Kullu is a
district
A district is a type of administrative division that, in some countries, is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or counties, several municipalities, subdivisions o ...
in
Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh (; ; "Snow-laden Mountain Province") is a state in the northern part of India. Situated in the Western Himalayas, it is one of the thirteen mountain states and is characterized by an extreme landscape featuring several peaks ...
,
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
. It borders
Rampur district to the south,
Mandi
Mandi may refer to:
Places
* Mandı, Azerbaijan
India
* Mandi, Jammu and Kashmir, a town on the Mandi River in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir
* Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, a city in Himachal Pradesh
** Mandi State, former princely sta ...
and
Kangra districts to the west, and the
Lahaul and Spiti district to the north and east. The largest valley in this mountainous district is the
Kullu Valley
Kullu Valley is a broad open valley in Himachal Pradesh, India, formed by the Beas River between Manali and Larji. This valley is famous for its temples, beauty and its majestic hills covered with pine and deodar forest and sprawling apple orc ...
. The Kullu valley follows the course of the
Beas River
The Beas River (Sanskrit: ; Hyphasis in Ancient Greek) is a river in north India. The river rises in the Himalayas in central Himachal Pradesh, India, and flows for some to the Sutlej River in the Indian state of Punjab. Its total length is ...
, and ranges from an elevation of 833m above sea level at Aut to 3330m above sea level at the
Atal Tunnel
Atal Tunnel (also known as Rohtang Tunnel), named after former Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee is a highway tunnel built under the Rohtang Pass in the eastern Pir Panjal range of the Himalayas on the Leh-Manali Highway in Himach ...
South Portal, below the
Rohtang Pass
Rohtang Pass (Rohtang , lit: རོ་ (Ro)- corpse(s), ཐང་། (thang)- plain/field Polgreen, Lydia. ''New York Times''. Accessed 31 July 2010.) is a high mountain pass (elevation ) on the eastern end of the Pir Panjal Range of the Hima ...
. The town of
Kullu
Kullu is a municipal council town that serves as the administrative headquarters of the Kullu district of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It is located on the banks of the Beas River in the Kullu Valley about north of the airport at Bh ...
, or simply Kullu, located on the right side of the Beas River, serves as the administrative headquarters of the Kullu district. The Kullu district also incorporates several riverine tributary valleys of the Beas, including those of the
Parvati
Parvati ( sa, पार्वती, ), Uma ( sa, उमा, ) or Gauri ( sa, गौरी, ) is the Hindu goddess of power, energy, nourishment, harmony, love, beauty, devotion, and motherhood. She is a physical representation of Mahadevi i ...
, Sainj, and Tirthan rivers, and thus some regions somewhat distant from the Kullu valley. The economy of the district relies mainly on horticulture, agriculture, tourism, and traditional handicrafts.
History
The ancient seat of the kings of the kingdom of Kullu was the
Naggar Castle
Naggar Castle is a medieval castle, located in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, India. Built by Raja Sidh Singh of Kullu in around 1460 A.D, it was taken over to Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC), to run as a heritage hotel, since 1 ...
, about 12 km north of the present-day town of Kullu, and was thought to have been built in the late 15th century.
Raja Jagat Singh
Raja Jagat Singh was a Rajput soldier and ruler of the Nurpur kingdom.
Folklore
In 1630 Jagat Singh sided with his people of Nurpur, who were starving during the famine and paid taxes from his own pocket. A lack of rain for three years cause ...
(who ruled Kullu between 1637–72) moved the capital in the middle of the 17th century from Naggar to Sultanpur, within today's Kullu town.
Kullu ended being an independent kingdom upon the invasion by
Maharaja Ranjit Singh
Ranjit Singh (13 November 1780 – 27 June 1839), popularly known as Sher-e-Punjab or "Lion of Punjab", was the first Maharaja of the Sikh Empire, which ruled the northwest Indian subcontinent in the early half of the 19th century. He s ...
in 1839. Following, in turn, the takeover of the
Sikh Empire
The Sikh Empire was a state originating in the Indian subcontinent, formed under the leadership of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who established an empire based in the Punjab. The empire existed from 1799, when Maharaja Ranjit Singh captured Lahor ...
by the
British Empire
The British Empire was composed of the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It began with the overseas possessions and trading posts esta ...
, Kullu was ceded by the Sikhs to the British in 1846, whereupon it became a tehsil of the British-administered
Kangra district (in turn a part of the
Punjab Province,
British India
The provinces of India, earlier presidencies of British India and still earlier, presidency towns, were the administrative divisions of British governance on the Indian subcontinent. Collectively, they have been called British India. In one ...
