Archive · 6 Oct 2026
Snowfall Triggers Long Traffic Jam on Adi Kailash Route
Heavy snow fell on roads leading to Adi Kailash in Uttarakhand.
Many tourists and pilgrims were also travelling there over the weekend.
Snow piled along the road edges made the route very narrow.
Cars and other vehicles then formed a long line, and some people were stuck for hours.
A video shared online said the line was between 1.5 and 2 kilometres long.
The Border Roads Organisation worked to clear the roads.
Officials urged visitors to be careful because Himalayan weather and road conditions can be difficult.
Heavy snowfall and rising weekend pilgrim and tourist traffic caused a major queue on the route to Adi Kailash.
Vehicles were stuck at about 14,500 feet, with a social media video claiming the queue extended 1.5 to 2 kilometres.
Three to four feet of snow had accumulated in the region, narrowing roads where snow remained piled along the sides.
The Border Roads Organisation was clearing roads, but narrow stretches including Elgad, Kulagad, S-Bend and Malghat remained challenging.
Reported Adi Kailash visitors rose from 10,079 in 2023 to 61,950 so far in 2026.
- Who
- Tourists and pilgrims travelling to Adi Kailash.
- What
- Heavy snowfall and increased traffic led to a long vehicle queue, leaving some travellers stuck for hours.
- When
- Over the past weekend, after heavy snowfall in the last week of September.
- Where
- The route to Adi Kailash in Uttarakhand, at an altitude of about 14,500 feet.
- Why
- Snow narrowed the road, while a surge in tourist and pilgrim traffic made it difficult for vehicles to move.
Access and tourism
Safety and road conditions
Growing interest in the region
Access and tourism
Adi Kailash and nearby destinations have become increasingly popular with tourists and pilgrims, with visitor numbers rising in recent years.
Safety and road conditions
The route has narrow, sensitive stretches, and heavy snowfall can make travel difficult and cause long queues.
- Reported altitude
- About 14,500 feet
- Claimed queue length
- 1.5 to 2 kilometres, according to a social media video
- Snow accumulation
- Three to four feet in the Adi Kailash region in recent days
- Road clearing
- The Border Roads Organisation was clearing roads for traffic
- Adi Kailash visitors in 2023
- 10,079 tourists and pilgrims
- Adi Kailash visitors in 2024
- 29,423 tourists and pilgrims
- Adi Kailash visitors in 2025
- 31,558 tourists and pilgrims
- Adi Kailash visitors so far in 2026
- 61,950 tourists and pilgrims