facebook
Destinations #SomeGoodNews: Get Ready To Soon Hop On A Vistadome Bus From Manali To Leh
Advertisement

#SomeGoodNews: Get Ready To Soon Hop On A Vistadome Bus From Manali To Leh

This September, you might just be able to go on a Vistadome bus ride from Manali to Leh via the Atal tunnel in Himachal Pradesh.

Advertisement

By: Priyanka Chakrabarti Published: Aug 19, 2020 03:43 PM IST

#SomeGoodNews: Get Ready To Soon Hop On A Vistadome Bus From Manali To Leh

This September, you might just be able to go on a Vistadome bus ride from Manali to Leh via the Atal tunnel in Himachal Pradesh. By Tanvi Jain

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Yash Jain (@oceanabovemyhead) on

Himachal Pradesh gives yet another reason to keep visiting the state, again and again, this time for its Vistadome buses that will take you from Manali to Leh via the Rohtang tunnel. Renamed as the Atal tunnel in the memory of late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, it is scheduled to be inaugurated next month.  

The announcement for the same was made in Kullu on the occasion of Independence Day by Himachal CM Jai Ram Thakur, who reportedly said in his speech that Rohtang tunnel was Vajpayee’s vision and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate it to India in September.  

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by My Travel Tribe (@my.travel.tribe) on

Well, if just the thought of going on a drive from Manali to Leh was not convincing enough to plan a Vistadome journey, its glass rooftop for you to enjoy the hilly terrain will definitely do the needful. Moreover, all the adventure junkies out there will be thrilled to know that this Vistadome bus will run through an 8.8kilometrelong tunnel built at a height of 3,000 metres above sea level, which we are sure will help the adrenalin to kick in. 

Furthermore, this INR 32,000 crore tunnel will shorten the 474-kilometre-long distance between Manali and Leh by 46 kilometres, hence reducing the duration from earlier eight hours to now approximately 5.5 hours. 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by ESCAPADES THE REBELLION (@escapadestherebellion) on

However, the Vistadome concept is not new for the country, as it already has many Vistadome trains run by the Indian Railways en route the hills. Some of them include Kangra Valley Railway, Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, Matheran Hill and Kalka-Shimla Railway. In fact, the seven-coach Vistadome train – Him Darshan – was started on the 96.6-kilometre UNESCO world heritage Kalka-Shimla railway track last year only, with a seating capacity of more than 100 passengers.  

As per earlier reports, the Indian Railways had even planned to equip all trains on hilly routes with Vistadome coaches. In October 2019, the same was reportedly announced for Goa bound trains as well.

Related: Experience Wintry Joy At These 5 Snow-Laden Indian Destinations

Written By

Never miss an update

Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest on travel, stay & dining.

No Thanks
You’re all set

Thank you for your subscription.