Improve Manali-Hamta Pass road condition: Hoteliers

Most tourists avoid journey on account of poor road

Dipender Manta

Tribune news Service

Mandi, July 11

Hoteliers of Manali have urged the district administration, Kullu, to improve the condition of Manali-Hamta Pass road. They have said that due to the poor condition of the road, most of the tourists avoid undertaking their journey.

Though Hamta Pass is a scenic spot, a majority of tourists prefer to visit just Rohtang Pass, the famous tourist destination in Kullu district. To split traffic rush the condition of the Manali-Hamta Pass road must be improved to ensure a comfortable journey for the tourists.

Anup Thakur, president of Hoteliers Association Manali told The Tribune that “The Manali-Hamta Pass road could be repaired using Tourism Development Corporation funds if budget provision is not there with the Public Works Department. This road, if in good condition, will ease the traffic load of Rohtang Pass while providing the tourists another option to visit a new spot and enjoy.”

“Hamta Pass is situated at an altitude of 14,039 ft on the Pir Panjal range in the Himalayas, which is blessed with natural beauty. It is located on a small corridor between Lahaul’s Chandra Valley and the Kullu valley. This pass is frequently used by shepherds of the lower Himalayan region, seeking high-altitude grasslands in the summer, when the dry cold desert of Lahaul is barren,” he added.

“The alluring features of the Hamta trek are vertical rock walls, waterfalls, hanging glaciers, pinewoods, rhododendron forests, open meadows, tiny lakes and peaks rising above 6,000 metres. The trek begins in the green Kullu valley. After crossing over through Hamta Pass the trekker moves into the drier region of Lahaul,” said Thakur.

“The trek takes climbers over glaciers, fast-flowing rivers and challenging terrain, and the trek is regarded suitable for beginners who are physically fit. Beyond Hamta Pass, trekkers can choose to extend their trek towards the beautiful Chandrataal lake in tribal district Lahaul Spiti,” he said.

“In 2018, to accommodate the tourist rush toward the snow point in Kullu-Manali, the Kullu district administration had increased the number limit of tourist vehicles allowing 300 vehicles towards Hamta Pass from Manali. So, it must provide better road connectivity as well to attract tourists to this scenic place,” he added.