MANALI
A lower-altitude snow stop on the Rohtang road when Rohtang is shut or sold out, and a fallback in deep winter. Confirm current permit and road rules before going, since it sits on the Rohtang road. Gets just as crowded as Rohtang on peak winter weekends with the same taxi-queue chaos.
Gulaba takes its name from Maharaja Gulab Singh, founder of the Dogra dynasty of Jammu and Kashmir, who is said to have camped at this spot along the route while marching toward campaigns in the Trans-Himalaya. Located roughly 21 km from Manali on the way to Rohtang, it later became a designated regulated stop after Indian courts capped daily tourist vehicle numbers on the Rohtang road itself, redirecting many visitors to Gulaba's snowfields instead. It now functions as an accessible substitute snow-point offering sledding and short ski runs when Rohtang Pass is closed or restricted.
