How to get Rohtang Pass Permit Online or using Mobile App [ 2024 Rules, Updates & Cost]

Ever since Rohtang Pass Permit was introduced in 2011 for vehicles traveling in the direction from Manali to Rohtang La, there have been lots of questions and doubts flooding the travel forums and blogs over the Internet.

Today, in this article, I will write a detailed step-by-step guide on how to apply for the “Rohtang Pass Permit“, “Special Rohtang Pass Permit” and “Beyond Rohtang Pass Permit” online at the official website of the Kullu administration as well as using the recently launched Rohtang Pass Permit Mobile Apps by Kullu administration in 2018.

All About Rohtang Pass

Rohtang Pass, or Rohtang La as it’s locally known, translates to “pile of corpses,” a name earned due to the challenging weather conditions that have historically made it a tough passage. Despite the ominous name, Rohtang is one of India’s most picturesque and adventurous high-altitude passes.

Manali to Rohtang Pass – Distance, Route & Altitude

It holds immense importance, as before the Atal Tunnel, it used to serve as a gateway to the Lahaul and Spiti Valley and further to Leh-Ladakh, making it an essential part of the famous Manali-Leh highway. For tourists, Rohtang Pass offers breathtaking panoramic views of the snow-capped Himalayas, making it a must-visit destination for people visiting Manali.

Rohtang La is located about 51 km from Manali and the route it follows goes like this: Manali – Palchan – Gulabha – Marhi – Rohtang Pass.

Rohtang Pass is perched at an altitude of 3,978 meters (13,050 feet) above sea level. This altitude brings with it an immediate drop in temperature and thinner air, so acclimatization is key when visiting Rohtang from Manali. However, as most people visit Rohtang Pass as a day trip from Manali and come back or travel ahead to sleep at a lower altitude, AMS symptoms go unnoticed.

The pass forms a natural divide between the Kullu Valley, which is lush and green, and the arid, rugged Lahaul and Spiti regions. The scenic route from Manali to Rohtang is dotted with waterfalls, rivers, and snow-covered landscapes, making it a treat for travelers.

What is the best time to visit Rohtang Pass?

The best time to visit Rohtang Pass is between May and October, as the pass is closed during winter due to heavy snowfall. Even during the early season of May and June, weather conditions can be unpredictable, so it’s advisable to check the status of the road before heading out to Rohtang Pass from Manali.

On the way to Rohtang Pass, at Gulaba and sometimes Marhi, visitors can enjoy activities such as snow biking, sledding, and skiing during certain times of the year, while also soaking in the serenity of the Himalayas.

Rohtang Pass Road Conditions

The drive from Manali to Rohtang La is about 51 km, and though the distance may seem short, the road is winding and can be challenging due to steep ascents and unpredictable weather.

The journey to Rohtang La from Manali typically takes around 2-3 hours, depending on traffic, road conditions, and breaks you take in between. However, if you are traveling in the peak season of June when summer vacation is going on, huge traffic jams are observed and long queues of traffic on this road make the journey even 6-7 hours long.

The road conditions from Manali to Rohtang Pass are mostly paved and tarred with few sections that are broken but manageable. On the way, you will find certain sections prone to landslides, especially during rains. However, the mesmerizing landscapes along the way make the drive worth every minute, as travelers pass through forests, streams, and meadows before reaching the top.

What is the Rohtang Pass Permit?

In 2011, the permit restriction was enforced by NGT for any vehicles traveling on Manali to Rohtang Pass road in that very direction. No permit was required to travel from Keylong or Kaza side to Manali via Rohtang Pass but recently even at Gramphu checkpost the “Beyond Rohtang Pass” permit is required to cross Rohtang Pass.

Ever since this permit was enforced, there has been so much confusion on the application of this permit, and to add to the misery, rules change almost every year. Every year we see new developments and changes to the rules of applying for these permits.

