Rahala Waterfall

Rahala is the waterfall you see from the car window on the way to Rohtang and think, "we should stop here on the way back." Then on the way back you are tired, and you drive past. That is how most people experience it. Which is a shame, because it is worth the five minutes.

The waterfall sits right beside the Leh Manali Highway, roughly 25 to 29 km from Manali Bus Stand (sources report varying figures, depending on what they count as "Manali"). It is between Gulaba and Marhi, about 7 to 10 km above the Gulaba checkpoint. You do not need to walk, trek, or leave the road. The falls come down the hillside right next to the highway, and you can see them from your car.

What makes Rahala worth stopping for is the water itself. It comes from glacier melt higher up the Pir Panjal range, and even in the warmest months, it is genuinely cold. Not cold like a mountain stream. Cold in a way that hurts your hands after a few seconds. The cascade drops over dark Himalayan rock, and the mist that hangs around the base of the falls cools the entire area noticeably compared to the road just a hundred metres away.

The surroundings add to it. Unlike the barren stretches higher on the Rohtang road, Rahala sits in thick forest. Deodar and silver birch trees surround the falls on both sides, and in summer the air here smells of resin and damp earth. If you are driving up to Rohtang Pass on a hot June day, the temperature drop at Rahala is noticeable the moment you step out of the car.

One thing to be clear about: this is a roadside stop, not a destination. You pull over, walk a few steps towards the falls, take photographs, feel the spray, maybe get your feet wet if you are brave enough, and continue driving. Ten to fifteen minutes is plenty. There is no hiking trail to a viewpoint above, despite what some websites suggest. The "trek" some pages describe is really just walking along the highway shoulder from Gulaba, which is neither safe nor necessary when you can drive right up to it.

In winter, the falls freeze. The cascade turns into a wall of ice, and the surrounding birch trees lose their leaves, leaving stark white trunks against the frozen water. It is a striking sight. But here is the catch: in winter, the road above Gulaba is usually closed, which means you cannot reach Rahala by car. The rare traveller who treks up from Gulaba in winter will see it, but for most people, Rahala is a summer and autumn experience.

The waterfall is also sometimes spelled Rehala, Rahalla, or Rahla. All refer to the same cascade.