Kullu Tourism (2021) - Himachal Pradesh > Top Places, Travel Guide

"Nature Lover's Paradise"

Kullu Tourism

Kullu, a popular tourist destination in Himachal Pradesh located on the banks of Beas river. With panoramic views and majestic hills covered with Deodar and Pine trees, it is a nature lover's paradise. Kullu generally coupled with its sister town Manali which is on much higher altitude and provides more scenic views.

Situated at an altitude of 1230 meters between Pir Pranjal, Lower Himalayan and Great Himalayan Ranges, Kullu is abundant with apple orchards, pristine river streams and a wonderful climate. Tourists coming to Kullu and Manali can indulge in a lot of adventure sports activities like river rafting, trekking, mountaineering etc. Bhuntar, the place that houses airport and bus junction and is used as the base town to reach Manikaran, Kasol, Malana, Bhunter and Rohtang Pass is located in Kullu. Kullu also has few important temples like the Raghunath Temple and Jagannathi Devi Temple. Apart from temples, the Pandoh Dam and Chandrakhani Pass are also must-visits in this region.

Places To Visit In Kullu

Great Himalayan National Park

Raghunath Temple, Kullu

Bijli Mahadev Temple

Pandoh Dam

Bhrigu Lake

Friendship Peak

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Kullu Packages

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Captivating Kullu, Manali & Shimla

6 Nights

Starting from $217

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Beautiful Kullu & Manali

4 Nights

Starting from $149

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Captivating Kullu, Manali & Shimla

5 Nights

Starting from $203

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Kullu Manali Shimla Special with Kasol

7 Nights

Starting from $224

CUSTOMIZE & BOOK

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Top Hotels In Kullu

JJ by VIVAAN RESORTS Kullu

9.5 (97 reviews)

$ 57 onwards

Hotel Kullu Valley

7.0 (60 reviews)

$ 24 onwards

River site guest house

8.7 (24 reviews)

$ 13 onwards

Himalyan Kothi Kais

8.7 (15 reviews)

$ 65 onwards

Royal Mansion

8.5 (14 reviews)

$ 40 onwards

Hotel Aroma Classic

7.6 (10 reviews)

$ 17 onwards

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Top Kullu Itineraries

History of Kullu

Legends claim that when Manu visited this valley during the Great Flood, he could not go beyond Rohtang Pass. He named the last settlement he found 'Kulant Peeth', meaning the end of the habitable world'. This name further transformed into 'Kulut', before finally being known as 'Kulu' or 'Kullu' today. Apart from being a tourist attraction credited to its breathtaking scenic beauty, Kullu also finds importance as a religious town. In ancient times, both Hinduism and Buddhism existed side by side in total harmony. It is said that Kulu had a Stupa, which was built by Mauryan Emperor Ashoka The Great- this stupa served as a religious hub where monks preached Buddhism to the local people and made conversions. There were some 1.000 monasteries, inhabited by about 20,000 monks, along with 15 Hindu temples. The meditation caves near the foot of the mountain pass were shared by both Hindus and Buddhists. Kullu gained its first motorable access only after India became independent.Till 1960, the tract of Lahul and Spiti were a part of Kullu district.In 1963, it was announced that Kullu would be a district of Punjab. However, on 1st November 1966, Kullu was included within the terrestrial boundary of Himachal Pradesh.

Kullu Dussehra

Kullu's famous Dussehra festival begins on the very day of 'Vijaya Dashami' and continues for a week. Celebrations take place at the Dhalpur Maidan in October and have been accredited the status of an International festival by the State Government. People from all over the world come to witness this grand festival when the valley is at its colourful best. On the first day of celebration, an idol of Lord Raghunathji is placed in a beautiful chariot, marked by the sacred presence of village Gods and Goddesses. The rope attached to the chariot is then pulled by devotees across different sites of the venue. This holy celebration marks the triumph of good over evil- enriched with culture, heritage, dance and music. Numerous devotees participate in singing and dancing. The festival concludes when the chariot is brought along the banks of River Beas on the seventh day, and a mass of wooden grass is burned, depicting the burning of Lanka. Dussehra in Kullu is much more than a holy celebration- it is Kullu’s distinctive glamour and a delightful amalgamation of culture, heritage and religion. This festival is a must visit for people who wish to see the best of Kullu.

