Kullu

Summer (March - June)

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'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.

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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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.

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

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