subject: Best Place In India Kullu,himachal Pradesh [print this page] gushing rivers, natural hot springs, snow peaks glistening in sunlight and above all, very friendly people. Though the region of Kullu Manali continues to be steeped in ancient traditions, the locals welcome the tourists who pour into the valley regularly. In recent years more and more people are coming to Kullu for adventure sports like trekking, mountaineering, river-rafting, skiing or just relaxing in these gorgeous surroundings.
Historically Speaking
According to ancient Hindu scriptures, the area was known as Kulantapitha the end of the habitable world. Nestling within the high Himalayan ranges, the Kullu valley remained isolated from the rest of the world till very recently. The Hindu rulers of Kullu initially ruled over an area restricted
to the upper Beas River valley, with their capital in the ancient village of Jagatsukh near Manali. The valley was a gateway to Lahaul and Ladakh andan important stop on the crucial trade route between central Asia and the Gangetic Plains down south. This made the area prosperous and by the 17th century AD, the kingdom had expanded its boundaries to Lahaul-Spiti in the north and the Sutlej River in the east. The capital of the kingdom was first shifted to Naggar, then to Sultanpur before finally settling at Kullu. Kullu grew into an important town when Raja Jagat Singh shifted the capital of the kingdom from Naggar in the mid-17th century. The idol of Lord Raghunathji (Lord Rama, an incarnation of Vishnu, one of the gods in the Hindu trinity), the presiding deity of this town, was brought from his mythical birthplace in Ayodhya by the king. Declared the district headquarters after independence, Kullu is now an important market town for the region, and a transit point for travellers going on to the more popular Manali, 40 kms north. Kullu is also the focal point for trekkers into the Parvati valley and the Pin valley.
Shopping
Kullu shawls, caps and gadmas can be bought from private shops as well as the Himachal state weaving co-operative at Bhutti Weavers colony, 6 kms south of Kullu. The co-operative runs several retail outlets called Bhuticco at other towns in the valley. The state government handicrafts emporium and
Khadi Gramodyog emporium are at Akhara Bazaar.
Events
Traditionally the ten-day Dussehra festival is celebrated all over India to mark the slaying of the demon king Ravana by Lord Rama (incarnation of Vishnu). The Kullu Dussehra however, has its own special flavour. Now a popular tourist attraction and commercialised to a great extent, it
is held at the Maidan and is the most important event in Kullu. It is approximated that some 600 gods and goddesses from villages all around are brought to the Maidan to pay obeisance to Lord Raghunathji. Curiously enough, Jamlu, the god from Malana, does not take part in the festivities and remains on the opposite bank of the river. According to tradition, celebrations begin only after arrival of the idol of goddess Hadimba from Dunghri temple near Manali. Seated in a carved wooden rath (carriage) the idol is swathed in colourful silk and decorated with flowers. The idol of Raghunathji is carried in a special 6-wheeled rath, which is pulled by ropes from the Rupi Palace by 200 ordained devotees. As the procession, led by Raghunathji, reaches the Maidan, the royal family and the priests circumambulate it. After the pujas (prayers), festivities begin with dancers moving with music and loud drumbeats. The festival looks like any typical Indian fair with food stalls, amusements for children, snake charmers and sadhus joining in the revelry that lasts for six days. The high point of the festival is the ritual sacrifice of a buffalo. On the last day, the idol of Raghunathji is carried down to the river and a large bonfire lit to mark the killing of Ravana. Celebrations end with the departure of Hadimba back to her abode in Dunghri.
Night Out
There are plenty of roadside cafes around where one can get a wholesome meal ranging from soups and pizzas to mouth watering Indian food. Chinese food and Tibetan momos are also available so take your pick!
