The Himalayan Paradise
Area : 6.68 Sq. kms.
Altitude : 1219 mts.
Season : April to June and September to November
Originally known as Kulanthapitha (End of habitable World), the
first recorded inhabitants of the Kullu Valley date back to the1st
century AD. The capital was first at Jagatsukh, and then moved to
Naggar before the British moved it to Kullu town. The Kullu Valley,
about 80 kms. Wide, rises northward from Mandi at 760 mts. To the
Rohtang La at 3978 mts., the gateway to Lahaul and Spiti.
There are lush fields and orchards of cherry, plum and apple line
the Kullu valley floor, while scented pine forests climb up the
higher slopes to the snow line. The cheerful Kullu people are
dressed in colourful garments of handwoven wool. Apple-cheeked
children run about the quaint villages, where rustic houses have
carved wooden balconies and slate roofs.
The Charming Kullu Valley-‘the abode of the Gods’ is full of
picturesque spots. The town of Kullu is famous for its colourful
Dussehra festival; decorated palanquins and processions convey Gods
and Goddesses from temples all over the valley to Kullu, to pay
homage to the reigning up during the festival, which is celebrated
with a great deal of singing, dancing and festivity .
Local festivals:
End-April: - Colourful 3-day Cattle Fair attracts villages from the
surrounding area. Dasara is sacred to the goddess Durga that,
elsewhere in India, tends to be overshadowed by Diwali, which
follows a few weeks later. In this part of the Himalaya, it is a
great social event and get-to-gether of the Gods. Every village has
a deity, and they all come to Kullu.
Shopping
Best buys are shawls, caps, and gadmas.
Bhuttico:- One stone, 2kms. South of Apple Valley Resorts.Akhara
Bazar has a Government Handicrafts Emporium, Himachal Khadi Emporium
and Khadi Gramodyog. Charm Shilp is good for sandals.
Places to eat
Ashiana: - Sarvari Bazar, clean, good South Indian foods are
available .
Monal Café: - It is near Tourist Office, does simple meals
Sapna Sweets: - Akhara Road, is good for snacks early in the day.
Temples
Bijli Mahadev Temple: The interesting Bijli Mahadev Temple is close
to Kullu.Its temple tower, with a 20 mts. rod on top, attracts
lightning which shatters the stone linga in the sanctum. The priest
puts it together with a butter and grain mixture called sathu till
the next time…
Manikaran (1737 mts.): High up under the snowy peaks, of the Parvati Valley are the hot springs at Manikaran. The water from the
steaming springs is noted for its healing properties. Manikaran is a
place of pilgrimage for Hindus and Sikhs. Ithas a temple and a
gurudwara. It is also a good spot for trout fishing.(44 mts.).
The Raghunath Temple in the north of the town is dedicated to the
principal God of the Valley. It is open before 9 am and after 5 Pm.
Jagannath Devi Temple is in the Village of Bhekhli, about 3 kms.
From Kullu. The one and a half hour climb gives great views over
Kullu.
Jari: Jari is 19 kms. From Bhutar, halfway along the Parvati
Valley.A traveller’s resort, the views and tranquility of Jari have
been marred by the new Parvati River hydroelectric project.
Malana: Malana Valley is across the river from Jari. It is a fully
day trek from Jari to Malana Town. It is an isolated village with
its own government and a rigid caste structure.
Kasol: The tiny village lovely set amidst pines and streams has a
spate of guest house building which has divided it into the Old
Kasol at the Bhutar side of the bridge and a charmless New Kasol on
the Manikaram side.
Roerich Gallery: About 1 km. past the Naggar castle is this
interesting gallery housing works of art of the eccentric Russian
painter Professor Mikolai Roerich, who died in Naggar in 1947. The
distinctive style is a combination of surrealism and Russian icon
painting. There is modern art gallery sells postcards and copies of
Roerich’s paintings. A five minute walk from the gallery is the
Urusvati Himalayan Folk & Art Museum, which houses a collection of
embroidery and folk art and the upstairs modern art gallery sells
postcards and copies of Roerich’s Paintings.
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