Kullu Manali Tourism | Kullu Manali Sightseeing

About Kullu Manali:

Kullu, once known as Kul-anti-peetha - "the end of the habitable world", is the capital town of the Kullu District, in the state of Himachal Pradesh, India. It is located on the banks of the Beas River in the Kullu Valley about ten kilometres north of the airport at Bhuntar. Kullu is a broad open valley formed by the Beas river between Manali and Largi. This valley is famous for the beauty and its majestic hills covered with Pine and Deodar Forest and sprawling Apple Orchards.The course of the Beas river presents a succession of magnificent, clad with forests of Deodar, yowering above trees of Pine on the lower rocky ridges. Kullu valley is sandwiched between the Pir Panjal, Lower Himalayan and Great Himalayan range.

The most charming and beautiful Kullu valley spreads out its charm on either side of river Beas. Kullu was once known as Kulanthpitha, which means the end of the habitable world. Beyond rose the forbidding heights of the Greater Himalayas, and by the banks of the shining river Beas, lay the fabled 'Silver Valley'. The valley runs north to south of Beas river and is 80 kms. long and about 2kms wide.

This town is famous for its temples and the annual Dussehra festival, both of which attract thousands of tourists.the town of Kullu has long been a centre of faith. In the 17th century, Raja Jagat Singh installed here an idol of Lord Raghunathji, which he brought from Ayodhya. As a mark of his penance, he placed the idol on his throne and it became the presiding deity of the valley.

Fact Sheet of Kullu Manali Tourism:

Area:

6.68 sq km

Altitude:

1200 m above sea level

Languages:

Hindi and Himachali

Religion:

Hindu (96.31), Muslim (0.18), Others (3.53)

Maximum Temperature:

20°C

Minimum Temperature:

5°C

STD Code:

01902

Location:

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

History of Kullu Manali:

Kullu (1220m) was once known as Kulanthpitha - `the end of the habitable world`. Beyond rose the forbidding heights of the Greater Himalayas, and by the banks of the shining river Beas, lay the fabled `Silver Valley`.

The Chinese pilgrim monk Xuanzang visited the Kullu Valley in 634 or 635 CE. He describes it as a fertile region completely surrounded by mountains, about 3,000 li in circuit, with a capital 14 or 15 li in circumference. It contained a tope built by Ashoka said to mark the place where the Buddha preached to the local people and made conversions. There were some twenty Buddhist Monasteries, with about 1,000 monks, most of whom were Mahayanist. There were also some fifteen Hindu temples and people of both faiths lived mixed together. There were meditation caves near the mountain passes inhabited by both Buddhist and Hindu practitioners. The country is said to have produced gold, silver, red copper, crystal lenses and bell-metal.

"Thus, Ku-zu is the Bu-nan name for Kuḷū. . . . Dr. Vogel in his MS. notes on Lahul gives Ku-zuṅ as the Gārī (Bu-nan) name of Kuḷū. Ku-zuṅ is the locative case of Ku-zu. He adds that Kuḷū is called Ram-ti by the people of Ti-nan, and Ram-di by those of Caṅsa (Me-rlog). The Tibetans call it Ñuṅ-ti."

Kullu got its first motorable access only after Indian Independence. The long centuries of seclusion have however allowed the area to retain a considerable measure of its traditional charm. The road through the Kullu Valley and Lahaul is now paved all the way connecting, and providing the major access route between the northern Indian plains to Leh in Ladakh.

Best time to visit Kullu Manali:

The summers are mild and last from April to June whereas the winter season is quite cold and lasts from November to February. The best time to visit the hill station is between April and June. Though the hill station still attracts a lot of tourism in the month of October because of the Dussehra Festival.

How to reach Kullu Manali:

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

Train:

The nearest railway sataion is at Jogindernagar (95 km).

Road:

The bus station is located near the banks of river Sarvari. Kullu has a good bus service for Shimla, Delhi, Chandigarh, Mandi, Manali, Manikaran, Nagar, Bajura, and Dharamsala. The Taxi stand is located near the National Highway 21, and one can get taxi for Delhi, Shimla, Manali, Mandi, Manikaran, and Dharamsala.

Kullu Manali 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

View Detailed 9 Day Weather Forecasts for Manali, webcams, weather maps & more at Weather-Forecast.com

Kullu Manali Tourism / Kullu Manali Sightseeing:

Raghunath Temple:

Kullu is famous for its temples and festivals. The main tourist attraction of Kullu is the Raghunath Temple, dedicated to Lord Ram. Raja Jagat Singh, the ruler of Kullu, built this temple in 1660 to atone for his wrongdoing. He obtained a statue of Lord Ram from Ayodhya and established it within this temple.

Jagannathi Devi Temple:

Jagannathi Devi Temple or the Bekhli temple is 3 km from Kullu and is located in the village of Bekhli. It is a stiff 1½-hour climb to reach this temple, but it provides a panoramic view of Kullu.