).
The head of Kullu's royal family had been granted the Waziri Rupi by the Sikh emperor along with the title 'Rai', and this continued throughout the British period. Naggar Castle was exchanged by Raja Gyan Singh of Kullu for a rifle with Major Hay, the first Assistant Commissioner of the then-newly acquired British territory of Kullu. The Rupi Palace in Sultanpur is still used as home by the descendants of Kullu's royal family.
Upon the
Independence of India
The Indian independence movement was a series of historic events with the ultimate aim of ending British Raj, British rule in India. It lasted from 1857 to 1947.
The first nationalistic revolutionary movement for Indian independence emerged ...
, until 1960, Lahaul and Spiti continued being parts of the Kullu tehsil, as had also been the case during the British rule. In 1960,
Lahaul and Spiti became a separate district. Kullu became a district of
Punjab
Punjab (; Punjabi: پنجاب ; ਪੰਜਾਬ ; ; also romanised as ''Panjāb'' or ''Panj-Āb'') is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising ...
in 1963, and on November 1,1966, it became a district of Himachal Pradesh, through the
Punjab Reorganisation Act of 1966.
Since the British times, the various government offices and other government institutions built around the Dhalpur grounds, in the heart of the Kullu town, have formed the nerve centre of the district administration in Kullu district.
Demographics
According to the
2011 census, the district had a population of 437,903. At this census, 44% of the population in the district declared
Kullui
Kului (, also known as Kulvi, Takri: ) is a Western Pahari language spoken in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh.
Phonology
Consonants
For the stops and affricates there is a four-way distinction in phonation between tenuis , voiced , ...
as their first language, 23% opted for
Pahari, 10% chose the Siraji, 7.8% –
Hindi
Hindi (Devanāgarī: or , ), or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi (Devanagari: ), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in the Hindi Belt region encompassing parts of northern, central, eastern, and western India. Hindi has been de ...
, 3.2% –
Mandeali
Mandeali ( Takri: ) is a language spoken in northern India, predominantly in the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh by the people of the Mandi Valley and particularly in the major city of Mandi. Other spellings for the name are Mandiyali and Ma ...
, 2.5% –
Nepali, 2.3% –
Lahauli, 0.92% –
Punjabi, 0.87% –
Kangri Kangri can mean:
*of, from, or related to the Kangra Valley or the Kangra district of northern India
*Kangri language, the Indo-Aryan language of the valley
*Kanger
A kanger (; also known as kangri or kangid or kangir) is an earthen pot woven ar ...
, 0.84% –
Kinnauri
Kinnauri, also known as Kanauri, Kanor, Koonawur, Kanawari or Kunawar (Takri: 𑚊𑚮𑚝𑚵𑚤𑚯/𑚊𑚝𑚵𑚤𑚯/𑚊𑚝𑚵𑚤/𑚊𑚱𑚝𑚭𑚦𑚰𑚤/𑚊𑚰𑚝𑚦𑚤, Tibetan:ཀིནཽརཱི), is a Sino-Tibet ...
, and 0.41% –
Tibetan
Tibetan may mean:
* of, from, or related to Tibet
* Tibetan people, an ethnic group
* Tibetan language:
** Classical Tibetan, the classical language used also as a contemporary written standard
** Standard Tibetan, the most widely used spoken dial ...
.
Administrative
The administrative headquarters of the Kullu district lies at
Kullu
Kullu is a municipal council town that serves as the administrative headquarters of the Kullu district of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It is located on the banks of the Beas River in the Kullu Valley about north of the airport at Bh ...
. The Kullu district has the following administrative divisions:
*Sub divisions in Kullu: Kullu,
Anni, Banjar and Manali.
*Development Blocks: Kullu, Naggar, Banjar, Anni, and Nirmand.
*Tehsils in Kullu: Kullu, Nirmand, Banjar, Manali, Bhuntar and Anni.
*Sub-Tehsils in Kullu: Sainj and Nithar
*Gram Panchayats: 70 in Kullu tehsil, 40 in Naggar tehsil, 36 in Banjar tehsil, 32 in Anni tehsil, 26 in Nirmand tehsil.
*Zila Parishad: 1 (Kullu)
*Nagar Parishad: 2 (Kullu and Manali)
Politics
Electorally, at the State level, Kullu contains four of the 68 assembly constituencies of the
Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly
The seat of the Vidhan Sabha is at Shimla, the capital of the state. The Vidhan Sabha comprises 68 Members of Legislative Assembly, which include 68 members directly elected from single-seat constituency. Its term is 5 years, unless sooner dissol ...
