Kullu - India HillTop Trips - Splendid hills and Majestic retreats

Kullu (also known as Kulu) is the district headquarters of the same name in the state of Himachal Pradesh. It is situated at an altitude of 1,219 m. It's population size is 14,500. Kullu is located along the west bank of the Beas river. The town is divided into three parts. In the South is the Dhalpur Maidan, a large grassy area where the Dussehra festival takes place. On the edge of the maidan are the tourist office and one of the two bus stations in Kullu. From the Dhalpur bazaar the main road crosses the Sarvari river. Across the Sarvari is the Adhara bazaar. On the hill above is the tranquil Sultanpur, where Raja Jagat Singh built his capital in the 17th century.

Hill Resort | Elevation | Travel | Season | Tourist places | Accommodation | Location | Kullu Map

The Hill Resort

Once known as Kulanthpitha, Kullu Valley is perhaps the most delightful region in the Western Himalayas of Himachal Pradesh. Also called the valley of Gods it is now the district headquarters of the valley it attracts many tourists. Serene and picturesque, Kullu is a paradise for people seeking tranquility. Apart from the usual spots of a hill station, some famous temples with fine stone carvings and sculptures, believed to have been built in the mid 8th century, are worth seeing. The valley also houses Manali, another famous tourist spot.

Situated on the western banks of the torrential Beas, it occupies the central part of the Kullu Valley. It has the largest settlement in the valley and doubles as the district headquarter. The city is easily accessible and well connected by air, road and rails. The nearest convenient railheads are Kalka, Chandigarh and Pathankot on Broad Gauge from where Kulu can be reached by road. May to October is the best time to visit.

Kullu is famous for its temples and festivals. The main tourist attraction of Kullu is the Raghunath Temple, dedicated to Lord Ram, who is one of the principal deities of the Hindu religious pantheon and the patron deity of the entire Kullu valley. Raja Jagat Singh, the erstwhile ruler of Kullu, built this temple in 1660 to atone for his wrongdoings. He obtained a statue of Lord Ram from Ayodhya and established it within this temple.

Kullu is located in the charming Kullu valley and is set amongst the backdrop of the mighty Himalayas. This town is famous for its temples and the annual Dussehra festival, both of which attract thousands of tourists. It is also known for its handicrafts.

The Past

Formerly, the Kullu valley was known as Kulanthapitha, meaning the end of the habitable world. The earliest recorded information of this area goes back to 1st century ad, when this valley began to be inhabited. In the medieval period, Kullu and the area around it was ruled by a number of local rulers. The Kullu valley was isolated from other parts of the country for many centuries until it came under British rule.

Fairs And Festivals

The festival of Dussehra, which marks the victory of good over evil, is celebrated all over India in the month of October. However, Dussehra in Kullu valley is special. It begins when Dussehra festivities in other parts of the country are over. The main event of this festival is taking out of Lord Raghunath's (local version of Lord Ram) idol through the streets on a palanquin carried by pilgrims. The procession also has villagers dancing in traditional attire.

Shopping

The entire Kullu valley, along with the town of Kullu, is famous for its woolen shawls. Making of these shawls has now become a local industry. Shawls made from the hair of Angora rabbits and Pashmina goats are quite expensive. Other woolen items produced here are colorful Kullu caps and blankets. Travelers can purchase these handicraft items from a number of shops within Kullu (Akhara Bazaar) and from shops between Bhuntar airport and Kullu.

The town is famous for shawls, caps, gadmas. The Himachal state weaving co-operative, Bhutti Weavers colony is 6 km south of Kullu, which has retail outlets, Bhuticco in many towns. There are also Govt. Handicrafts Emporium, Himachal Khadi Emporium and Khadi Gramudyog.

Information

Further information can be obtained from the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Council (HPTDC) office (Ph. 24605) located near the Maidan in Dhalpur.

Elevation

Kullu - 1,219 m.

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Location Details

Kullu is located in the central part of the state of Himachal Pradesh in the northern region of India. It is located amidst the Himalayas at an altitude of 1200 m above sea level at the confluence of Beas and Sarvari rivers. It is 240 km north of Shimla.

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How to Reach There and Distances

By Air

The nearest airport is at Bhuntar, which is 10 km south of Kullu. Bhuntar is well connected to Delhi by air, and there are daily flights between them operated by Archana Airlines and Jagson Airlines with a stopover at Shimla. Archana Airlines has its office (Ph. 65630) in Mohal, which is 6 km south of Kullu. Jagson Airlines has its office (Ph. 65222) at the Bhuntar airport.

By Rail

The nearest railhead is at Jogindernagar (95 km).

