Manali and Lahaul Spiti Turn into Winter Wonderland as Heavy Snowfall Covers the Region

The popular tourist town of Manali in Kullu district has finally received its much-awaited snowfall after a long dry spell, while Lahaul-Spiti has transformed into a mesmerizing white paradise. The fresh snowfall has added to the excitement of visitors, who were seen enjoying the winter magic on Manali’s Mall Road.

The Atal Tunnel area has been buried under more than one and a half feet of snow, leading to the closure of the Manali-Atal Tunnel route for vehicular movement. Meanwhile, the lower regions of Kullu have been experiencing continuous rain since last night, while the upper reaches are blanketed in thick snow. The Jalori Pass, which connects the Banjar and Aani subdivisions, has also been blocked due to heavy snowfall, forcing residents of Aani to take a longer route via Mandi to reach the district headquarters.

Lahaul-Spiti, which had already been experiencing snowfall in recent days, witnessed over a foot of fresh snow in many areas overnight. A snowstorm is also sweeping through several rural parts of the Lahaul Valley, intensifying the cold wave across the region.

The fresh snowfall has come as a boon for the tourism industry, which had been facing a slump. With Manali’s Mall Road and surrounding areas covered in snow, a surge in tourist arrivals is expected, boosting the local economy.

Lahaul-Spiti Police SP Mayank Chaudhary confirmed that vehicular movement has been affected due to heavy snowfall in the valley. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has initiated snow-clearing operations, and roads will be reopened for traffic only after the routes are made safe. With over one and a half feet of snow near the Atal Tunnel, the passage remains temporarily closed for vehicles.

As the region turns into a snowy wonderland, tourists and locals alike are embracing the winter chill while awaiting the reopening of key routes.