One year tourists are banned completely from visiting Rohtang, the other year they change the process of applying for the permit, or they change the fee for the permit, or some years they change the quota of allowed vehicles traveling to Rohtang, etc. It was seriously miserable and required you to be up to date before making your travel plans to Ladakh and Spiti Valley regions.

I believe all this hassle calls for one more reason to choose Srinagar Leh Highway over Manali Leh Highway when traveling to Leh Ladakh.

Why do we need a Rohtang Pass Permit?

The ecology of Rohtang Pass is getting destroyed with the huge number of vehicles going to Rohtang Pass in the season time, and hence the step was required before the snow vanished from the Glacier.

Along with the vehicles, the NGT tribunal has also banned horse-riding, snow-biking, paragliding, and plying of snow scooters at Rohtang, Solang Valley, and Marhi and also ordered the closure of eateries and kiosks.

Commercial activities were already banned in this area by the NGT order. An eco-friendly market of 20 shops has been set up at Marhi to provide basic food needs to tourists.

Major changes were made in 2015

A series of events took place questioning the NGT order passed in February 2015, which restricted the number of vehicles going to Rohtang Pass to 1000 only and also posed hefty congestion charges. From indefinite strikes to moving to the Supreme Court to protests all over in Himachal, the taxi union did all they could not leave any stone unturned.

However, the messages were strong and clear from the NGT to favor the ecology of Rohtang Pass, which was getting destroyed by the pollution of vehicles over considering any review petitions or hues or cries of the locals.

Situation Since 2019

Having said that, more or less in the last couple of years things have stayed for good. In 2015, this permit was made available online which solved many on-ground issues and hassles for tourists struggling in Manali to get these permits.

The rules for these permits are not changing much anymore. Kullu administration has further simplified the process of applying for these permits by offering mobile apps for the Rohtang Pass permit starting in 2018.

The Three Types of Permits of Rohtang

A few years back, NGT had enforced the permit for all vehicles visiting Rohtang from Manali side for tourism purposes and all vehicles require a permit to go beyond Rohtang Pass to Leh – Ladakh, and Lahaul – Spiti Valley.

The permit has certain limitations on the number of vehicles it is issued while no restriction is applicable for vehicles going beyond Rohtang Pass.

To manage the heavy influx of tourists and control vehicular pollution in the sensitive Rohtang Pass area, the government has introduced three distinct types of permits.

These permits regulate access based on the purpose and destination of the visitors. It’s important to understand which permit you require, depending on whether you’re simply visiting Rohtang Pass for sightseeing or planning to travel further beyond it toward Lahaul-Spiti or Leh.

Below are the details of the three categories of Rohtang Pass permits:

1. Rohtang Pass Permit

This permit is for those visiting Rohtang Pass solely for tourism purposes, such as sightseeing, snow activities, or a brief visit. It allows visitors to access Rohtang Pass but restricts them from traveling beyond the pass to Lahaul-Spiti or Leh. Mostly this permit gets used by commercial vehicles like local Manali-based taxis.

• Required for any tourist vehicle heading to Rohtang Pass.
• Available for both private and commercial vehicles.
• This permit is valid for one day only (to & fro).
• Permits are issued daily, and the number of vehicles is restricted to minimize environmental impact as per NGT mandate.
• A total of 1200 vehicles are only allowed daily with 800 petrol vehicles and 400 diesel vehicles.
• These permits are issued in time windows daily. The first one is at 10:00 hrs (200 Diesel and 400 Petrol) and the second one at 16:00 hrs (200 Diesel and 400 Petrol).
• One vehicle can only apply for a maximum of 3 permits in one week.
• From the current date, these permits can only be applied for the next 6 days.
• Documents required to apply for Rohtang Pass permit are:
  • Valid ID Proof
  • Valid Pollution Under Check (PUC) Certificate
  • Vehicle Registration Date (Age of vehicle not to be more than 10 yrs)
• Printout of the Rohtang Pass permit must be carried and shown at the checkposts.
• Vehicles that do not provide the correct information while applying for a Rohtang Pass permit, will not be allowed to cross the checkposts.
• Must be applied online in advance, as on-the-spot permits are rarely available.
• Rohtang Pass Permit costs Rs 500 for cars, jeeps, MUVs, buses and HMVs.
• In addition, Congestion Fee charges of Rs 50 must be paid by all vehicles crossing Gulaba (South Portal) or Gramphu (North Portal) daily. Buses and HMVs need to pay Rs 100 as Congestion Fee charges.