, namely Manali, Kullu, Banjar, and Anni. The following table shows the current
MLAs
The Max Launch Abort System (MLAS) was a proposed alternative to the Maxime Faget-invented "tractor" launch escape system (LES) that was planned for use by NASA for its Orion (spacecraft), Orion spacecraft in the event an Ares I malfunction du ...
from Kullu in the HP Assembly.
At the Central level, Kullu is a part of the
Mandi Lok Sabha Constituency
Mandi Lok Sabha constituency is one of the four Lok Sabha (parliamentary) constituencies in Himachal Pradesh state in northern India. Pratibha Singh, representing INC, won the last Lok Sabha byelection in 2021 from Mandi following the death ...
, one of the four such constituencies that represent the state of Himachal Pradesh in the
Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha, constitutionally the House of the People, is the lower house of India's bicameral Parliament, with the upper house being the Rajya Sabha. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by an adult universal suffrage and a first-past ...
.
Transport
By road
The main highway running through the Kullu district is the
National Highway 3, formerly known as National Highway 21. The segment of this highway through the Kullu district begins at Aut and ends at the Atal Tunnel. This highway runs in a roughly south-north direction. To evade the usually heavy traffic between
Kullu
Kullu is a municipal council town that serves as the administrative headquarters of the Kullu district of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It is located on the banks of the Beas River in the Kullu Valley about north of the airport at Bh ...
and
Manali, one can take the road along the left bank of the Beas River at Kullu, so as to arrive in Manali via Naggar.
By air
The Kullu district has an
airport at Bhuntar, capable of accommodating small aircraft. There are helipads at Manali, Palchan, Kullu (Dhalpur ground), and Naggar.
By railway
The Kullu district is not connected through railways.
Economy
Agriculture and horticulture are the predominant sources of livelihood in the Kullu district. Wheat, maize, vegetables, and garlic are the main crops grown. Most agriculture in this mountainous district is done in the form of
terrace farming. Most of this agricultural activity is subsistence level. Horticulture, particularly apple farming, has been more profitable in Kullu district. But both these activities are being negatively influenced by
climate change
In common usage, climate change describes global warming—the ongoing increase in global average temperature—and its effects on Earth's climate system. Climate change in a broader sense also includes previous long-term changes to E ...
.
Cannabis
''Cannabis'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cannabaceae. The number of species within the genus is disputed. Three species may be recognized: ''Cannabis sativa'', '' C. indica'', and '' C. ruderalis''. Alternatively ...
farming has also been a lucrative though illegal source of income in the district, particularly since the 1980s. Forests play an important role in securing local livelihoods in the Kullu district, in the form of timber and various non-timber forest products.
The district is also rich in
medicinal herbs
Medicinal plants, also called medicinal herbs, have been discovered and used in traditional medicine practices since prehistoric times. Plants synthesize hundreds of chemical compounds for various functions, including defense and protection a ...
. No major minerals are found in the district.
However, the district is rich in hydroelectric potential, and has several major hydroelectric projects, including the
Parbati hydroelectric project. Some valleys in the district contain historic seasonal migration routes of the
Gaddi and
Gujjar
Gurjar or Gujjar (also transliterated as ''Gujar, Gurjara and Gujjer'') is an ethnic nomadic, agricultural and pastoral community, spread mainly in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan, divided internally into various clan groups. They were tradit ...
transhumant communities. Tourism is a major source livelihood at many places in the Kullu district, in the form of hotels, homestays, restaurants, travel agencies, shops,
dhabas, guiding services, cooks, porters, and taxi services. Tourism has had a major
ecological footprint in the district. The
handloom
A loom is a device used to weave cloth and tapestry. The basic purpose of any loom is to hold the warp threads under tension to facilitate the interweaving of the weft threads. The precise shape of the loom and its mechanics may vary, but t ...
-based production and sale of
Kullu shawls is also important in some parts of the Kullu district. Service sector industries, in field such as tourism, education, floriculture, and livestock and poultry farming have a good scope of growth in the district. There is no large-scale industry in the Kullu district. Geographic constraints and difficulty of access inhibit the growth of industries in the Kullu district.
Institutions for Himalayan knowledge
''
his section does not cover the schools, colleges, and universities of Kullu district.'
The Kullu district is rich in both ecological wealth and cultural and historical heritage. At the same time, Kullu is not far from regions such as the
Trans-Himalayas and
Tibet
Tibet (; ''Böd''; ) is a region in East Asia, covering much of the Tibetan Plateau and spanning about . It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people. Also resident on the plateau are some other ethnic groups such as Monpa people, ...
