The Kullu Valley best known as Valley of Gods’ or ‘Silver Valley’, is perhaps the most delightful region in the Western Himalayas. Situated on the banks of the river Beas, Kullu town, the headquarters of the district was once known as ‘Kulanthpitha’ (‘end of the habitable world’). The region abounds in apple orchards, old wooden temples, folk music, and dances and is the starting point for some adventurous treks.
From peaceful riversides to the majestic snow-clad mountain peaks, Kullu Valley has countless destinations for travellers. Its natural grandeur, vivid culture, arts, cheerful lifestyle and simple and hardworking people are also admirable. The five wildlife sanctuaries of Kullu offer a wide diversity of wildlife and are home to snow leopards, musk deer, brown bears, monal, etc.
Kullu Valley provides excellent avenues as well as facilities for adventure sports. The valley has some of the best sites for skiing (at Solang), para-gliding, mountaineering, white-water rafting, trekking, biking, etc. Kullu Valley is also renowned for its traditional handicrafts. Kullu shawls and caps are admired for their rich coloured patterns.
Dotting the landscape are several temples. The most remarkable temple of the valley is that of Bijli Mahadeva which is located a few miles away from Kullu. Raghunathji Temple, Bajaura Temple and Vaishno Devi Temple which is 4 km north of the Kullu-Manali road, where a small cave has an image of Goddess Vaishno, are other famous temples around Kullu. Another attraction there is Sultanpur Palace with beautiful Kulu-style of miniature paintings and other artefacts.
Parvati Valley Manikaran, the well-known hot springs is just 45 km from Kulu town. Local legend goes that while Goddess Parvati (consort of Lord Shiva) bathed in the river, Naga the serpent god, stole her earrings (Manikaran). At Siva’s command, he angrily blew them back from the underground causing a spring to flow. Manikaran is supposed to be the hottest spring in the world. The road from Kullu to Manali is flanked by lofty mountains and wide forests. On this road is Katrain, famous for its fruit orchards and its trout hatchery. Across the river is a small town Naggar, which has been made famous by the late Russian painter, Nicholas Roerich, whose gallery can be seen there. Jagatsukh, the biggest village of the district on the Naggar-Manali road, is popular for its annual Chacholi Yatra. The Urusvati FolkArt Museum at Naggar has an excellent collection of Russian and Indian folk arts, costumes, carved slabs and beautiful oil paintings.
The best time to visit the Kullu Valley is October. There is a wide variety of accommodation to choose from. The Tourism Department offers log huts and independent cottages.
There are daily flights from Delhi to the Kullu Valley’s Bhuntar airport which is 10 km from Kullu town. The closest railhead is at Jogindernagar, 95 km from Kullu. By road, the distance via Mandi is 530 km and from Shimla, it is 240 km. Luxury buses also ply from Delhi and Shimla to Kullu.
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