Kullu
Himachal's own paradise
Kullu Tourism
Kullu often coupled with Manali doesn't get as much attention as its other half. But it is an integral part of Himachal and for all the right reasons. It has all it takes to be a perfect weekend getaway- snow-clad majestic mountains, a beautiful flowing river, gushing with all its might, high on musical notes all along the way, thick forest cover full of deodar and pine, stretch of moors which are full of snow for one half of the year, and another half with green grass and colourful flowers, making it a scene impossible to forget ever.
It seems that God actually curated the land of Kullu, making it the beauty it is! The range of altitude itself explains the kind of variety of terrestrial diversity is showcases. Some areas in Kullu have an altitude of around 1000m whereas some are as high as 6000m. Not just having geographical diversity, this magical valley of Gods also has a very impressive range of flora and fauna making it a package nobody can ever think of refusing!
Kullu also holds a lot of religious importance with the number of religious places decked up in its courtyard.
Valley of Gods
Kullu is called the valley of Gods for a lot of reasons. Some Hindu texts say that Manikaran in Kullu was the home to the great Lord Shiva and his wife Goddess Parvati for 1100 years. Also, Sikhs believed and still believe that Guru Nanak Ji did some magical work here too. Apart from that, almost all the villages of Kullu have their own God, its own Devta which is personified and is a part of the daily lifestyle of the Kullu villagers. The Gods are the most important people of their own villages and worshipped like any other diety. They are considered to be so important because they are the ones who take all the care of its people, their needs. Also, they work for the upliftment of education, health facilities and a lot more.
One such fine example is the beautiful and remote village of Malana.
The Kullu valley being extremely beautiful, also teaches a lot of lessons to the people engrossed in their daily lives, such as the importance to take a break, and enjoy nature, let out a sigh of relief, relax for a bit and offer what all life has to offer!
Top things do in Kullu
1. Bhuntar
9 kilometres from city centre2. Naggar
18 kilometres from city centre3. Pandoh Dam
32 kilometres from city centre4. Manikaran
24 kilometres from city centre5. Bijli Mahadev Temple
5 kilometres from city centre6. Shringi Rishi Temple, Banjar
43 kilometres from city centre7. Rafting
1990 kilometres from city centre8. Jagannathi Devi Temple
2 kilometres from city centre9. Hanogi Mata Temple
30 kilometres from city centre10. Parvati Valley Trek
42 kilometres from city centre11. Malana
16 kilometres from city centre12. The Great Himalayan National Park
52 kilometres from city centre13. Chandrakhani Pass
18 kilometres from city centre14. Raghunath Temple
228 kilometres from city centre15. City Shopping
2118 kilometres from city centre16. Trekking
1523 kilometres from city centre17. Fishing
2 kilometres from city centre
How to reach
Kullu can be reached from various places like those of Delhi, Chandigarh and any other city of Himachal Pradesh. Though being quite far away from these places and having a difficult geographical terrain, it is surprisingly easy to reach Kullu.
How to Reach by Flight
The nearest Airport is in Bhunter, Kullu itself. It has daily flights operating to and fro from Delhi and Chandigarh. People from any part can reach any of the two airports and can take a flight for Kullu from there.
How to Reach by Train
The nearest Railway Station is in Jogindernagar, which is around 125kms away. From there a bus which is deployed by the state government can be taken, or a private taxi/cab can be hired.
How to Reach by Bus
From Delhi or Chandigarh or even Shimla, there are buses available to reach Kullu.
How to Reach by Road
Kullu can be reached by road from Delhi and Chandigarh.
How to travel within
Tourists prefer to walk around and see the tourist locations, but alternatively, taxis are widely available for the same.
Hot-spot for adventure sports
Kullu never disappoints a tourist, for the elderly, are all the places of religious importance, for kids, it has large fields full of snow for them to do all kinds of activities like building of a snowman to snow fights. It also has a lot in store for the adventure junkies- a lot of treks to choose from. Some treks are as quick as a 4-day trek, but some last longer than even 4 weeks. They are like a dream come true for all wild-sport lovers like rafting, skiing, trekking, paragliding, camping, and a lot more. Some are even a bit passive activities like fishing which is also very popular.
Especially known for treks, Kullu has some amazing treks including the Great Himalayan National Park, The Parvati Valley trek, The Chandrakhani Pass, the trek to Bijli Mahadev temple.
Apart from natural wonders, Kullu is also a wonder when it comes to the variety of food it has to offer like- Madra, Dhaam, Tudkiya Bhath, Bhey or Spicy Lotus stems, and a lot more which can be truly enjoyed, when in Kullu having hot food and sipping hot tea.
Kullu Itinerary
Day 1:
- Manikaran
- The Great Himalayan National Park
- The Parvati Valley
- Malana
Day 2:
- Shopping
- All the temples in the Vicinity
- Pandoh Dam
If up for trekking, it would depend on the number of days given on trekking.