By Road

There are direct buses to Kullu from Dharamsala, Shimla (235 km), Chandigarh (270 km) or Delhi (512 km). All these direct buses continue to Manali, 42 km further north. Buses run regularly along the main road from Kullu to Manali. There are fewer buses on eastern side of the Beas river and the trip can take a long time. There's a bus and taxi stand on the opposite side of maidan. The main bus stand is by river in the northern area of the town. The Taxi stand is located near the National Highway 21.

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Best Season to Visit/Weather

The weather in Kullu is alpine. Summers (April-June) are mild and winters are cold (November-February). It experiences southwestern monsoon rains in July-September.

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Tourist places near Kullu

Sultanpur Palace

It contained some fine examples of the Kullu style of miniature painting, characterised by simple rural scenes and the lack of human subjects. Most have been removed to Delhi.

Raghunathji Temple is the temple of the principal god of Dusshera festival. The shrine houses an image of Shri Raghunath in his chariot. It is the most important temple in the area. It is open only from 5 pm.

Jagannathi Devi Temple

This temple is in Bhekhli village, 3 km from Kullu. It's a stiff climb but from temple there are fine views over the town.

Vaishno Devi Temple

4 km along the Kullu to Manali road is this temple with a small cave having an image of goddess Vaishno (Durga).

Bijli Mahadev Temple

A jeep track links Kullu with this temple, 14 km away. Across the river, the temple is surmounted by a 20 m high rod said to attract blessings in the form of lightning.

Around the city is on the banks of the river Beas river, about 200 m off the Kullu Mandi road at Hat or Hatta. It is a massive pyramidal structure decorated with images of Durga, Vishnu and Ganesh in the outer 3-sided shrines. Floriated scrollwork can be seen on exterior walls. Inside this Siva temple is a large yoni-lingam. Accommodation is available at PWD Rest House at Bajaura. It is 15 km from Kullu.

Parvati Valley/Manikaran The Parvati valley, at 1737 metres, runs north-east from Bhuntar, which is south of Kullu, at a distance of 45 km. Buses are available to travel up the valley. Attractive orchards and river valley scenery line the route. The place owes it's name to a legend according to which Naga, the serpent god stole Parvati's earrings (Manikarana) while she bathed in the river. At Siva's command Naga angrily blew them back out of his nostrils, causing a spring to flow. At Manikaran there is a hot sulphur spring. There is also a temple to Rama and a Sikh Gurudwara. Accommodation is available at the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation's (HPTDC) Hotel Parvati. Buses from Kullu to Bhuntar take one and a half hour and Bhuntar to Manikaran is another one and a half hour journey.

Raison

Only 13 km from Kullu there's a camping place on the grassy meadow beside the river. It's a good base for treks in the vicinity. There are 14 Tourist Huts at the site, which can be booked through the Kullu tourist office.

Katrain

At about midpoint on Kullu-Manali road, this is the widest point in Kullu Valley and is overlooked by the 3,325 m Baragarh peak. There's a small Rest House and a pleasant HPTDC Tourist Bungalow available here for accommodation. There is also a very expensive riverside private hotel. Katrain is 20 km from Kullu.

Nagar

High above Katrain, on the east bank of the river, is Nagar. The Nagar Castle was used to be the raja's headquarters, when Nagar was capital of Kullu Valley. The old fort is built around a courtyard with beautiful views over the valley. Inside the courtyard is a small temple. The temple of Gauri Shankar is at the foot of small bazaar below the castle. Almost opposite the front of castle is the Chatar Bhuj Temple to Vishnu. Higher up the hill is Pagoda like Tripura Sundri Devi Temple and the higher still, on the ridge above Nagar, the Murlidhar Krishna Temple. Up the hill, above the castle is the Roerich Gallery, displaying the artwork of both Nicholas Roerich who died in 1947, and his son, Svetoslav Roerich. It is said that Nagar is the seat of the gods and that, at times of crisis, the gods all gather by the shrine. Accommodation is available in HPTDC's hotels, private hotels and guest houses and a Forest Rest House. It is 5 km from Patli Kuhl, 24 km from Manali and 26 km from Kullu.

Largi is a small hamlet 34 km south of Kullu via Aut, offers the best trout fishing in the valley. The resthouse there is in a stunning location where two Himalayan torrents, the Sainj and Tirthan, meet. Fishing permits can be obtained from Kullu and Largi itself.

Jagatsukh is the most ancient Kullu capital. Situated on the left bank, between Nagar and Manali. Little remains of the glory of this former state capital where rice was first cultivated in the valley. Around the Jagatsukh secondary school playground there are two ancient temples - the small shrine of Gaurishankar and the larger chalet-roofed temple to the goddess Sandhya Devi, the stone base of which is much more ancient than the 19th-century wooden verandah and roof.

