Kullu

INTRODUCTION TO KULLU
India...... is a land of many reliogion & many languages with a many geographical differences as a mounainery area , Kullu.the most charming and beautiful Kullu valley spreads out its charm on either side of river Beas. The valley runs north to south of this river and is 80kms. Long and about 2kms. At its broadest. Yet with awe inspiring glens and mossy meadows encircled by the rushing streams and meandering brooks, flung east & west, a fairly wide area is open to the tourists, the trekkers, the mountaineers, the artists and to anyone who wishes to escape the heat & dust of the plains to breathe the exhilarating air of the Himalaya and enjoy the spectacle of the variegated mountain scenery. The valley is also famous for its exquisitely woven colourful hand made shawls and kullu caps.
Located in Himachal Pradesh, the Himalayan Jewel. Kullu was once known as Kulanthpitha-'the end of the habitatable world'. Beyond rise the forbidding heights of the Greater Himalaya, and by the banks of the shining river Beas, lies the fabled 'Silver Valley'. The town of Kullu is famous for its colorful Dussehra festival. Decorated palanquins and processions convey gods and goddesses from temples all over the valley to Kullu, to pay homage to the reigning deity, Raghunathji. A mela springs up during the festival which is celebrated with a great deal of singing, dancing and festivity.

SIGHTSEEING IN KULLU

BIJLI MAHADEV SHRINE (2460 m): 10kms. from Kullu across the Beas river, Bijli Mahadev temple is one of the striking temples in the temples strewn district. It can be reached by a tough but rewarding climb of 10 kms. trek. From the temple a panoramic view of Kullu & Paravati valleys can be seen. A 60 feet high staff of Bijli Mahadev temple glistens like a silver needle in the sun. In this temple of lightening it is said, the tall staff attracts the divine blessings in the form of lightening. The rest of the story can be heard from the priest, which is un-believable but true.

RAGHUNATHJI TEMPLE: 1 km. from Dhalpur, Raghunathji is the principal deity of the valley.

VAISHNO DEVI TEMPLE: At a distance of 4kms. From Dhalpur, a small cave enshrines an image of Goddess Vaishno Devi.

CAMPING SIGHT RAISON (1433 m): 16kms. Away from Kullu, the sight is ideal for spending a quite holiday in solitary splendor and for holding youth camps. There are a large number of orchards in this part of the valley. HPTDC has log cabins for comfortable stay.

KATRAIN (1463 m): The central and the widest part of the valley, Katrain is 20kms. From Kullu on way to Manali. Apple orchards and trout hatchery lend charm and prominence to the place. It is also famous for bee keeping and Govt. trout farm at Patilkulh. Sufficient accommodation is availablein Hotels of HPTDC.

NAGGAR (1760 m): On the left bank of the Beas, Naggar is delightfully situated on a wooded slope and commands an extensive view. It was the capital of erstwhile Kullu state for about 1400 years. There are large number of famous temples notably Vishnu, Tripura Sundari & Lord Krishana. Cars and jeeps easily go upto the Naggar castle. Roerich art gallery which houses the paintings of Nicholas Roerich as well as his sculptures is less than a km. from the Castle. Naggar is also a base for undertaking treks to Chanderkhani Pass and to remote valley of Malana.

KASOL (1640 m): Situated on the bank of Paravati river, Kasol makes a good holiday destination. 42kms. from Kullu charmingly located on an open space which slopes down to the broad expanse of clear white sand at the Parvati river. The place is well known for trout fishing.

MANIKARAN (1700 m): Manikaran, 45kms. From Kullu and just 3kms. From Kasol, is famous for its hot springs. Thousands of people take a holy dip in hot waters here. The water is so hot that dal, rice & vegetables etc. can be cooked in it. It is also a well known pilgrimage place for both Hindus & Sikhs. Ramchandra and Shivaji temples besides a Gurudwara are there. According to an old legend, Manikaran is connected with Lord Shiva and his divine consort, Parvati, who lost her ear rings here, which gave birth to hot waters on the bank of Parvati river. Hearing this religious myth from the priests will be more rewarding and interesting. Ample accommodation in the temples and Gurudwara, is available for night stay besides the HPTDC hotel.

MALANA (2652 m): Little ahead of the beautiful Chanderkhani Pass lies the village Malana which is famous for the temple of Jammu and its distinct, social and cultural life. Malana is considered to be the oldest democracy in the world. It would be worth while to visit this village to study the style and social system prevalent there.

BAJAURA: 15kms. Short of Kullu, Bajaura is on the main road where BASHESHWAR MAHADEV temple is situated about 200 m from the village in a plain between the main road and the Beas River. It is believed to have been built in the mid 8th century.

LARJI (957 m): South of Kullu, Larji 34kms. Away is a small hamlet providing excellent spot for trout fishing. The PWD rest house is located in a stunning position between the foaming torrents of the river Sainj & Tirthan, before they join the Beas. The place is patronized mostly by anglers.

BANJAR (1524 m): At a distance of 58 kms. South of Kullu, Banjar is an excellent spot for trout fishing in the waters of river Tirthan.

Excursion In Manali

The landscape here is breath taking. One can see well-defined snow capped peaks, the beas river with its clear water, on the other side are the pine trees, tiny fields and fruit orchid. A favourite place for trekkers to spiti, lahaul, kirmaur, leh and zanskar region in Kashmir valley.

Manali has a pre-historic legend behind its name. Vaivasvata, the seventh incarnation of Manu, the first creation according to Hindu mythology, found a tiny fish in his bathing water. The fish told him to look after it with devotion, for one day it would do him a great service. The seventh Manu cared for the fish until it grew so huge that he released it into the sea. Before departing, the fish warned Manu of an impending deluge when the entire world would be submerged and bade him to build a seaworthy ark. When the flood came, Matsya (fish), the first avatar of Lord Vishnu, towed Vaivasvata and the Seven Sages to safety. As the waters subsided, the seventh Manu's ark came to rest on a hillside and the place was named Manali after him.

