No, the honest answer to “is Rohtang Pass open in March” is that the road beyond the police barrier at Kothi or Gulaba stays closed to tourist vehicles for the whole month. The pass usually reopens to tourists in May or early June, once the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has cleared the snow.
Altitude is why the answer to “is Rohtang Pass open in March?” is no. Rohtang sits at 3,978 metres, about 51 km from Manali, and from late November the Kullu administration stops traffic short of the top because of deep snow, black ice and avalanche risk. In March, snow clearance on the Manali side often hasn’t even begun.
What most people get wrong is assuming that an open Atal Tunnel means an open Rohtang. The tunnel runs under the pass and usually stays open through winter, so you can still find plenty of snow on a March day out. You just won’t stand on Rohtang’s summit.
So plan a Solang Valley and Atal Tunnel day instead, save Rohtang for May onwards, and confirm the barrier position the evening before you drive. You’ll find more of our travel guides for Himachal and other hill trips if you’re planning a longer route.
Is Rohtang Pass Open in March? The Road Status Month by Month
The answer to “is Rohtang Pass open in March?” barely changes from year to year. The road beyond Gulaba usually closes around 15 November, though dry weather has stretched that to late November recently. After the first heavy snow, the barrier drops to Kothi, about 14 km from Manali.
December to February is deep winter on this road. By March, the Rohtang Pass March snow is still piled high near the top, and BRO snow clearance tends to start somewhere between March and April, sometimes from the Lahaul side first.
April is clearing season, and tourists are sometimes allowed up to Gulaba. Marhi usually opens in May, and the top follows. In the last three seasons, tourists reached Rohtang again on 24 May 2024, 17 May 2025 and 15 May 2026.
So is Rohtang Pass open in March on a sunny weekend with clear skies? No. Good weather helps the clearing crews, but it doesn’t lift the closure order, and the police at the barrier won’t wave a tourist car through.
Late March doesn’t change the answer to “is Rohtang Pass open in March?” either. It mostly means softer, slushier snow at Solang, so if snow is your priority, we’d pick the first half of the month.
Why the Atal Tunnel Makes Everyone Think Rohtang Is Open
The 9.02 km Atal Tunnel opened in October 2020 and runs beneath the pass. Its south portal is around 25 km from Manali at roughly 3,060 metres, and the north portal comes out near Sissu in Lahaul. That means you can cross the Pir Panjal range in winter without going over Rohtang at all.
That’s why March social media is full of snow photos tagged as Rohtang. Most are taken at the tunnel portals, Solang or Sissu. If you’re wondering “is Rohtang Pass open in March?” because a friend just posted snow pictures, this is nearly always the explanation.
The tunnel isn’t guaranteed either. After fresh snowfall, police have limited traffic beyond Solang to 4×4 vehicles only, and a heavy spell can halt movement towards the tunnel for a day or more. The background on how the Atal Tunnel was built explains why it stays usable when the pass is snowed in.
Gulaba Snow Point in March: Where the Barrier Actually Sits
Whether you can reach the Gulaba snow point in March depends on one thing: where the police have placed the barrier that week. Gulaba is about 20 km from Manali and works as the permit checkpoint in summer.
In one recent season, Gulaba reopened to tourists on 16 March. The next year it stayed shut until 10 April, and visitors could only drive up to Kothi until then. Even with Gulaba open, the answer to “is Rohtang Pass open in March?” stays the same, because the barrier simply moves up the hill.
We’d skip Kothi as a destination. Press reports from those seasons note there was little or no snow at Kothi, and most visitors drove on to Solang or through the tunnel to Sissu. Gulaba can disappoint too, since it often reopens only after the road and parking have melted clear.
The Rohtang Pass March road status changes with each snowfall, so settle where the barrier is on the evening before, not at a checkpoint at 9 am. Local news, district notices and your hotel or driver are usually the quickest sources.
Do You Need a Rohtang Permit in March?
No. Because the answer to “is Rohtang Pass open in March?” is no, the March Rohtang permit status is simple: sightseeing permits only matter once the road beyond Gulaba reopens. Don’t pay anyone who offers to arrange a permit for a March date.