2. Special Rohtang Pass Permit

This permit is generally meant for residents of Lahaul-Spiti and other local regions who need to cross Rohtang Pass for personal or work-related travel. It ensures that locals have the necessary access without being affected by the permit restrictions imposed on tourists.

However, even tourists traveling to Rohtang Pass on their private number plate cars can also apply in this category.

• Required for any tourist vehicle heading to Rohtang Pass.
• Available for only private vehicles. No commercial vehicles can apply under this category.
• Reserved for tourists, locals, or people who have work-related travel across Rohtang Pass on their private white number plate cars.
• Generally easier to obtain for tourists, and local residents as local Manali taxis are not competing.
• This permit is valid for one day only (to & fro).
• Permits are issued daily, and the number of vehicles is restricted to minimize environmental impact as per NGT mandate.
• A total of 100 vehicles are only allowed daily with 60 petrol vehicles and 40 diesel vehicles.
• One vehicle can only apply for a maximum of 1 permit in the entire season. So, this limits the competition as well.
• From the current date, these permits can only be applied for the next 6 days.
• Documents required to apply for Rohtang Pass permit are:
  • Valid ID Proof
  • Valid Pollution Under Check (PUC) Certificate
  • Vehicle Registration Date (Age of vehicle not to be more than 10 yrs)
  • Tourist Address Details
• Printout of the Rohtang Pass permit must be carried and shown at the checkposts.
• Vehicles that do not provide the correct information while applying for a Special Rohtang Pass permit, will not be allowed to cross the checkposts.
• Special Rohtang Pass Permit costs Rs 500 for cars, jeeps, and MUVs.
• In addition, Congestion Charges of Rs 50 must be paid by all vehicles crossing Gulaba (South Portal) or Gramphu (North Portal) daily.

3. Beyond Rohtang Pass Permit (Congestion Fees)

This permit is for vehicles traveling beyond Rohtang Pass, whether it’s for destinations such as Lahaul-Spiti, Leh-Ladakh, Zanskar Valley, or other areas beyond. All travelers must pay a congestion fee for passing through Rohtang Pass.

• Mandatory for vehicles traveling to destinations beyond Rohtang, such as Keylong, Jispa, Spiti Valley, Chandratal, or Leh – Ladakh.
• Congestion Fee charges of Rs 50 must be paid by all vehicles crossing Gulaba (South Portal) or Gramphu (North Portal) daily. Buses and HMVs need to pay Rs 100 as Congestion Fee charges.
• Available for both private and commercial vehicles.
• Congestion Fee is paid daily and is valid for one day only (to & fro).
• There is no restriction on the number of vehicles getting Beyond Rohtang Pass Permit by paying the Congestion Fees.
• These permits are issued online between 0:00 hrs to 0:00 hrs daily.
• One vehicle can only apply for a maximum of 2 permits in one week.
• From the current date, the Beyond Rohtang Pass Permit can only be applied for the next 1 day.
• Documents required to apply for Rohtang Pass permit are:
  • Valid ID Proof
  • Valid Pollution Under Check (PUC) Certificate
  • Vehicle Registration Date (Age of vehicle not to be more than 10 yrs)
• Printout of the Beyond Rohtang Pass permit / Congestion Fee must be carried and shown at the checkposts.
• Vehicles that do not provide the correct information while applying for a Congestion Fee slips, will not be allowed to cross the checkposts.