Rohtang Pass (50Km.)
Rohtang Pass is the highest point, 4,112m, on the Manali-Keylong road, 51-km from Manali town. It provides a wide panoramic view of mountains rising far above clouds, which is a sight truly breath-taking.

Arjun Gufa (5Km.)
On the left bank of the Beas, 5-km from Manali near the village of Prini, is the 'Arjun Gufa' or the cave of Arjuna. In here Arjuna practised austerities to get Pashupata Ashtra or weapon from Lord Indra.

Beas Kund (50Km.)
It is the source of river Beas, at the Rohtang Pass and is easily accessible. The great sage, Vyas performed `Tapa' here during the Mahabharat times. The place is still hallowed by the celestial light. It was because of this that the river got the present name of Beas.

Jagatsukh Temple (6Km.)
It is one of the biggest villages in Kullu district. About 6-km from Manali, Jagatsukh is famous for its Shiva temple that is built in "shikhara" style and nearby is the old and interesting Devi Sharvati temple.

Kothi (12Km.)
It is a pretty little village, 12-km from Manali on the Keylong road at the foot of Rohtang Pass. There are very fine views from Kothi, and the Beas River flows through a very deep and narrow gorge at this point. The well-situated Public Works Department (PWD) Resthouse is a popular place for overnight stays. Close to the rest house is an awe-inspiring gorge where Beas enters a chasm about 61m deep and just few metres broad.

Old Manali (3Km.)
The old Manali area is located some 3-km from the present day Manali. The old Manali is covered with guesthouses, which look ancient now, and orchards where the livestock move at will.

Rahalla Falls (16Km.)
About 16-km from Manali and 4-km away from Kothi, at the start of the climb to the Rohtang Pass, are the beautiful Rahalla Falls at an altitude of 2,501m.

Solang Nullah (14Km.)
14-km northwest of Manali in the Solang Valley, this place offers Himachal Pradesh's best ski slopes. The Mountaineering and Allied Sports Institute operates a 300m high ski lift and the month of February is the best month to ski over here. HPTDC runs seven-day package for ski courses with accommodation in the Hotel Rohtang Manaslu in Manali. Courses are also offered by the Mountaineering and Allied Sports Institute and the North Face Ski School.

Vashisth Hot Sulphur Springs (3Km.)
This small village near Manali is famous for its scenic beauty. The village has a temple dedicated to Lord Rama and Vashisth Muni. The village has some hot water springs, which are said to carry medicinal properties. It is a picturesque little place, 3-km out of Manali but on foot the distance is a bit shorter.

Tour to Manali

Manali is an important hill station of India. It is situated in the mighty Himalayan Mountains of Himachal Pradesh, India near the northern end of famous Kullu Valley. It is well connected by road to all the major cities of North India like Delhi, Chandigarh and Shimla. It is a popular Himalayan tourist destination which permits a spectacular view of snow capped mountain peaks both to the north and the south. Mighty snow-capped mountain peaks, wooden slopes, deep gorges, lush green valleys, fruit orchards, fields of wild flowers, deodar & pine forests, splendid mountains, caves, etc are some major attractions of Manali tours which have made this small town of Himachal Pradesh one of the most popular hill destinations of the country. Exploring the scenic beauty of Manali provides you ambiance like heaven. Truly this is the heaven on the earth.
Because of breathtaking beauty, Manali is also lovingly described as the "Switzerland of India". It is a popular destination for nature lovers, peace seekers, families, adventurers, and other tourists too. Nature lovers from all around the world come here to see the superb beauty of nature in the lap of mighty Himalaya. Beautiful flowers, fruit orchards, snow capped mountain peaks, enchanting rivers, wonderful waterfalls, lovely lakes, lush green valleys, etc enchant the sense of nature lovers. You can too enjoy the scenic beauty of nature by close on your Manali tour. The scenic beauty of this hill town makes it a favorite honeymoon destination of India and appeals couples and honeymooners from all over the world. Couples and honeymooners from all around the world come here to spend their romantic and memorable moment of life. Truly exploring the superb beauty of nature in Manali situated the in the lap of mighty Himalaya with your life partner will be a pleasant experience of your lifetime.
Manali is also famous as an adventure & sport destination of India. There are lots of options for adventure and sport activities in the town. Trekking, mountaineering, rock-climbing, exploring lush green valleys, skiing, bathing at Vashist hot water sulphur spring, paragliding, tout fishing in Beas River, water rafting, camping, hiking, jeep safaris, mountain biking, etc are some adventure & sport activities which you will surly to love to indulge in on your tour of Manali, Himachal Pradesh. If fact, this small but beautiful town of Manali is a perfect destination for fun, adventure, and comfort.
So, if you too want to explore the beauty and attractions of the city, tour to Manali and visit the Hidamba Temple - dedicated to Hidamba wife of Bhim, the Manu Temple - dedicated to sage Manu, the Dhungri Temple, the Tibetan Monastery, the Nyingamapa Gompa, the Manali Mountaineering Institute, the Hot water spring, the Solang Nullah, the Dassaur Lake, the Vashist Village, the Nehru Kund, the Gulaba Camp, and many other with exceptional beauty of nature. Thrill yourselves with several adventurous activities on your Manali tour in Himachal Pradesh, India. There are several tour packages for Manali made available by various travel agents and tour operators. Manali tour package makes you enable to explore the beauty and attractions of the city in more and more convenient ways.