Activities
The Kullu Manali Valley is a base for those looking for an adrenalin rush and getting one with nature. From interesting trekking trails to spending time angling in the foaming waters of the river to taking a leisurely yak ride through the glens and dales among the snow capped mountains, this is
the place to come to Treks: The Kullu Valley is the transit point for trekking routes over the Chanderkhani pass to Malana, the Jalori Pass and Bashleo Pass to Shimla and the Pin Parvati pass to Sarahan. The Parvati River, the longest tributary of Beas, veers off to the north-east 8 kms from Kullu. It is one of the ideal areas for trekking and mountaineering. Several parts of the Parvati valley remain untouched by modern civilisation and preserve the magic of the mystic mountains. Many areas here are frequented by tourists seeking easy access to wild cannabis, which grows in abundance here. Angling: The Kullu Manali region, especially the Larji Valley 34kms and Banjar(58kms), is crisscrossed by a number of streams which finally meet the Beas river and are excellent spots for fishing. Most of these streams have good brown trout, besides other local species. Kullu is a convenient base for angling tours around the valley. Katrain, 20 kms down the road to Manali has a trout farm and hatchery and a Himachal Tourism hotel to stay in. Shoja, 69 kms away at 2,692 metres is a good place to view the Kullu valley from. All around lie swift flowing rivers, dense forests and meadows with majestic peaks at the back. Yak Safari: Try a yak safari while you are in Kullu. The yak is a mountainous animal that lives in the upper reaches of the Himalayas, normally above 6000 mts above sea level. Explore this beautiful region on the back of this docile looking animal - it is sure to be interesting and a unique experience. Further north, the Baspa river is replete with trout, and along the Sangla Valley are dozens of good beats where prime specimens can be caught. Kasol, Bathad and Banjar are more acclaimed for mahseer
Sights
Overlooking the Sarvari nala and about a kilometre up from Dhalpur is the Raghunathji Temple . A long, low building behind the royal palace, this temple houses the idol of Raghunathji (a manifestation of Lord Rama), the presiding deity of Kullu. It is said that the king of Kullu Raja Jagat
Singh brought the idol from Ayodhya, in the north Indian plains, which is believed to be the birthplace of Rama. He installed the idol in the newly built temple and crowned it king to atone for the sin of having caused the death of a brahmin (Hindu priests). Since then the rulers of Kullu considered themselves as the representatives of the divine ruler. A half-hour walk further up the hill and about 4 kms from Dhalpur is the shrine of Vaishno Devi. Dedicated to a form of Kali, the powerful mother-goddess, this shrine is inside a cave. The other significant temple is the Bijli Mahadev Mandir , about 10 kms from the town across the Beas river. This shrine, dedicated to Shiva (destroyer in the Hindu trinity) has a lingam with an interesting characteristic. A 20 metre long trident projecting out of the shrine is said to attract divine blessing in the form of lightening from the skies. The lightening which is conducted through the staff, shatters the lingam into pieces. The priests of the temple then join the pieces together with a mixture of ghee (clarified butter) and wheat flour, waiting to be struck down once again by another burst of divine lightening. It is also worth going up to get a panoramic view of the Kullu and Parvati valleys . The Bijli Mahadev Temple has a basic rest house, with a single tap but sans any other amenities. There are regular buses plying from the Kullu bus stand to the shrine.
How to get there by Air
Bhuntar airport, 10 kms from Kullu is the nearest airfield, with regular flights arriving from Delhi. From the airport, there are regular buses to Kullu.
How to get there by Rail
The closest narrow gauge railhead is at Jogindernagar, 95 kms from Kullu. The nearest railhead with best train connections is at Chandigarh, 272 kms away. From there, regular buses connect to Kullu.
How to get there by Bus
You can drive to Kullu from Shimla, Delhi or other nearby places. The drive to Kullu from Delhi takes about 12 hours. Kullu has regular bus connections from Delhi, Shimla, Pathankot, Palampur and Ambala. The main bus stand is in the Sarvari Bazaar. Buses stopping at Dhalpur Maidan are closer
to most of the hotels, the tourist office and the District Commissioners office.
How to get there by Air
Bhuntar airport, 10 kms from Kullu is the nearest airfield, with regular flights arriving from Delhi. From the airport, there are regular buses to Kullu.
How to get there by Rail
The closest narrow gauge railhead is at Jogindernagar, 95 kms from Kullu. The nearest railhead with best train connections is at Chandigarh, 272 kms away. From there, regular buses connect to Kullu.
How to get there by Bus
You can drive to Kullu from Shimla, Delhi or other nearby places. The drive to Kullu from Delhi takes about 12 hours. Kullu has regular bus connections from Delhi, Shimla, Pathankot, Palampur and Ambala. The main bus stand is in the Sarvari Bazaar. Buses stopping at Dhalpur Maidan are closer
to most of the hotels, the tourist office and the District Commissioners office.
There are no luxury hotels in Kullu. All you''ll get are mid range and budget hotels. The Valley View Hotel amongst others is a good option to stay at while in Kullu.