These permits are essential for ensuring a smooth and environmentally conscious travel experience to Rohtang Pass. Make sure to apply for the correct permit based on your travel needs to avoid fines or delays during your journey.

How to apply for Rohtang Pass Permits?

You can apply for a Rohtang Pass permit in three ways:

1. Apply them online using the Kullu Administration Website
2. Apply for Rohtang Pass permit using Mobile Apps
3. Apply for the permits in Manali in person at the SDM Office or Tourist Information Center

Is it possible to visit Rohtang Pass without a permit?

Nowadays in the tourist season time from June to September, about 25 electric buses ply on Manali to Rohtang Pass road. This certainly helps those tourists who cannot drive their vehicles due to the restricted number of vehicles allowed by NGT on a per-day basis. Hence, allowing them to visit Rohtang Pass without the need for a permit.

There are about 14-15 HRTC buses available for Rohtang Pass in case one is interested in traveling up there by booking tickets at the HRTC Bus Stand at Manali.

What if I travel very early morning or late at night to cross Rohtang Pass?

Vehicles are not allowed to go beyond Palchan without permits and in case you reach Gulaba before 5.30 AM, you may get a challan.

Can I get a Rohtang Pass Permit in Manali in person?

Please note, that in case you cannot get the permits online, you can always apply for them at the SDM office in Manali or the Tourist Information Center. Tourist Information Center is open all seven days a week including Sundays and Holidays from 10 AM to 8 PM.

Hence, Rohtang Pass permits are also available on Sunday as well. This helps 1000s of tourists who reach Manali on Saturday or Sunday morning but then wait for an extra day to get the permit on Monday to travel to Leh Ladakh or Spiti Valley.

Online Rohtang Permits – Step by Step Process

Tourists can apply online for the permit required to travel to Rohtang for tourism purposes as well as for the permit required to travel from Manali to Leh Ladakh or Manali to Lahaul – Spiti Valley. Given below is the detailed step-by-step process about how to apply for these permits using the online website of Kullu administration.

At some point in the past, the Him-Aanchal Taxi Operators Union and Luxury Coach Association at Manali managed the fixed daily quota, and some permits were provided by the HP Tourism Department, which included permits for state transport and private buses as well. However, as of 2024, that is not the case anymore. All 1300 permits are controlled and issued centrally.

Hence, now we can book the online permits for Rohtang Pass in advance, things will become much smoother and hassle-free for a visit up there, or are it? Let’s look at some of the details.

Online Rohtang Pass Permit for Tourism

This type of permit is required only to travel to Rohtang Pass for tourism purposes.

• You can get the tourist permits of Rohtang Pass online from the link Apply permit for Tourism Purpose.
• This type of permit is issued to tourists for tourism purposes to visit Rohtang Pass only.
• This Permit is issued daily with a quota of 1200 permits in a day.
• The permit is issued as per the daily quota of 400 Diesel vehicles and 800 Petrol vehicles. This quota includes state transport buses, private cars, and taxis.
• The permits are issued twice a day in two batches of 600.
• You can apply online for these permits in specific time frames twice a day. These timings are 10:00 hrs (200 Diesel and 400 Petrol) and then 16:00 hrs (200 Diesel and 400 Petrol).
• In one week from Tuesday to Monday, only three permits are issued for a vehicle.
• Rohtang Pass permit is not issued for Tuesday as it is marked as the maintenance day. Hence, you cannot travel to Rohtang Pass for tourism purposes on Tuesdays.
• You can apply for these permits for the next six days only from the current date.
• You need to pay a congestion fee along with the permit fee of Rs 500. Congestion fees vary based on the vehicle.
• The congestion fee is Rs 50 for a motorbike, passenger vehicle, and car. The commercial vehicles need to pay Rs 100.
• Carrying a print of a copy of the permit is mandatory.
• Vehicles with wrong information on the permit slip other than that of the original documents are not allowed to cross the Gulaba checkpost barrier. Hence, make sure that your vehicle information matches when applying online for tourist permits.

