President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Manali on Tuesday, October 6, continuing her three-day tour of Himachal Pradesh after visiting Bilaspur. Authorities placed administrative and security setups on high alert across Kullu, Manali, and the route leading to the Atal Tunnel, deploying approximately 600 personnel to secure the movement. Her arrival coincided with a sharp turn in the weather, bringing heavy rainfall to the town and fresh snowfall across high-altitude regions, including the Rohtang Pass.
Official Reception and Security Measures in Manali
The President's helicopter landed at the DGRE helipad at 1:00 PM, where Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut and Manali MLA Bhuvneshwar Gaur welcomed her. At 1:15 PM, the presidential motorcade moved through Rambag Chowk, where gathered residents and visitors caught a glimpse of the convoy as the President waved in greeting. Extensive security cordons were drawn along the entirety of the route from the helipad to the Circuit House. Local authorities managed vehicular flow across key intersections to maintain order, noting substantial interest among local residents and tourists during the visit.
Historic Circuit House Stay and Presidential Precedents
President Murmu is the third President of India to visit Manali. In 1979, the then President Neelam Sanjiva Reddy visited the town. Decades later, on June 11, 2022, President Ram Nath Kovind visited the Atal Tunnel in Rohtang, though he did not halt in Manali. President Murmu's night halt at the Circuit House marks the first such stay by a President in 37 years. The property carries notable heritage as the favored lodging of India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, during his visits to the valley.
Temple Visit, Tunnel Itinerary, and Bilaspur Convocation
The presidential schedule for October 7 includes offering prayers at the Hadimba Temple before proceeding for a visit to the Atal Tunnel. Earlier on Tuesday, the President participated in the first convocation ceremony of AIIMS Bilaspur, presenting degrees to graduating medical students and urging them to direct knowledge and research toward innovation that improves lives and serves society.
Traffic Restrictions and Advisory for Tourists
To facilitate the convoy's secure movement, Manali police restructured the traffic grid around key mountain corridors, implementing several curbs
- Starting at 6:30 AM, regular vehicles traveling from Sissu toward Manali will not be permitted to use the Atal Tunnel and must take the Rohtang Pass route instead.
- Beginning at 8:30 AM, vehicles moving from Manali toward the Atal Tunnel will be stopped at designated checkpoints.
- At 9:10 AM, the presidential convoy will depart from Manali toward the Atal Tunnel.
- Beyond Palchan, only light motor vehicles (LMVs) and emergency services will receive permission to proceed in the direction of the Atal Tunnel.
- Restrictions are expected to stay in place until around 2:00 PM, after which regular tourist movement will resume once security protocols normalize.
Traffic authorities advised tourists to postpone any travel plans to the Atal Tunnel between morning hours and 2:00 PM on October 7, and to adhere closely to on-ground instructions issued by local police.