The Bijli Mahadev Temple:

The Bijli Mahadev Temple is located on a spur at a height of 2460 m. True to its name, the temple is often stuck by lightning (bijli, lightning).

The Basheshwar Mahadev Temple:

The Basheshwar Mahadev Temple at Bajura (15 km) from Kullu is famous for its exquisite carvings.

There are a number of tourist spots as well. The small town of Manikaran (45 km) is famous for its hot sulphur 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.

Kaisdhar and Kasol:

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

Shoja:

Shoja (69 km), at an altitude of 2692 m, offers the traveler a breathtaking view of the entire Kullu valley. Raisan (13 km), on the banks of river Beas, is a good site for trekking.

Naggar:

The town of Naggar (23 km) was the erstwhile capital of the state of Kullu for more than 1,400 years. There are number of historic monuments and temples in this town.

Kullu-"Beyond Horizons",a pictorial coffee table book on Kullu Valley:

Kullu-"Beyond Horizons",a pictorial coffee table book on Kullu Valley by award winning photographer Rahul Sud is a culmination of his personal quest,passion and discovery of the breath taking landscapes of Kullu. The book promises to be the finest works on Kullu Himalayas and is a must buy. Available at Tusita Book shop, Log Huts Road, Opp Hotel D'Chalet, Manali.Or call Rahul Sud at 092185 50501.

Shringi Rishi Temple- Banjar:

About 60 Km. from Kullu is Banjar valley wherein Shringi Rishi Temple is located. Shringi Rishi is the ruling deity of Banjar valley. In fact , before the Lord Rama's advent into Kullu valley from Ayodhya Puri,Lord Shringi was the ruling deity of Kullu. Shringi rishi is one among the "atthara kardoo" (eighteen chief deities) of the Kullu valley.

Kullu Shawls:

Handloom Kullu Shawl is the best treasure one can look for. Kullu Shawls are made of many natural fibers such as pashmina, sheep-wool, angora etc..

Fishing and Adventure in Kullu Manali Tourism:

The Kullu valley has numerous places for trout fishing. These include Katrain, Raison, Kasol and Naggar, then along the river Tirthan near Larji, in the Sainj Valley and in the Hurla khud.

The valley is the nucleus of several trek routes. Some major ones are over the Chanderkhani Pass to Malana, over the Jalori Pass or Bashleo Pass to Shimla, and over the Pin Parvati Pass to Sarahan.

White water rafting is popular on the Beas river.

Kullu Valley:

Kullu Valley is the largest valley in the Kullu district, in Himachal Pradesh, India. The Beas River runs through the middle of the valley. It is also called the "Valley of the Gods".

It connects with the Lahul and Spiti valleys via Rohtang Pass, situated at 13,051 ft (3,978 m), 51 km from Manali city.

Gurudawara Manikaran Sahib:

Gurdwara Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji is an historical Sikh shrine present there which was discovered by Baba Narayan Hari, the history of the Gurdwara sahib is mentioned in Bhai Bala Janamsakhi and Twarikh Guru Khalsa. Gurdwara Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji is located where Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji was with his Sikhs in the Himalaya mountains of India. His sikhs were hungry and there was no food. Guru Nanak sent his Good Friend Bhai Mardana to collect food for langar (the Community Kitchen). Many people donated rice and flour (atta) to make parsadas (bread). The one problem was that there was no fire to cook the food. Guru Nanak than lifted a rock and a hot spring (hot water) appeared. The Sikhs were able to make rice and beans. Bhai Mardana was having trouble making parasadas (chapatis) because they kept sinking. Bhai Mardana said, "I am going to donate my life in the name of God". The parsada amazingly floated. Guru Nanak Dev Ji said that anyone who donates his life in the name of God, All his (or her) drowned items will float. This was a miracle. The place is famous for its hot boiling sulphur springs, which are revered by lakhs who come here for a dip in the curing waters. It is believed that the hot springs can cure skin diseases or even ease the swelling caused by gout. A huge Gurdwara has been erected in the memory of Guru Nanak who is believed to have visited this place. A number of Sikh and Hindu pilgrims visit the Gurdwara every year. The Ram Temple mentioned above, built in the 16th century, is situated near the Gurdwara. Langar cooked in the hot springs.

Sikhs Pilligrimage to Manikaran The village 'shatt' is on the way where once a cloudburst had turned the village into a nullah. An awe-inspiring experiment at Manikaran is that of cooking rice or dal in the boiling hot waters. Tourists can experience this by purchasing 'chawal potli' (rice in a muslin bag) from the nearby market. The gurdwara management prepares tea and food by putting huge vessels in the water. There is a water pool in the gurdwara where one can enjoy a hot bath. The local residents use hot water in narrow bazaar through pipes. Tibetans dominate the market here where one can buy religious idols, offerings, books, prasad, and Tibetan products. The amazing union of cold water and boiling springs in the Parvati River has mystified many a scientist and the devout alike. Nature has used an array of colours, textures and materials to form fascinating mountains with many medicinal herbs. Transparent stone crystals, which resemble topaz, can be found at some points. Water flowing through the curves of hill land shapes has given rise to driftwood in various shapes and forms. Due to the climate, local vegetables and pulses like rajmah and urad are of rare quality and taste different from those available in the plains.