Online Beyond Rohtang Pass Permit for traveling to Ladakh and Lahaul – Spiti

This type of permit is required to travel beyond Rohtang towards Leh Ladakh or other parts of Lahaul, Pangi, and Spiti Valley.

• You can get the online permits to travel beyond Rohtang Pass from the link Apply Here
• This type of permit is issued to tourists to travel beyond Rohtang Pass towards Leh Ladakh and Lahaul – Spiti region.
• This Permit is issued daily WITHOUT any quota on several vehicles. So, you will always get these permits for any number of vehicles.
• Please NOTE that a penalty will be imposed on defaulters who are visiting just Rohtang Pass and returning from there on these permits to go beyond Rohtang Pass.
• You can apply online for these permits at any time of the day from 12.00 AM to 12.00 AM. There is no time window for paying the congestion fee.
• In one week from Tuesday to Monday, only two permits are issued for a vehicle.
• This type of permit is not issued for Tuesday as it is marked as the maintenance day. Hence, you cannot travel to Ladakh or Spiti beyond Rohtang Pass from Manali side on Tuesdays.
• You can apply for these permits for the next six days only from the current date.
• You ONLY need to pay a congestion fee to travel beyond Rohtang Pass, and no permit fee is charged.
• Congestion fees vary based on the vehicle. The congestion fee is Rs 50 for a motorbike, passenger vehicle, and car. The commercial vehicles need to pay Rs 100.
• Carrying a print of a copy of the congestion fee slip is mandatory.
• Vehicles with wrong information on the congestion fee slip other than that of the original documents are not allowed to cross the Gulaba checkpost barrier. Hence, make sure that your vehicle information matches when applying online for Beyond Rohtang Pass permits.

Important: You must note that the Beyond Rohtang Pass permit is required only for vehicles traveling in the direction from Manali to Rohtang Pass. Any vehicles coming from Leh to Manali or Keylong to Manali or Kaza to Manali DO NOT need any permit.

Also, it was said that once you apply for the online Rohtang permits, it will be confirmed within a week, and a tourist can show an SMS sent by the authorities at the Gulaba barrier. However, to date, I doubt this has been applied, and there is some manual process in it.

Rohtang Pass Permit Mobile App 2018

Starting the 2018-19 season, now tourists traveling to Rohtang can apply for both types of permits using the newly launched mobile apps by the Kullu administration.

The Rohtang Pass Permit mobile app is available on both Android Play Store as well as the iOS App Store.

This is a beneficial step by the administration, and it will help the tourists traveling to both Rohtang Pass as well as beyond Rohtang Pass in a long way. Here are the key highlights on how to apply for Rohtang Pass permits using a mobile app on your phone.

• The Rohtang Pass permit mobile app is available for both Android and iOS devices/mobiles.
• You can check the validity of your permit on this mobile app by scanning the barcode on the permit or entering the permit number.
• You can check the status of the Rohtang Pass permit by entering the vehicle number and date of the journey. The permit is displayed on the mobile app, and you can download the permit as a PDF to take the printout.
• People applying for the permit to travel just to Rohtang and not beyond it, have an option to check the availability of the Rohtang Pass Permit in the mobile app. As there is a cap on the number of Diesel and Petrol vehicles to travel to Rohtang in a day, you can check if there is any permit available for the desired date of travel or not using the Rohtang Pass mobile app.
• The permit can only be applied between defined time windows (as mentioned above) and it cannot be applied in any other time window.
• Once the permit is issued, it cannot be canceled. Hence, please be careful in applying for these permits with correct dates and other vehicle details, so that you do not waste the permit for anyone else. There is an extreme scarcity of Rohtang Pass permits, so please be responsible for other tourists as well.
• Please note that only two permits per mobile device or IP address are allowed in a week. So, if you are using the shared Internet like an office, college, or cyber cafe Internet, the a possibility that someone else would have applied for the permit, and you will either see an error or quota full as the message. Hence, apply from a mobile or PC with an Internet connection that you think others won’t have used to apply for the Rohtang permit.
• You can send your queries to dc-kul-hp@nic.in for further doubts on the permit and issues with the mobile app or the Kullu Administration website.

