Places to see in Kullu-

Kullu has many temples some of them are as old as of 8th and 9th century.But best thing you can do in Kullu is to just watch the beauty of nature which not only soothes your mind but also your soul.Kullu can also be a hill station of choice if you are fond of adventure sports.Some of the places worth seeing in Kullu are-

Bishweshwar temple -

The temple is located in Bajaura about 5 kms from Bhuntar airport and at an altitude of about 1600 mts. It is the largest and most attractive temple in Kullu valley and is believed to be built in 9th century.The temple has been declared as the protected site. It is believed that the heroes of the epic Mahabharat, Pandavs built this temple in one day.The architecture of this temple is so good that it withstood the eartquake of 1905.

Bijli Mahadev temple-

The temple is located at a height of about 2450 mts at a distance of about 10 kms from Kullu,it is one of the most striking temples and one of the famous place to visit in Kullu. The temple contains a 'Shiv Ling' , the statue of Lord Shiva.The view of the valley and wooded peaks from this temple is spellbinding.A 60 ft long trident which looks like a silver needle is placed vertically on the top of the temple.It is believed that this trident receives blessings in the form of lightening (The Hindi word for lightening is Bijli).

It requires a few hours of trekking to reach here. The trek and the climb is tiring but rewarding.A stiry is attached to this temple or rather a miracle is said to happen here every now and then.It is said that lightening breaks the 'Shivling " into many parts.After that the priest collects all the broken parts of the Lingam and sticks it together with the help of butter which acts as the adhesive.

Manikaran-

Manikaran, situated about 45 kms from Kullu and at an altitude of about 1700 mts is famous for its hot springs.Thousands o people take a holy dip here.The water is so hot that even foods like rice, vegetables and pulses can be cooked using this water.The place is an important pilgrimage centre for both Hindus and Sikhs because Raghunathji temple and a Gurudwara is situated here. According to Hindu mthology, Goddess Parvati lost her earrings here which gave rise to the hot spring here.

Raghunath temple-

Situated about 1 km away from main Kullu bus stand , the temple houses the idol of Lord Raghunath, the prinipal deity of Kullu valley.It is believed that the idol present here in the temple is the same that Lord Rama used while offering prayers during Ashva Megha Yagya. The world famous festival of Kullu valley ,Dussehra is celebrated after his name. It is believed that Raja Jagat Singh brought the idol from Ayodhya, The birth place of Lord Rama.

Vaishno Devi Temple-

Located just about 5 kms from Kullu on the Kullu -Manali highway (NH-1) lies this temple. There is a small cave here which enshrines the idol of Goddess Vaishno Devi.

Camping Sight Raison-

16 kms away from Kullu and at an altitude of about 1450 mts. the place is ideal for seclusion in the lap of nature and also for organizing youth camps.There are a number of orchards located in this part of Kullu. The atmosphere is mesmerizing with quite places very much apt for someone who want to see the beauty of nature in seclusion.

Adi Brahma temple-

Located in the village of Khokhan about 4 kms from Bhuntar this is a massive temple built with wood.his temple has idols of Adi-Bhahma ji in the center and temple of 'Garh Jogni & Manikaran Jogni' on the left and right side of the temple.

Triyug Narayan Temple-

This temple built in pagoda style lies about 12 ks from Bhuntar in the village of Dyar and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

Naggar-

Situated at a height of about 1700 mts. on a wooded slope and on the left bank of river Beas , Naggar offers a commanding view of the Kullu valley. It was the capital of erstwhile Kulu 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.

Khirganga-

Located in Parvati valley and about 22 kms from Manikaran, Khirganga is a place where the elder son of Lord Shiva, Lord Kartik remained in samadhi for thousand years. For reaching Khirganga one have to go by bus upto Barshaini and form there to Khirganga on foot. This trek leads through hilly terrain.