When the season starts, permits are booked on the official Rohtang permit portal. Under National Green Tribunal rules, only 1,200 vehicles a day (800 petrol and 400 diesel) may go beyond Gulaba, and a car permit costs ₹550, made up of a ₹500 fee and a ₹50 congestion charge.
Tuesday closures for BRO maintenance have been ordered in some seasons and dropped in others. If you come back in summer, check the portal calendar for your exact date rather than trusting an old blog post.
A Better March Day Out From Manali
Once you’ve accepted that the answer to “is Rohtang Pass open in March?” is no, March still gives you plenty of snow. This is the plan we’d suggest, in the order that works best on the road.
Leave Manali by 7 am for Solang Valley
Solang is around 13 km from Manali, needs no permit and usually holds snow into March, which makes it the first stop when the answer to “is Rohtang Pass open in March?” is no. Leaving by 7 am puts you ahead of the main rush of day-trippers on the narrow road through Palchan.
For the car, a 4×4 or a vehicle carrying snow chains is the sensible pick. If police announce a 4×4-only order beyond Solang that morning, a regular hatchback will simply be turned around.
Carry On Through the Atal Tunnel to Sissu
From Solang it’s about 12 km to the south portal, and Sissu sits roughly 10 km past the north portal. In March, the Lahaul side often holds more snow than anything you can reach on the Rohtang road, which makes it the best stand-in for the pass. Our photography tips and ideas can help with bright snow shots.
Police have restricted stopping in avalanche-prone stretches near the north portal, so park only where you’re told to. Rent waterproof boots and a snow suit in Manali or at Solang rather than soaking your own shoes, and keep a spare pair of dry socks in the car.
Thermals, a fleece and a proper windproof jacket matter more than one heavy coat. Browse our fashion and clothing articles if you need ideas for dressing warm without looking bulky.
Turn Back Before Mid-Afternoon
Timing changes the whole day. Snow that melts on the road by noon refreezes as the sun drops, turning shaded bends into black ice, so aim to be heading back down towards Manali by 3 pm.
The easiest money saver is agreeing the full-day taxi fare, including waiting time and the tunnel leg, before you set off. Fares change by season, and a clear route agreed upfront stops a Rohtang charge sneaking onto a Solang day. Our personal finance guides can help you set a sensible trip budget.
Safety, Scams and When to Get Help
A tout who answers “is Rohtang Pass open in March?” with a cheerful yes is selling you a Solang trip at a Rohtang price. If the road is closed, the car can only go up to the barrier, so ask exactly where you’ll stop before you pay.
Never walk past a police barrier or onto a closed stretch, however good the snow looks. Barriers move only after joint inspections by the administration, police and BRO, and the risks beyond them are real: black ice, soft snow edges and avalanche-prone slopes.
Altitude matters too. At around 3,000 metres near the tunnel, some people get a headache, nausea or dizziness, and children and older relatives can feel it faster. Drink water, skip alcohol that day and head down if symptoms build.
Get medical help straight away if someone is breathless at rest, confused, unusually drowsy or can’t walk straight. Bring them down and see a doctor in Manali, and call 112, India’s emergency number, if you can’t move them safely yourself. Our health articles cover staying well when you travel.
What We Tell Readers Planning a March Trip
What we tell readers who search “is Rohtang Pass open in March” is to treat Rohtang as a bonus for a May or June trip, never the reason for a March one. Book refundable stays, keep one spare day, and let the snow you can actually reach decide the plan.
If fresh snow closes the road at Solang on your chosen day, don’t sit in traffic hoping it lifts. Spend it in Old Manali, Vashisht or Naggar instead, and try the snow run again the next morning.
We checked the dates and rules in this guide on 14 November 2026 against several seasons of Kullu district orders and permit rules reported in the regional press. So, is Rohtang Pass open in March? Almost certainly not for you, but the snow around Manali is still worth the early start.
For more ideas on slow, well-planned breaks, explore our lifestyle section. This guide is for general travel information only. Road access changes with the weather, so always follow police and district orders on the day.