Kaisdhar (15 km) and Kasol (42 km), the latter located amidst pine forest, are important picnic spots.

Shoja (69 km), at an altitude of 2692 m, offers the traveler a breathtaking view of the entire Kullu valley.

There are a number of shrines around Kullu. The Basheshwar Mahadev Temple at Bajura (15 km) from Kullu is famous for its exquisite carvings. The Vaishno Devi Temple (4 km) and the Vishnu Temple at Dayar (12 km) are other important shrines worth visiting.

There are a number of tourist spots as well. The small town of Manikaran (45 km) is famous for its hot sulfur springs. It is located at an altitude of 1737 m in the Parvati River valley. These hot springs are famous for their healing powers. This place is both revered by the Hindus and the Sikhs. Travelers can visit the Shri Ramchandra Temple and the Shri Guru Nanak Devji Gurdwara in Manikaran. Manikaran offers hiking and trekking facilities to the tourists.

Kullu attracts the adventure-seeking tourist by offering trekking and hiking trails in and around the valley. Stretches of River Beas are also used for white-water rafting.

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Accommodation

Book Rooms and Resorts at Kullu using yatra.com

From Rs 2205 to Rs 5922 at Apple Valley Resorts - at inasra.com
From Rs 494 to Rs 608 at Hotel Ramneek - at inasra.com
From Rs 418 to Rs 941 at Hotel Aaditya - at inasra.com
From Rs 5700 to Rs 7200 at Span Resorts - at inasra.com
From Rs 5500 to Rs 13000 at Solang Valley Resort - at inasra.com
From Rs 891 to Rs 1856 at Hotel Shobla - at inasra.com
From Rs 715 to Rs 1650 at Hotel Vaishali - at inasra.com
From Rs 143 to Rs 333 at Hotel Vikrant - at inasra.com

From Rs. 813 to Rs. 1,188 at Hotel Sangam - at cleartrip.com
From Rs. 824 to Rs. 1,847 at Hotel Snow Park - at cleartrip.com
Glacier Resort at Rs. 1,500 - at cleartrip.com
From Rs. 1,635 to Rs. 2,193 at Snow Valley Resorts - at cleartrip.com
From Rs. 1,735 to Rs. 1,941 at Honeymoon Inn Manali - at cleartrip.com
Hotel Snow Crest Manor at Rs. 2,000 - at cleartrip.com
From Rs. 2,325 to Rs. 2,738 at Manali Heights - at cleartrip.com
From Rs. 2,500 to Rs. 3,750 at Apple Country Resorts - at cleartrip.com
From Rs. 625 to Rs. 1,118 at Tourist Hotel - at cleartrip.com
From Rs. 688 to Rs. 1,188 at Neha Palace - at cleartrip.com
From Rs. 699 to Rs. 3,999 at Green Swiss Cottages - at cleartrip.com
From Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 1,177 at Hotel Manali Continental - at cleartrip.com
From Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 2,329 at Sarthak Resorts Manali - at cleartrip.com
From Rs. 1,141 to Rs. 3,319 at The Valley View Resort - at cleartrip.com
From Rs. 1,313 to Rs. 1,663 at Whispering Valley Resort - at cleartrip.com
From Rs. 1,570 to Rs. 2,725 at Imperial Palace - at cleartrip.com
Solang Valley Resort at Rs. 1,688 - at cleartrip.com
From Rs. 1,700 to Rs. 1,700 at Sarovar Portico - Manali - at cleartrip.com
Marina Villa at Rs. 1,750 - at cleartrip.com
From Rs. 1,801 to Rs. 2,500 Royal Park Resort - at cleartrip.com
Angel's Inn at Rs. 2,000 - at cleartrip.com
De Vivendi Resorts at Rs. 2,070 - at cleartrip.com
From Rs. 2,145 to Rs. 2,730 at Whispering Rocks Resort - at cleartrip.com
From Rs. 2,250 to Rs. 6,250 at Banon resort - at cleartrip.com
From Rs. 2,456 to Rs. 2,751 at The Manali Inn - at cleartrip.com
From Rs. 2,875 to Rs. 3,000 at Shingar Regency - at cleartrip.com
From Rs. 3,488 to Rs. 7,675 at Highland Park - at cleartrip.com
From Rs. 5,384 to Rs. 8,645 at Manu Allaya Spa (Ambassador resorts) - at cleartrip.com

From Rs. 941 to Rs. 3059 at The Valley View Resort, Kullu - at travelguru.com

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