Manali-Hamta Pass road demands repair: Hoteliers

Dipender Manta

Tribune news Service

Mandi, July 12

Hoteliers of Manali have urged the district administration, Kullu, to improve the condition of the 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 the Hamta Pass is a scenic spot, a majority of tourists prefer to visit just the 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 said, “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 the Rohtang Pass while providing the tourists another option to visit a new spot.”

“The Hamta Pass is situated at an altitude of 14,039 ft in 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 said.

“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 the 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,” he said.