The Atal Tunnel runs 9.02 km under the Rohtang ridge at about 3,100 m, opened in October 2020, and connects Manali to the Lahaul valley. It removed roughly 46 km and several hours from the journey to Keylong, and — the part that matters most — ended Lahaul's annual isolation, when Rohtang Pass closed under snow and the valley was cut off for around six months a year. No permit is needed for the tunnel itself; Rohtang Pass above it still requires one and still closes in winter.
What it replaced
Before the tunnel, every vehicle going from Manali into Lahaul crossed Rohtang Pass at about 3,980 m — a slow climb on a road that was frequently jammed with day-trippers, often blocked by snow, and shut entirely from roughly November to May.
For visitors that meant a long, unpredictable morning. For the roughly 30,000 people living in Lahaul it meant something else: six months each year with no road out. Supplies were stockpiled before the pass closed, and medical emergencies meant a helicopter or nothing.
The tunnel changed that. Keylong is now reachable from Manali year-round in a couple of hours, and the valley has winter road access for the first time in its history.
| Via Rohtang Pass | Via Atal Tunnel | |
|---|---|---|
| Distance Manali-Keylong | about 116 km | about 70 km |
| Time | five to six hours | two to three hours |
| Winter | closed Nov-May | open year-round |
| Permit | required for Rohtang | none for the tunnel |
| Highest point | 3,980 m | 3,100 m |
The tunnel itself
It is a single-tube, two-lane tunnel with an emergency escape tunnel built into the floor beneath the carriageway, and it took about ten years to complete — the Seri Nullah fault zone alone took years to get through, with progress at times measured in a few metres a month.
Driving it takes about ten to fifteen minutes. There is a speed limit, cameras, and no stopping — which disappoints visitors who arrive expecting to photograph themselves inside. The photographs happen at the south portal, where there is parking and a viewing area, and that is where most Manali day trips now turn around.
What it opened up for travellers
Sissu, about 40 minutes beyond the north portal, has become the standard day trip from Manali — a waterfall, a lake, and the Chandra river in a wide valley that looks nothing like the Kullu side. It is the easiest way to see genuine Lahaul landscape without committing to a long trip.
Keylong, the district headquarters, is about two hours from Manali and is the base for the Lahaul valley proper.
Spiti is reachable from this side when Kunzum La is open, roughly June to October, which is the Manali route described in the Spiti guide. The tunnel has not changed Kunzum's season.
And the Manali–Leh highway now starts with a tunnel rather than a pass, though Baralacha La, Nakee La and Lachulung La beyond it still govern when that road opens.
Rohtang, which still matters
The pass did not become irrelevant. It is still the scenic route, still open roughly May to November, and still the place people go specifically to stand in snow near Manali.
It also still requires a permit, issued online with a daily vehicle quota and a rotation that closes the pass to tourist traffic on certain days. That system exists because the pass was being damaged by sheer volume, and it is enforced.
So the practical split is: the tunnel if you are going somewhere, Rohtang if the pass itself is the destination — and check the permit position before planning a day around it.
Doing it from Manali
The south portal is about 25 km from Manali, roughly an hour depending on traffic through Solang. A Manali–tunnel–Sissu day trip is comfortable and is now one of the most common things visitors do from the town.
Winter is worth a note. The tunnel is open, but the approach road to the south portal and the road beyond the north portal can still close in heavy snow — the tunnel removed the pass, not the weather. Check conditions in January and February rather than assuming year-round means always.
Triveni Cabs runs the route from Manali; most itineraries treat the tunnel and Sissu as a half day with Solang on the way back.
Questions people ask
Do I need a permit for the Atal Tunnel?
No. The tunnel needs no permit. Rohtang Pass above it does, issued online with a daily quota and rotation days when it closes to tourist traffic.
Can I stop inside the tunnel for photos?
No. There is a speed limit, cameras and no stopping. The photo stop is at the south portal, where there is parking and a viewing area.
Is the tunnel open all year?
The tunnel is, but the approach roads can still close in heavy snow. It removed the pass, not the weather — check conditions in January and February.
What is worth seeing beyond the tunnel?
Sissu, about 40 minutes on, is the standard day trip — waterfall, lake and a valley that looks nothing like the Kullu side. Keylong is two hours from Manali.