Vicinity:

Other places of interest in the area include Manikaran (famous for its hot springs) and hot water springs at Vashisht village near Manali, 40 km north of Kullu, a hub for tourists and rock climbers. Malana, Kaish-Dhaar in Lug Valley, Bijli Mahadev, Bhekhli and Bajaura house the famous temples of the region and places like Kasol and Gohar. Manali is perhaps the most famous town and center of all tourist attractions in the state. Manali also has a well-known temple dedicated to the mythical princess Hadimba.

The economy of the town largely depends on tourism, horticulture (apples, plums, pears, and almonds) and handicrafts (shawls, caps, etc.).

Shopping Kullu Manali:

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.

Fairs & Festivals Kulu Manali Tourism:

After months of hardwork in the fields and orchards, there comes the month of Phalgun (mid February to mid March) that marks the beginning of fairs and festivals in the valley. These fairs and festivals are mostly held to celebrate the victory of good over the evil or recall any episode related to the deities. They celebrate the rich cultural and traditional inheritance of the people, which they have been maintaining since epochs.

Dusshera is a unique fair held every year in October. It is a beautiful amalgam of history, rich culture and customs. Unlike other regions of India here effigies of Ravana, Meghnath and Kumbhakarana are not burnt. This is how victory of good over evil is depicted. Kullu Dusshera starts usually on the day it ends in the rest of the country.

It all started back in 1637 A. D. when Raja Jagat Singh was the ruler of the Valley. One day he came to know that a peasant Durga Dutt of village Tipri owned beautiful pearls, which the Raja wanted to obtain. Durga Dutt tried to convince the Raja by all means that the information was wrong and that he owned no pearls, but all his pleas were in vain.

The Raja gave him a last chance. Durga Dutt got so scared that he burnt down his own family and house and cursed the Raja for his cruelty. His curse resulted in Raja's leprosy and as he realized the fact he felt guilty.

Kishan Das known as Fuhari Baba advised him to install the famous idol of Lord Raghunathji to get rid of the curse of the peasant. He sent Damodar Dass to steal the idol from Tret Nath Temple of Ayodhya who finally brought it from there in July 1651 A. D. After installing the idol he drank Charnamrit of the idol for several days and was in due course cured. He devoted his kingdom and life for the lord and from then onwards Dusshera started being celebrated with great splendor. Thus on the first fortnight of Ashwin month (mid September to mid October), the Raja invites all the 365 Gods and Goddesses of the Valley to Dhalpur to perform a Yagna in Raghunathji's honor.

On the first day of Dusshera Goddess Hadimba of Manali comes down to Kullu. She is the Goddess of the royal family of Kullu. At the entrance of Kullu the Royal Stick welcomes her and escorts her to the Palace where the royal family awaits her at the entrance of the Palace. Thereafter they enter the Palace only when goddess Hadimba calls them inside. After blessing the royal family she comes to Dhalpur.

The idol of Raghunathji is saddled around Hadimba and placed in a Ratha (chariot) adorned beautifully. Then they wait for the signal from Mata Bhekhli, which is given from top of the hill. Next the Ratha is pulled with the help of ropes from its original place to another spot where it stays for the next six days. The male members of the royal family leave the palace and stay in the Dusshera ground.

More than one hundred gods and goddesses mounted on colorful palanquins participate in this procession. The ceremony feels as if the doors of heaven have been opened and the gods have come down to the earth to rejoice.

On the sixth day of the festival, the assembly of Gods takes place, which is called 'Mohalla'. It is an impressive and a rare sight to see the multihued palanquins of Gods around the camp of Raghunathji. People usually dance the whole night through. On the last day the Ratha is again pulled to the banks of river Beas where a pile of thorn bushes is set on fire to depict the burning of Lanka. Some animals are sacrificed and the Ratha is brought back to its original place. Raghunathji is taken back to the temple in Raghunathpur. Thus world famous Dusshera comes to an end in a dignified way, full of festivities and grandeur.

The Dhalpur grounds are full of vendors who come from different parts of the country to sell their goods. Various government organizations and private agencies also set up various exhibitions concerning their line of work. At night thousands of people witness the International Cultural Festival in Kala Kendra (an open-air theatre).

Kullu Dusshera ends all the fairs and festivals celebrated in the valley.

Kullu Hotels, Kullu Resorts:

There is absolutely no dearth of good hotels in Kullu. The visitors can either stay in hotels, private cottages or tourist bungalows. Many of these are run by HPTDC (Himachal Pradesh Tourism development council). There are many budget hotels that provide good comfortable accommodation without burning a hole in your pocket.