, and lies on an important historic trade route from Punjab to
Ladakh
Ladakh () is a region administered by India as a union territory which constitutes a part of the larger Kashmir region and has been the subject of dispute between India, Pakistan, and China since 1947. (subscription required) Quote: "Jammu and ...
and
Central Asia
Central Asia, also known as Middle Asia, is a subregion, region of Asia that stretches from the Caspian Sea in the west to western China and Mongolia in the east, and from Afghanistan and Iran in the south to Russia in the north. It includes t ...
. In modern times, these features of the Kullu valley have drawn many researchers, scientists, artists, and seekers of other kinds to it.
The first institution in the Kullu region, dedicated to research on various sciences and mysticism in the Himalayas, was the Urusvati Himalayan Research Institute, established by the
Roerich family. They established this centre in 1928 at
Naggar
Situated on the left bank of river Beas at an altitude of 1,800 meters, Naggar is an ancient town in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh, India. It was once capital of the Kullu kingdom.
Geography
Naggar is located north of the District h ...
, upon their return from the Central-Asian Expedition. By
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, the institute had become defunct. Nonetheless, the site of the former institute, a part of the Roerich estate in Naggar, continues to operate a library and some exhibitions.
At present, there are three institutions in Kullu that are active in generating and preserving Himalaya-specific knowledges.
* Himalayan Regional Centre of the GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development - This institution is based in Mohal, about 6 km south of Kullu. It was established in Kullu in 1992, and shifted to Mohal in 1993. This government institution conducts research and informs policy on various issues related to climate change, mountain ecology, traditional ecological knowledge, and rural livelihoods.
* Himachal Pradesh Craftsmanship and Design Innovation Institute NORTH - This institute is based in Naggar, 22 km north of Kullu. It was established in 2017. This institution works to preserve Kullu's traditional
kathkuni architectural style.
* Himalayan Institute of Cultural and Heritage Studies (HICHS) - This institute is based in village Katrain, 30 km north of Kullu. It was established in early 2020. This institution offers curated heritage walks in the Kullu valley; conducts courses related to Himalayan cultures, religions, iconography, and architecture, and hosts weekly online talks by scholars and artists from India and around the world whose work features the Himalayas.
Attractions
![Parvati_Valley](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ec/Parvati_Valley.jpg)
Particularly since the onset of the unrest in
Kashmir
Kashmir () is the northernmost geographical region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term "Kashmir" denoted only the Kashmir Valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal Range. Today, the term encompas ...
in the 1980s, the Kullu region has gained in significance as a tourist destination. The Kullu valley is known as the "Valley of the Gods" or "Dev Bhumi" because almost every village in the valley has a local deity and annual festivities around them. The following is a non-exhaustive list of historical, cultural, religious, scenic, and ecological places of interest in the Kullu district.
Places of interest
* Basheshwar Mahadev Temple - This Shiva temple at Bajaura is made completely out of stone in the
Shikhara
''Shikhara'' ( IAST: '), a Sanskrit word translating literally to "mountain peak", refers to the rising tower in the Hindu temple architecture of North India, and also often used in Jain temples. A ''shikhara'' over the ''garbhagriha'' chambe ...
style, and is renowned for its intricate sculpture art. Archeologically, the temple is dated to around the early 9th century A.D. In local belief, this temple is believed to have been built by the
Pandavas
The Pandavas (Sanskrit: पाण्डव, IAST: Pāṇḍava) refers to the five legendary brothers— Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva—who are the central characters of the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''. They are acknowledg ...
.
* Bhuti Weavers Co-operative Society - This society is a leading name in the famous
Kullu shawl
A Kullu shawl is a type of shawl made in Kullu, India, featuring various geometrical patterns and bright colors. Originally, indigenous Kulivi people would weave plain shawls, but following the arrival of craftspeople from Bushahr in the early ...
industry. It was set up in 1944. Its main office and showroom are located at the Bhutti Colony in Shamshi, about 8 km south of Kullu.
*
Bijli Mahadev Temple - It is located at 2,435 meters from sea level and is about from Kullu. The staff of the temple is 60 feet high and can be seen from the Kullu valley too. It is the highest point around Kullu from where there are views of the whole town.
* Chaini Kothi - A 35 meters-high tower built in the
Kathkuni style, built originally as a defensive structure and from later on used as a temple for a Jogini. It dates to the 17th century. It is located in the Tirthan valley near Banjar.
* Dagpo Shedrup Ling monastery - This Tibetan Buddhist monastery of the
Gelug
file:DalaiLama0054 tiny.jpg, 240px, 14th Dalai Lama, The 14th Dalai Lama (center), the most influential figure of the contemporary Gelug tradition, at the 2003 Kalachakra ceremony, Bodh Gaya, Bodhgaya (India).
