Christmas cheer: Tourists throng Manali for festive fun

Manali’s Mall Road is buzzing with festive excitement as tourists flock to the hill station to celebrate Christmas and New Year. A large crowd gathered this evening, creating a lively atmosphere.

Gajender Thakur, Chief Patron of the Manali Hoteliers Association, said the hotel room occupancy in the region has surpassed 90 per cent. Anup Thakur, president of the Kullu-Manali Paryatan Vikas Mandal, highlighted that the recent snowfall has played a key role in drawing visitors, adding that the Mall Road is packed with tourists.

“As New Year’s Eve approaches, we expect even larger crowds in Manali. Local authorities have made improvements to infrastructure and management on Mall Road to accommodate the influx of visitors. Efforts by the police to regulate traffic and maintain law and order during this peak tourist season have also been praised,” said Anup Thakur.

For the first time, the Manali administration has organised DJ music and live performances from December 24 to 31 on Mall Road. Despite the dipping temperature, tourists danced to the music, enhancing the festive mood.

Manali MLA Bhuvaneshwar Gaur inaugurated the Christmas event on Mall Road today and commended the efforts of local authorities, including Manali SDM Raman Kumar Sharma. The cleanliness of the area has been effectively managed by the Municipal Council of Manali under the guidance of Executive Officer Karun Bharmouria.

Locals such as Shailender Sharma, Raj Sharma, Nihal Thakur, and Sanju praised the decision to host DJ and live music events, which have made the celebrations even more enjoyable. Additionally, Santa Claus has become a major attraction on Mall Road, with tourists eagerly lining up to take selfies at designated photo points.