Kullu
Overview
Kullu is the lovely district of Himachal Pradesh, rich in dense forest and flora and fauna. The famous hill station Manali also lies in Kullu district. Although the district has many other hill stations as well, but the main town of Kullu is still the nerve centre of culture and Himalayan ethnic life. The Raghunath Temple, Bijli Mahadev and Shringi Rishi Temple are some of the well-known temples of the district. The main town of Kullu celebrates a huge Dusshehra Festival which has an international significance. Tourism flourishes here during holiday time and vacations. Kullu has many tourist places and sightseeing can be assisted with a tour guide. Stay at the hotel and enjoy local cuisines at restaurants during the tour. Kullu gives many opportunities to travel around and go on a short trip. Apart from folk life, it is also the centre of fishing trout, Angora rabbit farming and adventure sports.
Places of Attraction
Raghunath Temple: The Raghunath Temple is the main deity of Kullu and is highly revered by the royal family. It is one of the oldest temples of Kullu and the famous Kullu Dussehra is devoted to Lord Raghunath of the temple. It is located near Sultanpur.
Pandoh Dam: Among the tourist places in Kullu, Pandoh Dam is the most exciting one. The dam is built over River Beas. When the gates open, the water rushes down and creates a beautiful sight. It can be visited on the way.
Manikaran: A little travel from Kullu takes one to the Gurudwara of Manikaran. The Gurudwara has hot water springs.
Great Himalayan National Park: A short trip to the park will show one the best of flora and fauna. It is a protected site with an abundance of Himalayan wildlife species.
Bijli Mahadev: Bijli Mahadev is a historic temple located about 10 km from Kullu. It is said that lightning strikes the Shiva Linga and it breaks off. Then the Shiva Linga is joined with butter.
Naggar Castle: It is built with stone and has been shot in many Bollywood films. The castle looks over the valley of Kullu.
Weather
The weather remains bright and sunny from March to June. Rainfall and monsoon can be seen in July and August. The months of September, October and November are cold and dry, a good time to visit. December, January and February see heavy snowfall and roads get lined with piles of snow.
How to Reach
By Air: Bhuntar Airport is only 10 km from the main town and flights from Delhi and other cities of India are available.
By Road: Kullu is connected with national highways from Chandigarh, Delhi and Pathankot. Chandigarh is 266 km from Kullu.
By Train: The narrow gauge railway station of Jogindernagar is 123 km from Kullu. Chandigarh Railway Station is 270 km from Kullu.
Best Time to Visit
It is best to plan the tour around spring and summer as the Himalayan town is relatively colder to rest of India. Tourism is at its full swing in summer vacation and pre-booking the hotel is necessary. To see the snow, travel during extreme winter in December and January. Although the trip to the nearby tourist places becomes slightly difficult, snowy sightseeing is still popular among people.