Even before the Christmas and New Year holidays, the hills of Himachal Pradesh have become buzzing with tourists. The sudden increase in the crowd of tourists amidst the mountains waiting to be covered with snow during the cold season has surprised both the local administration and people associated with the tourism business. These days, many pictures and videos of Granphu Snow Point of Lahaul-Spiti are going viral on social media, in which huge crowd and long traffic jam are clearly visible.
Initially people thought that these pictures were from Rohtang Pass, but later it became clear that this situation had arisen at Gramphu Snow Point on last Saturday and Sunday. At present only 4×4 vehicles are being allowed on Rohtang Pass and Shinkula Pass. For this reason, normal vehicles are able to reach Gramphu Snow Point only. Due to large number of tourists parking their vehicles here and there on the roadside, the road became narrow and the speed of traffic came to a standstill.
why do people go
The continuously deteriorating air quality in Delhi-NCR is also being considered a major reason for this crowd. People troubled by pollution have set out towards the mountains in search of clean air and peace. The situation is such that the tourism season seems to be reaching its peak in late November and early December.
This crowd is no less than a relief for the tourism businessmen who have been disappointed due to recent disasters and weak season. Hotels in Shimla, Manali and surrounding areas are almost full. Advance booking for Christmas and New Year is happening rapidly. Hotel owners, taxi drivers and local shopkeepers are hopeful that this season will compensate for the losses incurred in the last few months. On the other hand, in view of the increasing crowd, the police and administration have also become alert. Lahaul-Spiti SP Shivani Mehla says that the number of tourists has definitely increased, but necessary steps are being taken to deal with the jam-like situation. Additional police force is being deployed at Gramphu Snow Point so that the traffic can be controlled and any kind of chaos does not spread.
Not limited to Manali only
To improve the traffic system in Kullu-Manali area, eight new modern vehicles have recently been given to the police department. Five of these are electric vehicles, so that there is minimal impact on the environment. Special vehicles have been deployed to patrol snowfall and inaccessible roads. Round the clock monitoring is being done to prevent overspeeding from Bajaura to Manali. A plan has been made to handle the traffic by dividing Manali city into different sectors. Apart from this, additional forces have also been called from nearby districts to help the local police.
The crowd of tourists is no longer limited to Manali only. In search of peace and less crowded areas, people are also moving towards places like Kasol, Manikaran Valley, Jibhi and Tirthan Valley. These areas are known for their natural beauty, but the roads here are quite narrow. In view of this, police have been deployed at many sensitive places from Bhuntar to Kasol so that there is no chaos.
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If you are also planning a trip to the mountains in the coming days, then it is important to park your vehicle only at designated parking spots. Parking on the roadside not only causes traffic jams but also increases problems in case of emergency. It is in everyone’s best interest to follow the instructions of the local administration and behave like a responsible tourist. Only then will this beautiful hilly area remain safe and enjoyable.
Watch the video here
Escape from toxic AQI or what?
This jam isn’t on some city road, its Rohtang Pass. No snowfall yet. No holidays. Still such massive traffic. So what exactly is pulling everyone up there? pic.twitter.com/cc21YIujVP
— Nikhil Saini (@iNikhilsaini) December 16, 2025
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