Nearby Places
Mandi , an old town at the southern edge of the Kullu valley on the west bank of the Beas River was established in the 16th century by Rajput rulers. Though now visitors just pass through the town on their way to more exotic destinations in the valley, the town is sacred for both Hindus
and Buddhists and has some interesting sights to stop for, including several ancient temples, the 17th century palace and the bustling marketplace. Amongst the major temples are the Trilokinath temple built in the Naggar style with slanting tiled roof and the idol of a three-faced Shiva riding a bull; the Panchavaktra temple with a five-faced Shiva; the Bhutnath temple next to the river where Shivratri celebrations are held, and the Ardhanarishvara temple with the composite male-female image of Shiva and Shakti. The Mata Kuan Rani temple, up from the main market, is dedicated to a princess of Mandi and her consort Padmasambhava (Buddhas disciple, who introduced Buddhism to Tibet). It is said that the King of Mandi condemned the couple to die in a fire and when the embers died down, a lake with a lotus appeared at the spot. Known as Rewalsar or Tso Pema Lake, it is 24 kms south-east of the main town. At the lake is a 14th century Buddhist monastery with a golden statue of Padmasambhava and a Gurudwara (holy shrine of Sikhs) marking the visit of the tenth Sikh Guru Gobind Singh. Manikaran is one of the most popular destinations in the Parvati valley. This village is famed for its hot sulphur springs. According to folklore, Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva lost one of her earrings or Manikarna while bathing in the river. The earring was recovered by Sheshnaga, the divine serpent. When Shiva confronted Sheshnaga, he spat it out in rage, thus giving rise to the foaming springs. The springs are reputed to be the hottest in the world and men and women bathe in separate areas to experience the springs healing powers. Sitting at the bottom of a dark gorge, the village has two shrines devoted to the Hindu gods Rama and Shiva. The Gurudwara (Sikh shrine) with an onion-shaped dome has an underground pool where Sikhs bathe before listening to recitals of the holy Guru Granth Sahib. Manikaran is also on the way for trek routes to Pulga, Khirganga and Mantalai . At Khirganga, there are more hot springs with open bathing spaces for men and an enclosure for women. Here, Shiva is said to have meditated for 2,000 years at a stretch. Of great natural beauty, this route finally reaches the Pin Parvati Pass to open into the Sutlej valley in Lahaul-Spiti Kasol is a tiny resort a short distance from Manikaran. An open space that goes down to clear white sands by the Parvati River, Kasol is also popular for trout fishing. Naggar , 23 kms north of Kullu was the ancient capital of the kingdom before it was shifted to Kullu in the mid-18th century. The 16th century castle built in the traditional Pahari style with alternating stone and timber withstood a severe earthquake in 1905. After the capital was shifted, the castle served as the summer residence of the rulers until the time it was sold to a British officer in 1846. The building surrounds a central courtyard, with the first floor verandahs providing magnificent views of the valley. The Jagti Pat temple within the castle has a triangular stone slab icon. It is believed that the slab was brought from the summit of Deo Tibba, the celestial seat of all the deities. A small museum within the fort displays traditional dresses, costumes of folk dancers and musical instruments. Himachal Tourism now runs a hotel in the castle. A short climb up from the Naggar castle is the Nicholas Roerich Museum , displaying paintings and photographs of the famous Russian painter, philosopher and writer. Born in 1874, Roerich travelled extensively through the Himalayas and is famed for his paintings of the majestic mountains. In 1929, Roerich returned to settle in Naggar where his family established the Uruswati Himalayan Folk Art Museum. The painter died in 1947, but the Institute continues with a display of local folk art, costumes, Roerichs paintings and even Russian folk art. There is a library of rare books, an herb garden and a counter selling postcards and books. Amongst the holy shrines in Naggar, the most significant ones are the temples of Tripura Sundari, the Murlidhar Mandir and the Gaurishankar Mandir . The pagoda-style wooden temple of Tripura Sundari dedicated to the mother goddess has a three-tiered roof and animal carvings. Every year in mid-May there is a fair at the temple when deities from surrounding villages are brought here in procession. The stone-carved Murlidhar Mandir is believed to be one of the oldest shrines in the area and is strictly out of bounds for non-Hindus. It sits on a stone base with magnificent views of the surrounding valley and snow peaks. The temple was destroyed in the earthquake of 1905, but has since been restored. The Gaurishankar Mandir, near the bus stand, has carved stone shikharas (spires) and a paved courtyard. This is also a very old temple. Trekking down 7 kms after the Chanderkhani Pass (3,660 metres) you will reach the remote village of Malana . The people of this village are governed by rigid rules and are dictated by the orders of their village deity, Jamlu. The village is believed to be the oldest practising democracy in the world, where all decisions are taken jointly, under the watchful presence of Jamlu. The local people are distinct from others in the area and speak a Tibetan-based language. They believe that they are descendants of soldiers from Alexanders lost army. Any interaction of the villagers with outsiders is frowned upon, though the rigid caste-based rules have relaxed quite a bit. Even the presiding deity Jamlu maintains his separate identity in the cluster of village deities in the region. At the Dussehra festival in Kullu, Jamlu is the only god who does not pay obeisance to Raghunathji, and remains on the opposite bank of the Beas River. Considered remote and inhospitable till recent times, Malanas curious customs and legends have attracted many visitors to the valley.
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