists and local drivers to follow traffic rules and avoid unnecessary travel during peak hours to help manage congestion.

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