Rohtang Pass reopens after five months

Manali, May 3 (IANS) The snowbound Rohtang Pass, gateway to the adventure tourism destination of Lahaul valley in Himachal Pradesh, reopened for traffic after remaining closed for five months, an official said Saturday.

The pass, located at 3,978 metres in the Pir Panjal mountain range, was closed for traffic since November due to heavy snowfall.

"State-run buses between Manali and Keylong towns started plying from today (Saturday)," Lahaul-Spiti Deputy Commissioner B.S. Thakur told IANS.

The idyllic Lahaul Valley attracts a number of backpackers, especially foreigners.