The Gelug (, also Geluk; "virtuous ...
school is located in village Kais, 8 km north from Kullu. It was inaugurated in 2005 by the
Fourteenth Dalai Lama
The 14th Dalai Lama (spiritual name Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso, known as Tenzin Gyatso (Tibetan: བསྟན་འཛིན་རྒྱ་མཚོ་, Wylie: ''bsTan-'dzin rgya-mtsho''); né Lhamo Thondup), known as ...
. This monastery is a continuation of the Dagpo Dratsang monastery in southeastern Tibet, which was destroyed during the
Cultural Revolution
The Cultural Revolution, formally known as the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, was a sociopolitical movement in the People's Republic of China (PRC) launched by Mao Zedong in 1966, and lasting until his death in 1976. Its stated goal ...
.
* Dechen Choekhor monastery - This Tibetan Buddhist monastery of the
Drukpa Kagyu
The Drukpa Kagyu (), or simply Drukpa, sometimes called either Dugpa or "Red Hat sect" in older sources, school is located in village Sarabhai, 13km south from Kullu. Its construction was started in 2000 and completed in 2017. It is a continuation of a monastery of the same name in Tibet, which was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution.
*
Great Himalayan National Park
The Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) is a national park in India, located in Kullu region in the state of Himachal Pradesh. The park was established in 1984 and is spread over an area of 1171 km2; elevations within the park range betwe ...
(GHNP) - This national parks is spread over between the Kullu & Spiti regions of Himachal Pradesh. The park is drained by the Sainj, Tirthan, Jiwa Nala, and Parvati rivers. It is home to many different and often rare kinds of birds, mammals, insects, and vegetation. The park is abundant in scenic beauty. It was created in 1984 and became a
UNESCO World Heritage Site
A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for h ...
in 2014. Entering the Park requires permits.
*
Hadimba Temple - This pagoda-style temple is located in the Dungri forest above Manali. It houses the footsteps of Hadimba Devi on a rock inside. It was built by Raja Bahadur Singh in 1553 A.D.
* Kais Dhar - A place with grass meadows and densely forested mountains. It is a part of trekking route and is not connected through road, hence the natural environment is preserved. This place has a British-era forest rest house.
*
Kasol
Kasol is a hamlet in the Kullu district of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It is situated in Parvati Valley, on the banks of the Parvati River, Between Bhuntar and Manikaran, it is located from Bhuntar and from Kullu town, the distric ...
- A village in the
Parvati valley
Parvati Valley is situated in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. From the confluence of the Parvati River with the River Beas, the Parvati Valley runs eastwards, through a steep-sided valley from the town of Bhuntar, in the Kullu di ...
that is popular among backpackers; also known as 'Little Israel' for being very popular among young Israeli tourists.
* Khanag - This village in Anni tehsil has an old rest house with a memorial to the English travel writer
Penelope Chetwode
Penelope Valentine Hester Chetwode, Lady Betjeman (14 February 1910 – 11 April 1986) was an English travel writer. She was the only daughter of Field Marshal Lord Chetwode, and the wife of poet laureate Sir John Betjeman. She was born at Alders ...
, who died in a remote part of the Kullu district in April 1986. Chetwode loved the Kullu valley, and is known for her book ''Kulu: the End of the Habitable World''.
*
Khokhan
Khokhan is a village in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh state, India. It is located close to the towns of Shamshi and Bhuntar in the Kullu valley. Administratively, Khokhan constitutes a Gram Panchayat, led by an elected Pradhan, in the ...
- A pagoda-style temple of Adi Brahma, dating to the 14th century A.D., is located in village Khokhan, about 10km south of Kullu town. The village also boasts open views of the confluence of the Parvati and Beas rivers, and of the
Kullu airport.
*
Lug valley
Lug Valley is a valley in the Kullu District of the Himalayan region in the state of Himachal Pradesh, India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies b ...
- Another important valley in the district is the Lug valley, where forest contractors have been extracting timber from the forests for the last 150 years and continue to do so today.
* Maha Devi Tirth Temple - Shri Mahadevi Tirth, locally known more commonly as Vaishno Devi Mandir, is a popular temple situated about two kilometers North from Kullu on the Kullu-Manali highway. It was built in 1966.
*
Malana - Malana is a relatively secluded village in the Kullu valley, known for its several unique cultural features. These include a language different from the rest of the Kullu region; worship of Jamlu devta, a god considered somewhat hostile by the Kullu Pantheon; a complex system of local-self governance; a weaker prevalence of caste distinctions, and a strong belief of contact with people outside the village being highly polluting.
