Kullu, June 20
Extreme summer temperatures across the plains have led to a sharp rise in tourist arrivals in Himachal Pradesh, with Manali and Lahaul emerging as preferred destinations for travellers seeking cooler weather and scenic mountain landscapes.
During weekends, tourist vehicle movement in Manali has increased significantly. While around 3,000 vehicles from outside states arrive on normal days, the number rises to nearly 4,000–5,000 during weekends. With growing footfall, hotels in the popular hill destination are seeing high occupancy, while tourists are also exploring the valleys of Lahaul as well as Manali.
Rohtang Pass remains one of the top attractions for visitors arriving in Kullu-Manali, with thousands of tourists travelling there daily. However, after the construction of the Atal Tunnel, tourism in Lahaul has expanded rapidly, attracting visitors to destinations such as Baralacha Pass, Shinkula Pass, Chandratal, and Deepak Tal.
Tourists are also visiting Sissu and Koksar to enjoy the region’s natural beauty. Even in June, visitors are experiencing snowfall-like conditions at higher altitudes, including Rohtang Pass, Shinkula Pass, and Baralacha Pass. Temperatures in these areas continue to drop to minus degrees during mornings and evenings, giving tourists a unique winter-like experience during summer.
The Beas River has also become a major attraction for adventure lovers. Tourists from different states are enjoying river rafting on the river’s cold waters. Several rafting points have been developed in areas including Ramshila, Babeli, Raison, Pirdi, and Bhuntar in the Kullu district.
The growing demand for adventure tourism has created employment opportunities for more than 5,000 youths in the river rafting sector. With increased tourist arrivals in June, the number of rafts operating on the Beas River has also risen, benefiting local tourism businesses.
Tourist Kajal from Punjab said she visited Kullu-Manali and enjoyed river rafting during her trip. She said temperatures in Punjab have reached around 40–45 degrees Celsius, while the weather in Himachal Pradesh is much cooler. She added that experiencing sub-zero temperatures at Baralacha Pass in Lahaul was memorable.
Prachi from Ludhiana said river rafting was an exciting experience for her. She said rafting through the strong currents of the Beas River was thrilling and provided relief from the intense heat of Punjab. She praised the natural beauty and pleasant weather of Kullu-Manali and Lahaul.
Vandana Aggarwal from Raipur, Chhattisgarh, said there was a significant difference in the temperatures between her hometown and Kullu-Manali. She said that while temperatures in Chhattisgarh were above 45 degrees Celsius, she had the opportunity to experience cooler conditions, including temperatures below zero, during evenings in Lahaul.
Mohan Jain from Jaipur said he travelled to Kullu-Manali with friends to escape Rajasthan’s extreme heat. He said destinations including Kullu-Manali, Manikaran, and Lahaul offered pleasant weather, while river rafting in the Beas River was an exciting experience.
Deepak Saini from Jaipur said he explored several tourist destinations in Kullu and enjoyed adventure activities like river rafting and paragliding. He encouraged people to visit Kullu-Manali to escape the scorching heat of the plains.
