A Farmstay Near the Atal Tunnel, Manali
Persimmon Farmstead is a family-run orchard farmstay near Manali, well placed for the Atal Tunnel. From our Shanag home the north portal is about a 40-minute drive; from Badgran allow around an hour. The 9.02km tunnel stays open year-round, putting Sissu and Lahaul within an easy day trip.
The Atal Tunnel changed what a Manali holiday can hold. Before it opened in October 2020, Lahaul sat behind the Rohtang Pass and closed for roughly six months of winter. Now the 9.02km tunnel under the Rohtang massif keeps the valley reachable in most weather, and Sissu, Koksar and the wider Lahaul spread open up as a day trip rather than an expedition.
We run two homes, and both sit on the right side of town for it. Our Shanag house, near Bahang about 4-5km north of Manali, is already pointed toward Solang and the tunnel approach. Our original home at 14 Mile, Badgran, sits south of Manali on the Kullu-Manali highway, so a tunnel day means driving through town first. We will tell you honestly which home suits the trip you have in mind.
This page is the practical stuff: how long the drive actually takes from each house, what a good day beyond the tunnel looks like, and when to expect delays or closures. We live here, we make this run ourselves, and we would rather you set off with the real picture than a rosy one.
~40 min from Shanag
From our Shanag home near Bahang, the tunnel's north portal is roughly 40 minutes by car in clear conditions, straight up the Solang road. It is the shorter, simpler run of our two homes.
Open year-round
Unlike the old Rohtang route, the Atal Tunnel stays open through winter. Snow on the approach roads can still cause brief closures, but the tunnel itself keeps Lahaul reachable across seasons.
Sissu in a morning
Sissu village, with its waterfall and the broad Chandra valley, sits about 15-20 minutes beyond the north portal. It makes an easy half-day, back in time for a late lunch on the farmstead.
We brief you before you go
Start early, carry warm layers even in June, and check the weather. We give every guest a plain-spoken rundown of timings, permits where needed and where to eat before you set off.
Drive-times from each of our homes
Distances here are short on the map and longer on the clock, because the road climbs and traffic bunches at the tunnel mouth on busy days. These are our honest, unhurried estimates for a normal morning.
- From Persimmon Farmstead Shanag (near Bahang): the north portal is about 25km and, in clear conditions, roughly 40 minutes. This is our closer home for a tunnel day.
- From Persimmon Farmstead, Badgran (14 Mile): you first drive north through Manali town, so allow around an hour to the portal, more if Mall Road traffic is heavy.
- North portal to Sissu: about 15-20 minutes once you are through.
- Sissu to Keylong, the Lahaul district town: another hour or so, for those wanting a fuller day.
What a day beyond the tunnel looks like
The far side feels like a different country. You leave the green, forested Kullu valley and emerge into the high, dry, treeless Chandra valley of Lahaul, with snow peaks close on every side. The change over 9km is startling every time.
Most guests aim for Sissu first: the Sissu waterfall, the calm boating lake, and the Gyephang peak looking down on the village. From there you can turn back for a relaxed half-day, or push on to Koksar and Keylong to make it a full outing. Whichever you choose, we suggest leaving the farmstead by 8am so you are ahead of the day-tripper rush at the portal.
When the tunnel is open
The Atal Tunnel operates year-round, which is its whole point. That said, the tunnel being open and the road to it being clear are two different things. After heavy snow the BRO and police may briefly close the approach for clearing, usually reopening the same day once ploughs are through.
- Summer (May-June): reliably open, busiest traffic, best for first-timers.
- Monsoon (July-September): tunnel open, but watch for slush and the odd landslide on approach roads.
- Winter (December-March): tunnel open, Lahaul under deep snow, gorgeous but check conditions the night before.
- Anytime: heavy vehicles and pressure-horns are restricted inside; a steady 40-60 km/h is the norm through the tube.
How the tunnel fits a stay with us
A tunnel day is a full day out, so we build the rest of the stay to earn it back. You come home to an orchard, a proper home-cooked dinner, and no rush the next morning. Many guests give the tunnel one day and keep the others for Old Manali, Solang, or simply sitting in the garden with the dog.
We are food-first by nature, so tell us your rough return time and we will have something warm waiting. After a day in the cold, thin air of Lahaul, that matters more than you would expect.
Practical notes we give every guest
- Carry warm layers year-round; Lahaul is 10-15 degrees colder than Manali even in summer.
- Fuel up in Manali or at Tandi if going deep into Lahaul, as pumps are sparse beyond the tunnel.
- Take it slow the first hour at altitude; the portal sits around 3,000m and Sissu higher still.
- Mobile signal is patchy beyond the tunnel, so agree a return plan with us before you leave.
The Shanag HousePersimmon Farmstead Shanag
The high boutique hotel — wooden chalets and stone cottages on open orchard lawns.
Explore this home
The FarmsteadPersimmon Farmstead
The flagship boutique hotel — orchard rows, a family kitchen, and the morning sun.
Explore this homeGood to know
How far is Persimmon Farmstead from the Atal Tunnel?
From our Shanag home near Bahang, the tunnel's north portal is about 25km, roughly a 40-minute drive in clear weather. From our Badgran home at 14 Mile you drive north through Manali first, so allow about an hour.
Is the Atal Tunnel open in winter?
Yes. The tunnel stays open year-round, which was the reason it was built. Heavy snow can briefly close the approach roads for clearing, but these usually reopen the same day. We check conditions with you the night before a winter trip.
Can I do Sissu and Lahaul as a day trip from your farmstay?
Comfortably. Sissu is about 15-20 minutes beyond the north portal, an easy half-day. Keylong and deeper Lahaul make a full day, so we suggest leaving the farmstead by 8am and letting us know your return time for dinner.
Do I need a permit to drive through the Atal Tunnel?
No permit is needed for the tunnel itself or for Sissu and Lahaul. It is a normal road for private vehicles. Only certain restricted border areas further out require permits, which we will flag if your plans reach that far.
Tell us your dates. We'll confirm, personally.
You send a request, a real host confirms it by WhatsApp — usually within a few hours.