Hill destinations in Himachal Pradesh to avoid travelling to right now

With monsoon in its full effect, the hill destinations in Himachal Pradesh are getting a bit difficult to get to. As per an announcement made by India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) on X, there is a Red Alert for several parts of Himachal Pradesh. Keeping the current extreme weather conditions in mind, travellers are advised to avoid the following hill destinations in Himachal Pradesh. Several roads are blocked as per reports. Districts like Lahaul-Spiti, Kangra and Chamba have some of the most popular tourist destinations (Dharamsala, McLeodganj, Chamba, Spiti, Lahaul). They remain inaccessible at present due to extreme weather conditions. Travellers are advised not to make plans for these destinations because instances of landslides and being stranded on the roads for several hours are surfacing.Himachal Pradesh is currently reeling under the devastating impact of the monsoon season, with flash floods, landslides, and cloudbursts causing widespread destruction across popular hill destinations. Recent reports suggest a surge in extreme weather events, with flash floods, cloudbursts and major landslides.Manali, a magnet for tourists seeking Himalayan adventure, is currently one of the badly-hit areas. On August 26, torrential rains triggered flash floods in the Beas River, washing away hotels, shops, and parts of the Chandigarh-Manali Highway. The Manali-Leh highway also remains blocked due to landslides, stranding commuters for hours.Kullu district, encompassing the Kullu Valley, has faced relentless devastation. A cloudburst near Shrikhand Mahadev and Batahar village on August 14 caused flash floods, sweeping away vehicles and damaging cottages. Pilgrims doing the Manimahesh Yatra also faced difficult weather conditions, with some casualties due to high-altitude sickness amid heavy rains. The Manimahesh Yatra is temporarily suspended.Dalhousie, nestled in Chamba district, is under a red alert for heavy rainfall. Landslides have blocked the Chamba-Bharmour highway, stranding pilgrims and tourists. There was a cloudburst in Salooni Valley on August 26. Chamba district has reported around 214 roads blocked.Lahaul-Spiti, a remote high-altitude destination, is cut off due to flash floods and landslides. The Keylong-Manali and Manali-Atal Tunnel highways are blocked due to floods at Pagal Nullah and Dhundi. Avoid Lahaul-Spiti until connectivity is restored and weather stabilizes.Dharamsala is under a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall. Landslide in Chari village, and bridges getting washed away in Kangra-Pathankot border, flooding incidents in Nurpur and Indora, have made Dharamsala unsafe to visit right now. Kangra district reports several roads blocked. With ongoing rains and unstable slopes, Dharamsala is a high-risk zone for travelers as of now.McLeodganj, near Dharamsala, faces similar threats from Kangra’s red alert. The link road from Dharamsala to McLeodganj was blocked by landslides on August 26. Heavy rainfall has triggered shooting stones and flooding in low-lying areas, disrupting access. Travelers are advised to McLeodganj until the monsoon subsides and roads are fully restored.