Rohtang Pass Permit
Every vehicle driving from Manali up to Rohtang Pass needs a permit. Here is where to get it, what it costs and when you can skip it entirely.
Official links
- Rohtang permit portal (Tourism Development Council, Manali)
The only official booking site. The older rohtangpermits.nic.in domain is dead — do not use links to it.
Official links on this page were checked and found live on . Fees, quotas and dates change — always confirm on the official portal before travelling.
Why a permit exists
The permit is not a tourism formality — it is an environmental cap ordered by the National Green Tribunal to limit vehicle numbers and emissions on a fragile glacial pass. The district administration in Kullu issues permits against a fixed daily quota, and enforcement at the Gulaba checkpoint is strict: without a printed permit matching your vehicle registration, you are turned back.
How to book, step by step
- •Go to the official portal at rohtangpermits.hp.gov.in and register an account.
- •Choose your travel date. The quota is released in two windows during the day, so if the date shows sold out, try again at the next release.
- •Enter the vehicle registration number, engine type (petrol or diesel — they have separate quotas) and driver details.
- •Upload or enter the driving licence and vehicle RC details.
- •Pay the permit fee plus the congestion charge online.
- •Print the permit. A screenshot or PDF on your phone is not reliably accepted at the checkpoint — carry paper.
Fees and quota
At the last check, the daily tourism quota was in the region of 800 petrol and 400 diesel vehicles, released in two windows, with a combined fee of roughly ₹550 for a car (permit fee plus congestion charge). Treat those figures as indicative only: the quota and the fee are revised by the district administration and have changed more than once. The portal shows the current numbers at the moment you book, and that is the figure to trust.
When you do NOT need a permit
This is the part most itineraries get wrong. The permit applies to the old road up to Rohtang top. If you are simply crossing into Lahaul and Spiti — heading for Jispa, Keylong, Sissu or onward to Leh — you can use the Atal Tunnel instead, which needs no permit at all and stays open far longer in the year.
So if your goal is snow and Lahaul views rather than Rohtang top specifically, the tunnel to Sissu is the simpler option. In winter, Solang Valley below Manali is itself a snowfield and needs nothing.
Practical timing
- •The pass is closed every Tuesday for maintenance — plan around it.
- •Start early. Vehicles are held at Gulaba and traffic builds through the morning.
- •The pass is typically open from around May to November; BRO closes it with the first heavy snow, and dates move every year.
- •Carry the original driving licence and vehicle RC; the permit is checked against both.
Frequently Asked Questions
Booking is online through rohtangpermits.hp.gov.in. Hotels and agents in Manali will offer to arrange one for a fee, but they are using the same portal and the same quota — you are paying for convenience, not access. Book it yourself a few days ahead if you can.
The quota is released in two windows per day and popular dates in peak season (June, and holiday weekends) go quickly. Aim for a few days ahead. If your date is sold out, either try the next release window or reconsider whether the Atal Tunnel route gets you what you actually want.
No. The Atal Tunnel requires no permit and is open year-round barring weather closures. The permit is only for the old road over Rohtang top. This is the single most useful thing to know when planning a Manali trip.
The permit is issued for a single day, valid for the to-and-fro journey on that date. If your plans slip, you need a fresh permit for the new date and the earlier one is not refunded automatically.
Yes — the cap applies to motorcycles as well as cars, and bikes are counted against the quota. Riders should carry the same documents: printed permit, licence and vehicle registration.
You will be stopped at the Gulaba barrier and turned back. There is no on-the-spot issuing counter, so an unplanned drive up to Rohtang is not possible in season.
