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Kullu
Introduction
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.
This town 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.
History
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.
Location
Kullu is located in the
central part of the state of Himachal Pradesh ,India. It is located at
an altitude of 1200 m above sea level at the confluence of Beas and Sarvari
rivers. It is 240 km north of Shimla.
Places to See
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).
Excursion
The Basheshwar Mahadev Temple
The Basheshwar Mahadev Temple at Bajura (15
km) from Kullu is famous for its exquisite carvings.
There are a number of tourist
spots as well. The small town of Manikaran (45 km) is famous for its hot
sulphur springs. It is located at an altitude of 1737 m in the Parvati
River valley. These hot springs are famous for their healing powers. This
place is both revered by the Hindus and the Sikhs.
Kaisdhar
(15 km) and Kasol (42 km), the latter located amidst pine forest, are
important picnic spots.
Shoja (69
km), at an altitude of 2692 m, offers the traveler a breathtaking view
of the entire Kullu valley.
Raisan
(13 km), on the banks of river Beas, is a good site for trekking.
The
town of Naggar (23 km) was the erstwhile capital of the state of Kullu
for more than 1,400 years. There are number of historic monuments and
temples in this town.
Kullu
attracts the adventure-seeking tourist by offering trekking and hiking
trails in and around the valley. Stretches of River Beas are also used
for white-water rafting.
When To Visit
The best time to visit Kullu
is in summers, between April and June. It is also visited in October during
the Dussehra festival.
Fairs & Festivals
The festival of Dussehra, which marks
the victory of good over evil, is celebrated all over India in the month
of October. However, Dussehra in Kullu valley is special. It begins when
Dussehra festivities in other parts of the country are over. The main event
of this festival is taking out of Lord Raghunath's (local version of Lord
Ram) idol through the streets on a palanquin carried by pilgrims. The procession
also has villagers dancing in traditional attire.
Travel Information
Air: The nearest airport is at Bhuntar, which is 10 km
south of Kullu. Bhuntar is well connected to Delhi by air, and there are
daily flights between them operated by Archana Airlines and Jagson Airlines
with a stopover at Shimla
Train:The nearest railway
sataion is at Jogindernagar (95 km).
Road: The bus station
is located near the banks of river Sarvari. Kullu has a good bus service
for Shimla, Delhi, Chandigarh, Mandi, Manali, Manikaran, Nagar, Bajura,
and Dharamsala. The Taxi stand is located near the National Highway 21,
and one can get taxi for Delhi, Shimla, Manali, Mandi, Manikaran, and
Dharamsala.
Kullu, Hill Stations in India
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