This travelogue is about my trip to Zanskar valley in October 2020, via the newly opened Shinku La pass. Route covered: Navi Mumbai - Ahmedabad - Manali - Atal tunnel - Shinkula - Padum - Umbala -
AD We’re in Manali, Himachal Pradesh and we’re heading northwards this fine October’s day. But today it’s not about the destination but the journey itself…the journey that just got a lot shorter with the opening of the much-talked about Atal Tunnel, the world’s longest tunnel above 10,000 feet. What we want to know is exactly how much shorter the route has become in, both, distance and time. On this mission is Rahul who’ll be driving from Manali to Sissu on the Leh highway via the Atal Tunnel in an Audi Q8. Nikhil, on the other hand, will be taking the older and longer route via the famed Rohtang Pass in the Q8’s evil twin, the 600hp Audi RS Q8.
Ropeway terminal under construction in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh. | Meenakshi Kapoor/ The Third Pole
“We are not against the ropeway or development,” said Sundar Singh, head of Palchan’s village council. “We are only concerned about the environment and local livelihoods. We want as few trees to be cut as possible and people to be consulted.”
A nine-kilometre ropeway is being built in the north Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The electricity-powered aerial cable cars will carry tourists between Kothi, an ancient Himalayan village, and the Rohtang Pass, one of the highest passes in the Himalayas. Currently, the only way to reach the Rohtang Pass is a two-hour drive on the congested road from Manali, a resort town near Kothi. The ropeway is expected to reduce this to about 20 minutes.
Outlook Ashwani Sharma 2020-12-27T22:28:54+05:30 Record 5,000 Vehicles Cross Atal Rohtang Tunnel In A Single Day outlookindia.com 2020-12-27T22:46:09+05:30
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On Sunday, Atal Rohtang Tunnel witnessed a record-breaking 5000 tourist vehicles crossing it on a single day.
This was the highest ever traffic activity recorded at the tunnel after its inauguration in October. The tunnel has become the biggest tourist attraction this winter.
Already, 15 persons have been arrested for committing traffic violations and causing obstructions inside the tunnel by stopping or slowing down their vehicles. This was the second time during the past three days when such serious violations were detected inside the tunnel.
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Record 5,450 Vehicles Cross Atal Tunnel on Sunday, 15 Tourists Arrested for Obstructing Traffic
A labourer works at the north portal of the Atal Rohtang Tunnel in Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh. (AFP)
While 2,800 vehicles entered the tunnel from the Manali side, 2,650 vehicles came from the Lahaul side, he said, adding that this was the highest number of vehicles using the road on a single day since its inauguration in October.
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A record number of 5,450 vehicles crossed the Atal Tunnel, an all-weather road beneath the 13,058-foot-high Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh, on Sunday, a senior police officer said. While 2,800 vehicles entered the tunnel from the Manali side, 2,650 vehicles came from the Lahaul side, he said, adding that this was the highest number of vehicles using the road on a single day since its inauguration in October.