Atal Tunnel is the world’s longest highway tunnel above 3,000m

Atal Tunnel is the world’s longest highway tunnel above 3,000m

India, asia

Length

46 km

Elevation

3,979 m

Difficulty

moderate

Best Season

Year-round

Get ready to be amazed by the Atal Tunnel, nestled high in the Indian Himalayas! This incredible feat of engineering, also known as the Rohtang Tunnel, is the world's longest highway tunnel sitting at over 3,000m altitude.

Named in honor of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, this tunnel is a game-changer. It bypasses the notorious Rohtang La pass, slashing the distance between Manali and Keylong by about 46 km. Forget those grueling 4-6 hour journeys over the pass – now you can cruise through the tunnel in a breezy 30 minutes!

The tunnel itself sits at a lofty 3,100m above sea level and forms part of the epic 479 km Leh-Manali Highway. The paved tunnel stretches for 8.8 km and is quite wide, with footpaths on either side. Don't worry about safety either – CCTV cameras are everywhere, and there are emergency exits every 500 metres. Just stick to the 80 kmph speed limit and enjoy the ride.

Building this marvel was no walk in the park. Construction crews battled freezing temperatures, floods, and thin air during heavy winter snowfalls. Hauling supplies to this remote location was also a major challenge. But they pulled it off, and now you can experience this incredible shortcut through the mountains!

Where is it?

Atal Tunnel is the world’s longest highway tunnel above 3,000m is located in India (asia). Coordinates: 22.5284, 80.5254

Share this road

Road Details

Country
India
Continent
asia
Length
46 km
Max Elevation
3,979 m
Difficulty
moderate
Coordinates
22.5284, 80.5254

Related Roads in asia

When was the road through Umba La constructed?hard

When was the road through Umba La constructed?

🇮🇳 India

Okay, picture this: Umba La, or Umbala Top, a mountain pass chilling way up at 14,750 feet in Jammu and Kashmir, India. You're cruising through the Suru Valley, super close to the Line of Control – that's the border between India and Pakistan. Wild, right? So, this road used to be just a hiking trail for shepherds and adventurous types. After some intense stuff during the Kargil War, they built a road to make a shortcut between Dras and Sankoo. Now it's around 65 km and shaves off a ton of travel time! The road itself? Buckle up for about 60 km of mostly unpaved adventure from Dras to Sankoo. You actually hit two passes on the way! Because it's so high up, it's only open for like five months out of the year – roughly June to October. Expect narrow stretches, crazy drop-offs, hairpin turns that'll make your head spin, and some seriously steep climbs. Heads up, this road is remote! No rest stops or anything like that, so come prepared. You'll mostly find bikers and hikers tackling this route these days, not a ton of regular traffic. The scenery, though? Absolutely epic!

Portable Bluetooth Speakerhard

Portable Bluetooth Speaker

🇮🇳 India

Okay, picture this: you're cruising along this wild stretch of road, Sese La, perched way up high near the China-India border. It's not super long, maybe just a few miles, but the elevation gain is intense! You'll feel it. This isn't a through route, it's a dead-end, so you're not just passing through, you're going *there*. Keep your eyes peeled for landslides and crazy weather changes – mountain roads, am I right? But honestly, the views are insane. Think snow-capped peaks and that feeling of being on top of the world. Totally worth the white-knuckle driving!

Is Lake Khövsgöl worth it?extreme

Is Lake Khövsgöl worth it?

🌍 Mongolia

Okay, picture this: Lake Khövsgöl, or Hubsugul, or Khövsgöl Nuur, or even Khövsgöl dalai – whatever you call it, this place is unreal. We're talking northwest Mongolia, chilling at about 5,400 feet, practically hugging the Russian border at the foot of the Sayan Mountains with their snowy caps. It's the deepest lake in Central Asia. Seriously, you could drop a skyscraper in there – it hits depths of over 860 feet! Is it worth the trek? Absolutely. They don't call it the "Younger Sister of the Sister Lakes" (Lake Baikal being the other sister) for nothing. The scenery is off the charts. You can find a short gravel path on the west coast of the lake that winds you to a mountain pass, sitting at almost 8,000 feet. But get this: come October, the lake transforms. It becomes a solid sheet of ice, like 4 to 5 feet thick! And what do they do with this natural frozen highway? They drive massive trucks across it, hauling fuel from Siberia! Now, here's where things get a little dicey. Sure, driving across a frozen lake sounds like something out of a movie, but it's seriously risky. It's actually been officially banned, but folks still do it. Over the years, dozens of trucks have taken a dive. You've got to watch out for pressure ridges – those cracks in the ice that can swallow you whole. Every winter, vehicles go through the ice and lives are lost. So, when's the best time to visit? Spring is your best bet – less rain, but still super chilly with lots of snow. Summer's warmer, but way more crowded and still rainy. Winter? Forget about it. We're talking bone-chilling temps way below zero. The lake stays frozen until June, and you might even see some late snow in July!

Yakexia Snow Mountainmoderate

Yakexia Snow Mountain

🇨🇳 China

Okay, fellow adventurers, let me tell you about Yakexia Snow Mountain pass in northwestern Sichuan, China! This beast sits at a lung-busting 4,306m (14,127ft) above sea level in the Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture. Forget smooth tarmac, this is a proper gravel track – think rocky, bumpy, and a bit tippy in places. It's officially known as 302 Provincial Road (S302), and you'll find it about 400km northwest of Chengdu, nestled between Heishui and Rangkou. Now, I'm not gonna lie, if you're not a fan of unpaved mountain roads, this one might make you sweat. A 4x4 is pretty much essential. If heights aren't your thing, maybe skip this one too, as it gets pretty steep! And be warned, rain turns the road into a muddy slip-n-slide. But, if you're up for the challenge, the scenery is incredible. Picture yourself driving through vast pine forests, surrounded by dramatic rocky mountains. The good news is the really gnarly part has been bypassed by a tunnel, but be aware this area is notorious for heavy mist, so visibility can be a real issue. Definitely avoid this road in bad weather!