Rohtang Pass sits at 3,978 metres on the road north from Manali towards Lahaul and Ladakh, roughly 51 kilometres by road from town. It is the point where you cross from the green Kullu Valley into the dry, austere landscape of the Himalayan rain shadow. On the Manali side: dense forest and summer meadows. On the far side: bare scree, cold winds, and the beginning of a landscape that gradually opens into the great high-altitude valleys of Lahaul, Spiti, and Ladakh.
The pass is open roughly from June to October; in winter it is buried under several metres of snow. Day-trippers from Manali typically stop here to see snow, ride snowmobiles (rented on the spot), and take in the panorama of peaks. For those continuing towards Leh, this is simply the first significant milestone. The newer Atal Tunnel, opened in 2020 below the pass, means vehicles can now reach Lahaul in winter — but the pass road remains open for those who want the actual summit experience in summer. The National Green Tribunal limits the number of vehicles daily; check current restrictions before making the trip.