Travel guidePermits & roads
Rohtang Pass permit — how it works in 2026
Every tourist vehicle going to Rohtang Pass (3,978 m), 51 km from Manali, needs an online permit from rohtangpermits.hp.gov.in, run by the Deputy Commissioner of Kullu. Permits are released in daily slots under a cap set by the National Green Tribunal, the road is closed on Tuesdays, and the pass is shut by snow in winter. The Atal Tunnel and Sissu need no Rohtang permit.
Why there is a permit at all
Rohtang Pass, at 3,978 m on the old road from Manali into Lahaul, used to see thousands of vehicles a day in summer — traffic jams at the top, black snow and diesel smoke. The National Green Tribunal stepped in, and since then the number of tourist vehicles allowed up each day has been capped and every vehicle needs a permit. It made the pass better to visit, and harder to plan.
How the permit works
- Where: online at rohtangpermits.hp.gov.in, the portal of the Deputy Commissioner, Kullu.
- What: a Rohtang Pass permit for tourism, a special permit for private vehicles, a Hamta Pass permit, and congestion-fee slips for vehicles going beyond Rohtang.
- When: permits are released in slots for the following days. Travel sources in 2026 report releases at 10 am and 4 pm, and a daily tourism cap of about 1,200 vehicles — check the portal, because both change.
- Cost: reported in 2026 as ₹500 plus a ₹50 congestion charge for a car or jeep.
- Closed: Tuesdays, for maintenance, and whenever snow or weather makes the road unsafe. The pass usually reopens to tourists around May — the pass calendar lists each year’s opening and closing dates.
If you are travelling in a local taxi, the operator normally applies for the permit; you give them your details and the date.
On our tours
Every Leisure Himachal Manali itinerary has a Rohtang day marked subject to availability — because it is. If the permit does not come through, the day goes to Solang Valley and, when the road is open, through the Atal Tunnel to Sissu. See the Rohtang & Atal Tunnel taxi page for the distances.
Tips for the day
- Leave early — the permit is for one vehicle on one day, and the road is slow.
- Rohtang is cold even in June. Take a jacket, gloves and sunglasses.
- At nearly 4,000 m, go easy on children and older travellers; headaches are a signal to come down.
Before you go
Quick answers
Where do I apply for a Rohtang Pass permit?
On the official portal, rohtangpermits.hp.gov.in, run by the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Kullu. It issues the Rohtang Pass permit for tourism, a special permit for private vehicles, the Hamta Pass permit, and congestion-fee slips.
How much does a Rohtang permit cost?
Travel sources for 2026 report ₹500 plus a ₹50 congestion charge for a car or jeep. Fees are set by the district administration and change; the portal shows the current amount when you apply.
Is Rohtang Pass closed on Tuesdays?
Yes, the road to Rohtang is closed to tourist traffic on Tuesdays for maintenance, and it can close at short notice after snowfall.
Do I need a Rohtang permit for the Atal Tunnel?
No. The Atal Tunnel and Sissu in Lahaul are reached without going over the pass and need no Rohtang permit. Private vehicles entering Lahaul & Spiti should register free on the e-Aagman portal.
What if I cannot get a permit?
Spend the day at Solang Valley and through the Atal Tunnel to Sissu instead — both give you snow and high mountains without the permit.
Destination guides
More travel guides
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these sources on 24 October 2026. Fees, permits, timings and road openings change — check them before you travel.