The village is much more connected to the outside world than it was in the 1950s, when Colin Rosser conducted perhaps the earliest detailed research on this village.
*
Manali - Perhaps the most famous tourist destination of the Kullu valley. This town includes a Mall Road, the Hadimba Temple, a Tibetan market, and Old Manali, besides hundreds of hotels, resorts, and restaurants. Near Manali are sites like the
Solang valley
Solang Valley derives its name from combination of words Solang (Nearby village) and Nallah (water stream). It is a side valley at the top of the Kullu Valley in Himachal Pradesh, India 14 km northwest of the resort town Manali on the way ...
(popular site for adventure and winter sports), the hot springs at
Vashisht, the
, and the
Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment
Center for Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) is a laboratory of the Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO). Located near Manali, Himachal Pradesh its primary function is research in the field of snow and avalanches to pro ...
.
*
Manikaran
Manikaran is located in the Parvati Valley on river Parvati, northeast of Bhuntar in the Kullu District of Himachal Pradesh. It is at an altitude of 1760 m and is located 4 km ahead of Kasol and about 45 km from Kullu and about 35 km from Bhu ...
- A pilgrimage centre for Hindus and Sikhs in the
Parvati valley
Parvati Valley is situated in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. From the confluence of the Parvati River with the River Beas, the Parvati Valley runs eastwards, through a steep-sided valley from the town of Bhuntar, in the Kullu di ...
, famous for its hot springs.
* Mathasaur - Mathasaur is a scenic meadow located at the top of the Lug valley. It is has a small temple dedicated to the female deity Fungni Mata, which has certain taboos around entry, as do most other temples in the Kullu region. One has to hike to reach the meadow and the temple.
*
Naggar
Situated on the left bank of river Beas at an altitude of 1,800 meters, Naggar is an ancient town in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh, India. It was once capital of the Kullu kingdom.
Geography
Naggar is located north of the District h ...
- Naggar was the old capital of Kullu. Its 15th century castle, built in the
Kathkuni style, is now a hotel run by Himachal Tourism. Naggar also has the Roerich's Memorial House, and the Nicholas Roerich and Svetsolav Roerich Art Gallery. The famous Russian scholar, artist, and mystic
Nicholas Roerich
Nicholas Roerich (; October 9, 1874 – December 13, 1947), also known as Nikolai Konstantinovich Rerikh (russian: link=no, Никола́й Константи́нович Ре́рих), was a Russian painter, writer, archaeologist, theosophi ...
lived at this site from the late 1920s till his death here in 1947. Naggar also has several old temples, built in the shikhara and pagoda styles.
*
Nirmand - One of the largest villages of Himachal Pradesh. Recorded in the Nirmand Copper Plate (7th century A.D.), and famous for its ancient temples, including one dedicated to Parshurama.
* Raghunath Temple - In the 17th century, Raja Jagat Singh of Kullu committed a great mistake. To atone for the sin, he sent a senior courtier to Ayodhya for a statue of Lord Raghunath - Lord
Ram
Ram, ram, or RAM may refer to:
Animals
* A male sheep
* Ram cichlid, a freshwater tropical fish
People
* Ram (given name)
* Ram (surname)
* Ram (director) (Ramsubramaniam), an Indian Tamil film director
* RAM (musician) (born 1974), Dutch
* ...
. This temple was built in 1651 A.D. by Raja Jagat Singh to house the image, which continues to be greatly revered. Every year, the international fair
Dussehra
Vijayadashami ( sa, विजयदशमी, Vijayadaśamī, translit-std=IAST), also known as Dussehra, Dasara or Dashain, is a major Hindu festival celebrated at the end of Navaratri every year. It is observed on the tenth day in the Hindu ...
is celebrated with local deities in honour of Lord Raghunath.
*
Rohtang Pass
Rohtang Pass (Rohtang , lit: རོ་ (Ro)- corpse(s), ཐང་། (thang)- plain/field Polgreen, Lydia. ''New York Times''. Accessed 31 July 2010.) is a high mountain pass (elevation ) on the eastern end of the Pir Panjal Range of the Hima ...
- The Kullu valley connects with the Lahul and Spiti district via
Rohtang Pass
Rohtang Pass (Rohtang , lit: རོ་ (Ro)- corpse(s), ཐང་། (thang)- plain/field Polgreen, Lydia. ''New York Times''. Accessed 31 July 2010.) is a high mountain pass (elevation ) on the eastern end of the Pir Panjal Range of the Hima ...
