{
  "type": "article",
  "title": "President Droupadi Murmu Reaches Manali on Himachal Tour, Halts at Historic Circuit House as Traffic Diverted for Atal Tunnel",
  "summary": "President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Manali as part of her three-day Himachal Pradesh tour, with tight security, a night stay at the historic Circuit House, and travel curbs near Atal Tunnel.",
  "content": "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.\n\nOfficial Reception and Security Measures in Manali\nThe 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.\n\n \n\nHistoric Circuit House Stay and Presidential Precedents\nPresident 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.\n\nTemple Visit, Tunnel Itinerary, and Bilaspur Convocation\nThe 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.\n\nTraffic Restrictions and Advisory for Tourists\nTo facilitate the convoy's secure movement, Manali police restructured the traffic grid around key mountain corridors, implementing several curbs\n\n• 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.\n• Beginning at 8:30 AM, vehicles moving from Manali toward the Atal Tunnel will be stopped at designated checkpoints.\n• At 9:10 AM, the presidential convoy will depart from Manali toward the Atal Tunnel.\n• Beyond Palchan, only light motor vehicles (LMVs) and emergency services will receive permission to proceed in the direction of the Atal Tunnel.\n• Restrictions are expected to stay in place until around 2:00 PM, after which regular tourist movement will resume once security protocols normalize.\n\nTraffic 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.\n\nWhat this means for you\nThe presidential tour has resulted in temporary road restrictions and travel adjustments around Manali and the Atal Tunnel.\n\n• For Tourists: General traffic heading toward or through the Atal Tunnel will remain suspended until roughly 2:00 PM on October 7. Visitors should avoid planning trips to the tunnel during these hours and expect to use the Rohtang Pass route if coming from Sissu.\n• For Local Commuters: Only light motor vehicles (LMVs) and emergency vehicles will be allowed beyond Palchan during the restrictions. Checkpoints from Manali toward the tunnel will halt general traffic starting at 8:30 AM.\n• Weather Precautions: Fresh snowfall at Rohtang Pass and heavy rain in Manali may affect driving conditions. Travelers should prepare for cold weather and slippery mountain roads.\n• Police Compliance: Motorists must follow route instructions issued by local traffic police. Normal tourist traffic flow is scheduled to reopen only after security sweeps conclude around 2:00 PM.\n\nWhy this happened\nPresident Droupadi Murmu is on a scheduled three-day official tour of Himachal Pradesh encompassing institutional events and regional landmarks.\n\n• Official Tour Itinerary: Following her participation in the inaugural convocation at AIIMS Bilaspur, the President traveled to Manali to visit the Hadimba Temple and the Atal Tunnel on October 7.\n• High-Level Security Standards: Protocol mandates extensive security cordons for the head of state, prompting the deployment of around 600 personnel and timed road closures along the convoy route.\n• Strategic and Historic Precedent: Locations like the Manali Circuit House and the Atal Tunnel carry historic and regional significance, having hosted previous national leaders and heads of state.\n\nQuestions & Answers\n\n1. When did President Droupadi Murmu arrive in Manali?\nPresident Droupadi Murmu reached the DGRE helipad in Manali at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, October 6.\n\n2. Who received President Murmu in Manali?\nMandi MP Kangana Ranaut and Manali MLA Bhuvneshwar Gaur welcomed her at the helipad.\n\n3. Who were the previous two Presidents to visit Manali?\nPresident Neelam Sanjiva Reddy visited in 1979, and President Ram Nath Kovind visited the Atal Tunnel on June 11, 2022.\n\n4. Where is President Droupadi Murmu staying in Manali?\nShe is staying at the Circuit House, which was historically favored by India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.\n\n5. What are the President's scheduled plans for October 7?\nShe is scheduled to offer prayers at the Hadimba Temple and visit the Atal Tunnel.\n\n6. How long will traffic curbs remain in place near the Atal Tunnel on October 7?\nGeneral tourist traffic will face curbs beginning in the morning and continuing until approximately 2:00 PM.",
  "url": "https://trendkia.com/en/himachal-pradesh/himachal-daure-para-manali-pahunchin-rashtrapati-droupadi-murmu-circuit-house-men-ratri-thaharava-aura-atal-tunnel-ka-badala-traip-43926",
  "category": "Himachal Pradesh",
  "publishedAt": "2026-10-06",
  "tags": [
    "Droupadi Murmu",
    "Manali",
    "Himachal Pradesh",
    "Atal Tunnel",
    "Kangana Ranaut",
    "Circuit House",
    "Traffic Advisory"
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "site": "TrendKia"
}