Kullu (Shimla, India)

Kullu 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. Formerly, the Kullu valley was known as Kulanthapitha, meaning the end of the habitable world. The earliest recorded information of this area goes back to 1st century AD, when this valley began to be inhabited. In the medieval period, Kullu and the area around it was ruled by a number of local rulers. The Kullu valley was isolated from other parts of the country for many centuries until it came under British rule.

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.

Sightseeing:
Today, Kullu is a major tourist attraction in the country. We list below a selection of major attractions of Kullu:

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 Great Himalayan National Park:
Characterised by dazzling high ridges, glaciers, deep gorges, alpine meadows and valleys with closed virgin forests, the Great Himalayan National Park with an altitudinal variation from 1,300m to 6,100m in Kullu district is one of the best destinations for Himalayan flora and fauna lovers. Supporting a diverse wildlife of over three hundred species of birds and over thirty species of mammals, the region was declared a national park in 1984.

Dashir Lake:
Dashir Lake is situated near the Rohtang Pass that connects district Kullu with Lahaul at a height of 4,270m.

Deo Tibba:
Also known as Indralika, this 2,953 metres (9,687 ft.) high snow dove Jagatsukh, has a legend around it, with Arjuna. He started performing 'tapa' at this mountain, under the advice of Maharishi Vyas, in order to obtain the powerful Pasupata Astra from Indra.

Jagatsukh:
Jagatsukh is the most ancient Kullu capital, situated on the left bank, between Nagar and Manali. Around the Jagatsukh secondary school playground there are two ancient temples - the small shrine of Gaurishankar and the larger chalet-roofed temple to the goddess Sandhya Devi, the stone base of which is much more ancient than the 19th-century wooden verandah and roof.

Mashru Peak:
One can hike through thick forest around Kufri to the Mahasu Peak- the highest peak in Kufri.

Himalayan Nature Park:
The Himalayan Nature Park,which has a collection of animals and birds,found only in Himachal Pradesh.

Indira Tourist Park:
The Indira Tourist Park is near the Himalayan Nature Park and provides panoramic view of the locations around. Best Time to Visit : May to October

How to reach: Kullu can be easily accessed through air, train or road.
By Air: The airport at Bhuntar is 10-km from Kullu, where taxis and buses are available.
By Rail: The closest narrow gauge railhead is at Jogindernagar, 95-km from Kullu.
By Road: By road, the distance from Delhi via Mandi is 530-km and from Shimla this is 240-km. From Delhi and Shimla, luxury buses ply to Kullu.