Towns in Kullu

The rivers and brooks running down the hills of Kullu district form eight valleys. Kullu, Manali, Banjar, Manikaran, Sainj and Bhuntar are the main towns. The main concentration of the Kulluites dwells in these towns and their number has increased manifold after the villagers started moving from the villages and settled in the towns.

The towns and their surroundings cover many beautiful places, age-old temples and historical buildings laudable of a visit. Markets in these towns provide you with any article to smooth your stay.

Kullu town is the main town of the district and has the most important government offices. it bestows you with nice shopping opportunities. Tibetan Market, Gandhinagar deals in imported goods. There are several shops that deal in herbs and traditional jewellery.

Manali town, situated 40 km to the north of Kullu has the most hotels in the valley catering to the tourists. it has nice Kullu and Kashmir handicraft emporiums and Tibetan market. Manu Temple in Old Manali and Hadimba Temple in Dhungri are beautiful examples of Kullu temple architecture. its surroundings cover the most beautiful places in the valley.

Banjar is the headquarter of Banjar valley that is situated to the south east of Kullu valley. it is passage to some of the most beautiful trekking areas. it has many beautiful temples of gods and goddesses.

Manikaran is situated in Parbati valley at a distance of 45 km to the northeast of Kullu. Manikaran is well known for its hot water springs, Sikh Gurudwara and Ram temple. Manikaran also leads to various popular trek routes , as those to Malana , Pin Parbati , etc. The Manikaran Market has plenty of shops dealing in Tibetan products.

Sainj is the H.Q. of Sainj valley situated to the southeast of Kullu at a distance of 23 km from Kullu town. Great Himalayan National Park situated at a height of 4000 feet comes under Sainj valley.

Bhuntar town is situated on the confluence of Parbati and Beas rivers. Kullu-Manali airport is situated in Bhuntar town. it has nice shops to buy clothes and jewellery.

Getting in Manali

The airport at Bhunter is 50 km. from Manali where taxis and buses are available. The closest narrow gauge railhead is at jogindernagar, 135 km. away. The closest broad gauge railheads are Chandigarh (310 km.) and Ambala (355km.). By road the distance from Delhi to Manali is 570 km. and from Shimla the distance is 280 km.

Getting in Kullu

There are daily flights with Jagson Airways from Delhi to the Kulu Valley’s Bhuntar airport which is 10 km. from Kullu town where Taxis/Buses are available. The closest narrow ghauge railhead is at Jogindernagar, 95 Km from Kullu. By road, the distance via Mandi is 530 Km and from Shimla this is 240 Km. From Delhi and Shimla, luxury buses ply to Kullu.

Introducation of Kulu

Kulu valley is the most delightful region in the western Himalayas. it is situated on the banks of the river Beas at an altitude of about 3,900ft (1,200mtrs). it is famous for apple orchards, beautiful women, old wooden temples and folk music and dances. Kulu, the headquarters of the district, serves as a nerve centre of the valley and is the starting place for a number of treks. The name Kullu was derived from the word ‘Kulantapith’ (the end of the habitable word).

The best time to visit the Kulu valley is October, when the Dussera festival is celebrated. The statue of Raghunathji, the presiding deity of the valley, is ceremonially brought down to the valley from the mountains. The god stays in state in the valley for a week. The highlight of the fair is the dance competition held every evening, in the spring. Kulu is at its most colourful with pink blossoms and white flowers while the higher slopes are aglow with gorgeous rhododendrons. With autumn, clear blue skies return and fields and forests alike show wonderful tints of crimson and ochre. By December, there is no greenery except the majestic pines and cedars in the forests. in winter the hillsides are flanked in white.

Water Falls in Kullu Valley

Speed is always entralling, especially when it causes a chill to run down your spine. Such are the gushing waterfalls trying to break the tranquil silence of the Himalayas. The chaste waterfalls of the valley are simply infatuating and ever awe-inspiring. The water tumbling down on the rocks and in turn falling onto your faces is enlivening.

Rahla fall is located at a distance of 27 km from Manali. It is a mesmerizing waterfall where the River Beas cascades in showers from a height of 50 metres. It is a beautiful picnic spot for the nature lovers. Rahla means a halting station. In the olden days sages, saints and pilgrims preferred to stay here overnight during there journey to Lahaul.

Palani fall is 150 metres high torrent situated to the north of Bijli Mahadev, about 6 km away. It is a marvelous picnic spot and the water gushing down presents a rejuvenating spectacle.

Every March a fair is held in the vicinity of the fall where people from far away places come to take the holy bath. There is a forest rest house about half a kilometre away.

Museums and Art Galleries in Kullu Valley

Roerich Art Gallery, Naggar

Nicholas K. Roerich embraced stupendous quality. His inspiration from the Himalayas drew him to paint thousands of paintings of the Himalayas, the sentinels of India. A few of his excellent creations have been housed at the Roerich Art Gallery, in Naggar. The gallery preserves original works of Roerich on the Himalayas, quotations from Roerich and valued words of the visitors and the admirers.

Roerich Art Gallery is situated 2 km uphill from Naggar bus stop. The gallery remains open from 10 A.M. to 5 P.M., except Mondays.

Once you reach Naggar you can easily get a taxi or an auto-rickshaw to the art gallery.

Urusvati Himalayan Folk Art Museum, Naggar

Urusvati, meaning light of the morning star. This folk art museum was founded by Professor and Madame Nicholas Roerich in 1928, then known as Research Institute, Naggar where history, ethos, the spirit of the Himalayan region and the traditional Indian and Tibetan medicines were studied.

It was renamed as Urusvati Himalayan Folk Art Museum in 1993. The museum preserves paintings made by Roerichs and also those made by Indian and Russian artists.

The museum remains open from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. throughout the week except Mondays. It is situated 100 m uphill Roerich Art Gallery. You can easily hire a taxi or an auto-rickshaw from Naggar bus stop.

Monasteries in Kullu Valley

Kullu valley gives equal opportunities for every religion to subsist. The denizens too respect all the religions in the valley and visit other places of worship.

The large number of Buddhists in the valley has resulted in two monasteries in the valley, one in Manali and the other in Pangran.

The monastery in Manali is newly built one. Lamas are trained as preachers and performers of religious rites in the monastery. The monastery also runs a Thanka school of arts and a carpet-weaving centre.

This is done mainly to preserve ancient Tibetan art. Articles of handicraft are also kept for sale to outsiders. The paintings inside depict events from Lord Buddha’s life. The Kalchakra i.e. the wheel of life painted on the wall of the monastery shows the circle of life. In the vicinity of the monastery there is the ‘manne’. The Buddhists believe that rotating it gives you salvation.

There is another monastery at Pangran, about 7 km from Patlikuhl a small town on National Highway. The lamas (Monks) are given training to be preachers. During the training the lamas are not allowed to go out. They are provided with lodging and food.