MANALI/KEYLONG/ LEH/SHIMLA, May 14 – The mercury may be rising in the plains, but the spirits are soaring high in the Himalayas.
After nearly six months, the iconic 473-km-long Manali-Leh National Highway has been thrown open for tourist vehicles, offering a massive relief to tourists and boosting the hopes of a robust summer tourism season in Himachal and Ladakh.
Following the successful culmination of Operation Sindoor and a ceasefire on Indo-Pak tensions, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) restored the high-altitude lifeline via the Atal Tunnel to Sarchu, clearing massive snow walls as high as 50 feet in places like Baralacha Pass.
Snow removal took around 46 days for BRO which deployed 12 heavy machines deployed in the operation.
This year, the route reopened 19 days later than usual due to delayed snowfall and unexpected snowstorms mid-mission, forcing crews to restart operations from Darcha.
On the very first day of the opening, nearly 300 vehicles rolled out toward Leh via the highway, while about 90 smaller vehicles took the scenic Shinkula Pass route.
Though snowfall resumed briefly around Baralacha on Tuesday afternoon, small vehicles continued moving without major disruption.
However, the BRO has yet to issue the NOC for heavy vehicles due to narrow snow-cleared paths, especially near Baralacha, where machines are still cutting through thick ice walls.
The reopening of this route is not just a logistical victory but also a strategic one.
Manali-Leh road played a key role during the 1999 war, allowing swift movement of troops and supplies to the frontlines.
Meanwhile, with the summer heat baking the plains, Himachal and Ladakh are witnessing a growing influx of tourists seeking snow, monasteries, and cooler climes.
Popular highland routes like the Rohtang Pass, Baralacha, Shinkun La, Khardung La on the Manali-Leh corridor, and Kunzum Pass at 15,000 feet en route to Kaza and Kinnaur, are becoming hotspots for bikers, trekkers, and nature seekers.
Officials say tourists stranded in Ladakh in recent weeks were already being moved out via Shinkula. Now, with the highway open and the ceasefire in place, both tourism and military movement are gaining momentum.
The re-establishment of this crucial mountain corridor is being hailed as a sign of resilience, readiness, and renewal. And for weary travellers escaping the heat, it’s a gateway to the magic of the mountains once more.