, situated at from
Manali city. In 2020, the
Atal Tunnel
Atal Tunnel (also known as Rohtang Tunnel), named after former Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee is a highway tunnel built under the Rohtang Pass in the eastern Pir Panjal range of the Himalayas on the Leh-Manali Highway in Himach ...
was inaugurated, which bypasses the Pass and dramatically reduces the distance and effort required in getting from the Kullu valley to the Lahaul and Spiti valleys. But the pass continues to be a tourist attraction. Permits are required to visit the pass.
* Rupi Palace - Located in Sultanpur, Kullu, this palace was originally built in 1660 A.D. by Raja Jagat Singh. It was badly damaged in the
Kangra earthquake of 1905, and was subsequently rebuilt. It is the residence of the descendants of Kullu's royal family.
* Shoja - At 2368m, Shoja presents a vantage point for panoramic views of Himalayan ranges. Places of interest near Shoja include the Jalori Pass (3,140m), Jibhi, Serolsar Lake, Raghupur fort, and the Tirthan valley.
* Shringi Rishi Temple - Shringi Rishi Temple is located in the
Banjar valley, about 60 km from Kullu. Shringi Rishi is the ruling deity of Banjar valley. Shringi rishi is one among the "Atthara kardoo" (eighteen chief deities) of the Kullu valley.
Festivals
![Kullu_Dussehra_-_main_procession](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/93/Kullu_Dussehra_-_main_procession.jpg)
*
Kullu Dussehra
Kullu Dussehra is the renowned International Mega Dussehra festival observed in the month of October in Himachal Pradesh state in northern India. Wherein more than 4-5 lakh(400,000-500,000) people visit the fair from all across the Globe. It i ...
- The Kullu region is known for its unique celebration of the
Dussehra
Vijayadashami ( sa, विजयदशमी, Vijayadaśamī, translit-std=IAST), also known as Dussehra, Dasara or Dashain, is a major Hindu festival celebrated at the end of Navaratri every year. It is observed on the tenth day in the Hindu ...
festival in the Dhalpur grounds. The origins of Kullu's version of Dussehra lie in the mid-seventeenth century. It typically takes place in the month of October, which overlaps with the traditional period of the white lunar half of the month of
Ashvin
Ashvin or Ashwin or Ashwan (; bn, আশ্বিন; hi, आश्विन; or, ଆଶ୍ୱିନ; Malay/ Indonesian: ''Aswin''; Thai: ''Asawin''), also known as Aswayuja, is the seventh month of the lunisolar Hindu calendar, the solar ...
. It includes a rath yatra, a week-long congregation of deities from all parts of the Kullu region (including distant parts such as
Banjar and
Nirmand), a series of cultural performances, and a large fair that lasts several weeks.
* Pipal Jatar - This is a spring festival celebrated towards the end of April every year, with a large fair held in Kullu's Dhalpur ground.
Outdoor sports
* Angling/Fishing - The Kullu valley has numerous places for
trout fishing
Trout are species of freshwater fish belonging to the genera '' Oncorhynchus'', ''Salmo'' and ''Salvelinus'', all of the subfamily Salmoninae of the family Salmonidae. The word ''trout'' is also used as part of the name of some non-salmoni ...
. These include Katrain, Raison, Kasol and Naggar, then along the river Tirthan near Larji, in the Sainj Valley and in the Hurla khud.
* Mountaineering - People interested in
mountaineering
Mountaineering or alpinism, is a set of outdoor activities that involves ascending tall mountains. Mountaineering-related activities include traditional outdoor climbing, skiing, and traversing via ferratas. Indoor climbing, sport climbing, a ...
can take basic to instructor-level training at the
. The district has several peaks popular with mountaineers, such as
Hanuman Tibba
Hanuman Tibba is the highest mountain peak in Kangra district and lies on Dhauladhar Range in Himachal Pradesh, with an altitude of above sea level. It lies to the Northwest of Manali and to the East of Solang. To the north of Hamuman Tibba, li ...
, Papsura, and
Indrasan
Mount Indrasan is located at an altitude of 6221 metres above sea level in Kullu district, Himachal Pradesh. Mt. Indrasan is considered as the most difficult mountain to climb in the Pir Panjal range of the Himalayas because of the challenges ...
.
* Paragliding -
Paragliding
Paragliding is the recreational and competitive adventure sport of flying paragliders: lightweight, free-flying, foot-launched glider aircraft with no rigid primary structure. The pilot sits in a harness or lies supine in a cocoon-like 'po ...
is offered at certain sites in the Kullu valley, such as Dobhi and Solang valley. However, there have been several fatal accidents in this sport in Kullu valley.
