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The Kullu - Manali region in the state of
Himachal Pradesh is described as the Valley of Gods. It is one
of the most famous hill station in Himachal Pradesh and known
for its beautiful scenery, apple orchards, forests, alpine
meadows, gurgling rivers and lively tribal dances. The most
charming and beautiful Kulu valley spreads out its charm on
either side of river Beas. The valley runs north to south of
this river and is 80 kms. long and about 2 kms. at its
broadest. Earlier, Kullu was known as Kulanthpitha, 'the end
of the habitable world'. Kullu is blessed with an abundance of
natural beauty and surrounded by the snow ranges of Himalayas,
the Dhauladhar and the Pir Panjal range that run parallel to
the south and the narrow terraced valley that runs in the
north up to the Rohtang Pass. There are numerous valleys in
Kullu, each of which is a visual delight and seems more
beautiful than the other. The Beas river flows through the
flower bedecked valley. The 'Silver Valley' has nature's
treasures that lie carelessly scattered like the flowers on
the high meadows. A fairly wide area is open to the tourists,
trekkers, mountaineers, artists and to anyone who wishes to
escape the heat and dust of the plains to breathe the
exhilarating air of the Himalaya and enjoy the spectacle of
the variegated mountain scenery. Hindi, Punjabi, Pahari and
English are some of the languages which are spoken by the
people in Kullu. In winter, the temperature is very low and
heavy woolens are required. While in summers, it is pleasant
and cotton clothes are recommended. The best season to visit
Kullu is from March to June and September to November.
Shopping in Kullu
The fine Kullu Pashmina Shawls, local tweeds, woven rugs, foot
wear ('pullan'), baskets, natural oils (almond and olive),
Kulu caps are the various things which can be bought from
Kullu. Various articles carved out of the wide range of woods
like birch, walnut, black mulberry, Tibetan carpets, tangkhas
and metal craft items are also available in Kullu.
Festivals in Kullu
When Dussehra celebrations come to an end in the rest of the
country, they begin at Kullu. Over 600 local deities all over
the valley came here in chariots to pay homage to Lord
Raghunath, the main deity of Kullu. This is a time when the
valley is at its colourful best. The Dussehra Festival is
celebrated in Kullu in the month of October every year. There
is a great celebration in Kullu with music and dance.
Best Season to Visit Kullu
March to June is the best season to visit Kullu for relaxation
and visiting the places of sightseeing and enjoying short and
long excursions as well as climbing and river rafting.
September to November are the best season for trekking,
climbing, sight seeing and river rafting, December to February
are the best season for snow-skiing and heli-skiing in Manali.
Tourist Attractions in Kullu
The various tourist attractions in Kullu are the Raghunath
Temple, the Bijali Mahadev Temple, Kasol, Manikaran, Roerich
Gallery and Naggar. The Raghunath Temple was built by Raja
Jagat Singh in the 17th century and houses the image of
Raghunath, the Lord Rama, who is the main deity of Kullu. The
Bijali Mahadev temple belongs to the Lord Shiva. This temple
is one of the striking temples of the Kullu district. Roerich
Arts Gallery houses the paintings and sculptures of the famous
Russian artist, Nicholas Roerich. The Manikaran Hot Springs is
also a place of pilgrimage for Hindus and Sikhs.
More....
Other Attractions in Kullu
The Kullu valley has numerous places for trout fishing like
Katrain, Raison, Kasol and Naggar, then along the river
Tirthan near Larji, in the Sainj Valley and in the Hurla Khud.
There are several trekking routes in this area. Some of these
treks are over the Chander khani Pass to Malana, over the
Jalori Pass or Bashleo Pass to Shimla, and over the Pin
Parvati Pass to Sarahan. The Beas River also offers excellent
opportunities for white water rafting.
How to reach Kullu
By Air:
The nearest airport is located at Bhuntar, about 10 km from
Kullu. Kulu is connected by air from Delhi and Chandigarh.
By Rail:
The closest narrow gauge railway station is located at
Jogindernager, 95 km from Kullu. The most convenient railway
stations are located at Chandigarh and Pathankot. The nearest
railway stations are Kiratpur and Chandigarh on Broad Gauge.
By Road:
Kullu is about 530 kms from Delhi via Mandi, 240 kms from
Shimla and 40 kms from Manali. Kulu is connected by good roads
with Chandigarh, Delhi, Ambala, Dehradun, Haridwar, Pathankot,
Dharmshala, Dalhousie, Shimla, Mandi, etc. |