Kasol-

Located am a height of about 1650 mts and about 40 kms from Kullu lies this broad open space.This bewitching open space slopes down towards the bank of Parvati river . This place makes a good holiday destination specially for those who have keen interest in trout fishing.

Malana-

This little village lies just ahead of3Chanderkhani pass.It is believed to be the oldest democracy of world.The place is famous for the temple of Jamlu and its distinct, social and cultural life.It would be worth while to visit this village to study the style and social system prevalent there.

Kullu, India: General information-

Kullu derived its name from the word "Kulanthpitha" which means end of the habitable world.Easy access to Kullu valley was assured only after India gained independence.So, for long this region of Himachal Pradesh in India has largely been secluded since long. Due to this the culture here is largely retained and looks fresh. The place is also called as "valley of God".

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.
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Brief geography of Kullu-

Kullu has an average elevation of about 1400 mts. The town of Kullu lies on the bank of river Beas.

On the east of Kullu lies a broad mountainous ridge having the village-temples of Bijli Mahadev, Mount Nag and Pueed. Beyond the ridge lies Manikaran valley, along the Parvati river which joins Beas in Bhuntar. On the South of Kullu lie towns of Bhuntar, Out(leading to Anni, Banjar and Siraj Valley) and Mandi(a separate district). Historically Kullu was accessible from Shimla via Siraj valley or through passes on the west leading to Jogindernagar and onto Kangra. To the north lies the famous town of Manali, which through the Rohtang pass leads onto the Lahaul and Spiti Valley. One can see an enormous change in the climate as one climbs up the windward side of the ranges to proceed to the leeward and much drier plateaus to the north of Manali.
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How to reach Kullu-

A few decades back access to Kullu was very difficult.Infact easy access to Kullu valley has only been assured after India gained its freedom. Now a days, Kullu is well connected by Air, Railway as well as by road.

Reaching Kullu by Air-
The nearest airport is Bhuntar airport which lies about 10 kms. north of Kullu.Presently the airport receives many flights ,mainly from Delhi, Chandigarh and Jubbar-hatti (Shimla).Nearest international airport is Delhi. Only flights of Indian Airlines and Air Deccan operate from here.So, options to reach here by flights are pretty much limited.The other airport is at Gaggal called Kangra airpot which is around 200 km. from Kullu on the way from Kullu to Pathankot.

Reaching Kullu by Train-
Nearest broad gauge lines from Kullu are Kiratpur and Chandigarh. From these places you can reach Kullu by bus or by hiring a taxi.Jogindernagar is the nearest meter gauge line from where you can reach Kullu by bus and taxis.Chadigarh is about 540 kms away from Kullu while Kiratpur and Jogindernagar are 260 km and 120 km respectively.

Reaching Kullu by Road-
Kullu is well accessible by road from all nearby major places like, Shimla, Dalhousie, Dharmshala, Delhi ,Chandigarh etc.Regular buses operate from all these places and there are a variety of buses to choose from, like, Luxury buses, Deluxe buses, Semi-deluxe and also general buses for someone having tight budget.In Delhi you can get buses from ISBT (Inter State bus Terminus).

Where to stay in Kullu-

Being an important and one of the most visited hill stations in India Kullu offers a wide range of accommodation options for tourists which ranges from luxury 5 star hotels to budget hotels. Generally peak season rates are double than the off season rates. You can find many budget hotels in Gandhinagar ,Shastrinagar and Dhalpur areas of Kullu.Most of the budget hotels range from Rs. 150 to Rs. 400 range.
There are very few 5 star hotels in Kullu.Most of the 5 star hotels are located in Manali which is located about 40 kms away from Kullu. Most of the five star and four star hotels are located on Manikaran road.

Eating out in Kullu-

Although there are many eating places in Kullu which serve god and tasty recipes but if you are there to taste some local cuisines then the options are pretty much limited.Although you can get many places where you can eat western dishes but most of the places in Kullu serve mainly north indian dishes.