* Rafting -
White water rafting
Rafting and whitewater rafting are recreational outdoor activities which use an inflatable raft to navigate a river or other body of water. This is often done on whitewater or different degrees of rough water. Dealing with risk is often a ...
is popular as a tourist activity on the Beas river. The
also offers courses in rafting and
kayaking
Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving over water. It is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle. A kayak is a low-to-the-water, canoe-like boat in which the paddler sits fac ...
.
* Rock climbing and bouldering - In recent years, several places near Manali, such as Sethan and Aleo, have emerged as popular
rock climbing
Rock climbing is a sport in which participants climb up, across, or down natural rock formations. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a usually pre-defined route without falling. Rock climbing is a physically and ...
and
bouldering
Bouldering is a form of free climbing that is performed on small rock formations or artificial rock walls without the use of ropes or harnesses. While bouldering can be done without any equipment, most climbers use climbing shoes to help se ...
sites.
* Skiing, heli-skiing, and snowboarding - These winter sports are possible in areas near Manali, such as the slopes of Solang valley and Hamta.
* Trekking - The district possesses numerous trekking routes, with possibilities ranging from single-day hikes to multi-day treks. Some popular multi-day treks are the
Bhrigu Lake trek; the
Chandrakhani Pass to
Malana trek, and the
Pin-Parvati Pass trek. The Great Himalayan National Park also has several moderate to strenuous trekking routes.
Gallery
File:Manikaran.jpg, The Gurdwara and a temple at Manikaran, in 2004.
File:Raja Rupi Kulu Palace.jpg, Raja Rupi Kulu Palace, 2004
File:Himalayas from Kullu Valley, Himachal Pradesh.jpg, A view from the Kullu valley.
File:Family Roerich.JPG, The Roerich family in Kullu valley
File:Kais Dhar Medows.jpg, Kais Dhar
File:Tourists in traditional Kullu attire.jpg, Tourists posing in traditional Kullu attire, at Solang valley
File:Hot Springs near Manali. 2020.jpg, Hot Springs at Vashisht, near Manali. 2020.
File:Kullu Dussehra - main procession.jpg, Crowds of deities and devotees at the Dhalpur ground, on the opening day of Kullu Dussehra, 2011.
File:Tosh in Monsoon, July 2017.jpg, View from Tosh village, Parvati valley, Kullu district. 2017.
File:Hidimba Devi Temple - North-east View - Manali 2014-05-11 2650 (cropped).JPG, Hadimba Devi Temple, Manali.
File:WesternTragopan.jpg, Western Tragopan, an extremely rare bird found in the Kullu district.
File:4 Beas River Kullu south of Manali Himachal Pradesh India.jpg, The Beas River, near Manali.
File:Apple tree, Dobhi, Kullu district.jpg, An apple tree at Dobi in Kullu valley.
File:Rohtang La-17-Gebetsfahnen-gje.jpg, The Rohtang Pass.
Further reading
* Diack, A.H. 1897 ''
Gazetteers Of Kangra District, Parts II To IV - Kulu, Lahul And Spiti.''
* Hutchison, John, and Jean Philippe Vogel.1933. ''
History of the Panjab Hill States (Volume 1).''
* Khosla, Gopal Das.1956.
''Himalayan Circuit: The Story of a Journey in the Inner Himalayas''. Macmillan.
* Prarthi, Lal Chand. 1971. ''
Kulut Desh ki Kahani''.
* Chetwode, Penelope. 1972. ''Kulu: The End of the Inhabitable World.''
* Shabab, Dilaram. 1996. ''Kullu: Himalayan Abode of the Divine''. Indus Publishing.
* Singh, Sanjay Kumar, and Gopal Singh Rawat. 2000. ''Flora of Great Himalayan National Park: Himachal Pradesh''.
* Hingorani, Alka. 2012. ''Making Faces: Self and image creation in a Himalayan valley''. University of Hawaii Press
(see a book review here.)* Moran, Arik. 2013
"Toward a history of devotional Vaishnavism in the West Himalayas: Kullu and the Ramanandis, c. 1500–1800."''The Indian Economic & Social History Review'' 50.1: 1-25.
* Halperin, Ehud. 2019. ''The Many Faces of a Himalayan Goddess: Hadimba, Her Devotees, and Religion in Rapid Change''. Oxford University Press, USA
(see a book review here)
References
External links
DISTRICT PROFILECULTURAL & TOURISM HERITAGE OF THE DISTRICTBirds of Kullu DistrictButterflies of Kullu DistrictLandscapes of Kullu District
{{Authority control
Districts of Himachal Pradesh
Former kingdoms