Here are some of the screenshots of the Rohtang Pass permit mobile app.

Pro Tip: If you are doing a self-drive to Zanskar Valley, then make sure to read the article 40 Must-Have Things to Carry on a Self-Drive Trip to Zanskar Valley

Rohtang Pass Permit Fees

When you travel just to Rohtang Pass for tourism purposes then you need to pay both the Permit fee as well as congestion charges. Hence, it comes out to be Rs 550 Motor Bike, Car & Jeep.

When you are traveling beyond Rohtang Pass then you need to only pay Congestion Charges and no Permit fee is applicable. Hence, you need to only pay Rs 50.

S.No.	Vehicle Class	Permit Fee	Congestion Charges
1	Motor Bike, Car & Jeep	Rs 500	Rs 50
2	MUV’s	Rs 500	Rs 50
3	Buses & HMV	Rs 500	Rs 100

Documents Required

To apply for the Rohtang permit, you need to provide a valid photo ID proof, a Valid Pollution Under Check (PUC) Certificate of your vehicle, and a Vehicle Registration Date (Age of vehicle not to be more than 10 years).

What will happen if I apply for beyond Rohtang Pass permit but come back from Rohtang only?

Please note that since 2017, a more mature technology-based barrier system has been set up at the checkpoints of Gulaba & Khoksar. For those of you who may not know, Gulaba is about 20 km from Manali and 31 km before Rohtang Pass. Khoksar is a small settlement on the northern side of Rohtang Pass in Lahaul Valley.

The distance between Khoksar – Gramphu – Rohtang pass is about 19 km. Gramphu is about 4 km from Khoksar. It is the point where the road to Spiti Valley bifurcates on right from Manali – Leh Highway.

The new system will stop the misuse of the permits. It will ensure that in case you have applied for the permit to go beyond Rohtang, the permit gets automatically verified at the Khoksar checkpoint. Data between the two checkpoints will be in sync to catch the misuse of the permits.

Hence, if you applied for a permit to go beyond Rohtang and want to return from Rohtang only, then you will be caught at the Gulaba checkpoint as there is no exit recorded at Khoksar for such a permit. Hence, you will have to apply for a permit for Rohtang Pass only in such a case, capped to vehicle restrictions every day.

Vehicles that will not comply with these guidelines and found misusing it will be blacklisted.

Taxi union is working out to appeal that the barrier should be shifted to Marhi from Gulaba due to congestion at Gulaba while Marhi provides more space to park the vehicles.

Rohtang Pass Timings

Sometimes there are time restrictions on traveling to Rohtang Pass. However, it depends on year to year. These timing restrictions for travel to Rohtang are mostly relaxed from July onward as the peak season ends in June and the tourist rush in Manali town fades away.

Frequently Asked Questions

Let us look at some of the frequently asked questions on getting the Rohtang Pass permits.

Conclusion

In the end, Rohtang Pass is one of the major attractions near Manali to be visited but there are many more places too in around Manali which are worth a visit.

I am sure this article will help you with all your questions on Rohtang Pass permits and traveling beyond Rohtang. The Rohtang Pass Mobile app is a great and welcoming move by the Kullu administration and much appreciated. It is going to help so many people every year who are applying for the Rohtang Pass permit.

I am thankful to them for easing out the process with this new Mobile app. In case, you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to post them either in the comments section of this article below.

A big THANK YOU to Anupam Mahanta bhai for his continuous contribution to the DwD Community Group on Facebook where he shared the above permit circular with all of us.

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