Atal Tunnel - Manali's All-Weather Himalayan Marvel

The Atal Tunnel is a highway tunnel built under the Rohtang Pass in the eastern Pir Panjal range of the Himalayas. At 9.02 kilometers, it's the world's longest single-tube highway tunnel at an altitude of over 10,000 feet. The journey through the well-lit, ventilated tunnel takes about 15-20 minutes and is a unique experience in itself. The primary purpose of the tunnel is to provide all-weather connectivity between Manali and the Lahaul-Spiti Valley, which was previously cut off for about six months every year due to heavy snowfall on the Rohtang Pass. Visitors drive from the South Portal near Dhundi, Manali, through the mountain to emerge at the North Portal near Sissu in Lahaul. The change in scenery is immediate and dramatic. The lush green valleys around Manali give way to the more rugged, arid, and starkly beautiful landscape of Lahaul. At both portals, there are designated areas where visitors can park their vehicles, take photographs, and admire the engineering accomplishment and the surrounding mountain views. It's not just a transit route but a destination for those interested in modern infrastructure and scenic mountain drives.