Restaurants and Local Food in Kullu

Kullu fosters much of traditional and local delicacies as well as serves popular cuisines for its many visitors, being a popular tourist destination. Hence the restaurants here serve Indian, Chinese and Continental food. Himachali cuisine is very simple in structure, but does have some unique delicacies, that are almost exclusive to the area. A staple meal will consist of Chapati, dals, vegetable gravy and curd, though the varied geography of the state does bring in a few alterations. Pickles are typically served along with a meal in most of the eating joints here.
In Kullu, you can find local food like Bhature, Patrodu, Vada, Sattu, Kodra Roti, Jatu (Red rice) and more. Along with this one can also relish some locally made wines known as Lugri and Chakti prepared fro red rice and barley. You can also find some Tibetan foods here. Another specialty are the fruits in this area. Himachal is known for some of the freshest and finest variety of fruits.
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Suggested Itinerary for Kullu

Day 1: Arrive at Bhunter airport or Joginder Nagar railway station. Transfer to Kullu by cab. Check in at the hotel. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 2: Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Start your day with the blessings of Raghunath Ji temple, then trek to Bijli Mahadev temple to see lightning struck Shiva Lingam which was repaired with butter by a priest. Then, head towards Tirthan valley for some adventure. At an hour?s drive from Kullu, you can enjoy various activities such as river crossing, trekking, and sightseeing at Tirthan. Back to hotel. Dinner and stay at the hotel.
Day 3: Check out from the hotel after breakfast. Head to Manali or Kasol in a taxi or a bus or wherever your next destination is. You can also add Manikaran Sahib and the famous sulphur hot springs in Manikaran to your trip.

Best Time to Visit Kullu

Commuting within Kullu

Kullu Photos

Chandrakhani Pass and the Parvati Valley

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FAQs on Kullu

What is famous about Kullu?

Located near Manali which opens several options for adventure. It is less crowded than its adjacent places. A perfect place to relax in the lap of nature away from the busy city life to explore your inner self.

What is not so good about Kullu?

A very small town with very less number of recreational activities compared to Manali.

Who should visit Kullu?

For religious people as it has lots of ancient temples to explore. For family vacations and for adventure junkies.

What is the best time to visit Kullu?

Summers from March to June is the best time to visit Kullu. Winters are also a great time to visit Kullu for its festivities around Raghunath temple. For a more adventurous trip and to witness snowfall, winters are the best. However, monsoons must be avoided entirely as there are chances for landslides and it's risky to travel to Kullu.

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What is the local food in Kullu?

What is the best way to reach Kullu?

The railway station closest to Kullu is in Jogindernagar which is 125 kms away. Buses and taxis are easily available from there to Kullu. Kullu has its own airport in Bhunter and daily flights are operational from New Delhi and Chandigarh. Himachal Roadways operate luxury and economical buses from all nearby towns and even from New Delhi and it is one of the easiest way to reach Kullu. People coming from places other than North India prefer to fly or take a train till Chandigarh and take a bus or a cab from there. Chandigarh is just 233 km away from Kullu.
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How much does a package cost for Kullu?

The packages for Kullu start at INR 10999 which can be further customized based on number of people, days, hotel category, vehicle type and customizations. You can have a look at all packages here

What are the top hotels in Kullu?

There are 53 in Kullu which can be booked through Holidify. The most popular hotels in Kullu are Blossom 1BR Studio in KulluKullu, Atulya, Sun View, OYO 35923 Impression Inn, Zostel Homes Pah Nala (Kullu/Manali), Zostel Homes Dobhi (Naggar/Kullu/Manali). You can see all the hotels in Kullu here

What are the things to do in Kullu?

The top things to do in Kullu are Rafting in Manali, Great Himalayan National Park, Bijli Mahadev Temple, Raghunath Temple, Kullu, Friendship Peak, Pandoh Dam. You can see all the places to visit in Kullu here

What are the places near Kullu?

The top places near to Kullu are Manali which is 32 km from Kullu, Kasol which is located 20 km from Kullu, Shimla which is located 95 km from Kullu, Bir which is located 38 km from Kullu, Mcleodganj which is located 82 km from Kullu

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Kullu Reviews

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Rohit Shroff

2 years ago

- Pack suitable clothing according to the weather. Kullu is mostly cold so do not forget to carry some woolens. If you're travelling with kids, preferably accompany them on all occassions.

Shaikh Sarfaraz

2 years ago

The hot water spring was amazing .It is very popular in Manikaran.God's nature

Rohit Shroff

2 years ago

Great Himalayan National Park with its abundance in both flora and fauna provide with some of the most spectacular views. However, Great Himalayan National Park or GHNP is not necessarily clubbed with a trip to Manali. Ideally, Great Himalayan National Park will require a few days on its own.

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