Kullu
Valley of the Gods on the Beas
Overview
Kullu is a town and district headquarters in Himachal Pradesh, India, set at roughly 1,200 m on the banks of the Beas river in the valley long known as the 'Valley of the Gods' (Dev Bhoomi). It is famous for Kullu Dussehra, an international week-long festival in the Dhalpur maidan that begins on Vijayadashami, when the celebration ends elsewhere, and gathers hundreds of village deities around Lord Raghunath. Kullu is also known for its handwoven shawls and caps, the Raghunath and Bijli Mahadev temples, and as the gateway to Manali and the Parvati valley. MyTripMyTravel runs Kullu as a chauffeured cultural base, temple visits, the shawl workshops, and Beas-side days.
Kullu gives its name to one of the Himalaya's most storied valleys. Strung along the Beas at about 1,200 m, the town is the administrative and cultural heart of a region Himachalis call Dev Bhoomi, the land of the gods, a valley where nearly every village keeps its own deity, and where those deities still travel, borne on palanquins, to gather at Kullu each autumn.
That gathering is Kullu Dussehra, and it is unlike Dussehra anywhere else in India. It opens on the very day the festival ends elsewhere, unfolds over roughly a week in the broad Dhalpur maidan, and centres on Lord Raghunath, whose image was brought to the valley by its raja in the seventeenth century. Beyond the festival, Kullu is known for its handwoven wool, the distinctive Kullu shawls and caps, and for temples such as the riverside Raghunath and the lightning-struck Bijli Mahadev on the ridge across the valley.
MyTripMyTravel treats Kullu as more than a waypoint on the road to Manali. We base guests here for the weaving workshops, the temple circuit, and quiet time by the Beas, and use it as a hinge into the wider valley, the Great Himalayan National Park to the south, the Parvati valley and Manikaran to the east, and Manali to the north, all on chauffeured legs off the main highway.
At a glance
Kullu in brief
When to visit
March to June, September to November
Spring and early summer (March to June) bring blossoming orchards, green valley floors, and warm, clear days ideal for temples and river time. Autumn (September to November) delivers the crispest air and the sharpest mountain views, and mid-to-late October usually carries Kullu Dussehra, a spectacular but very busy window we book well ahead for. Winter (December to February) is cold and atmospheric, with snow on the higher slopes. The monsoon (July to August) greens the valley but raises the real risk of landslides on the Beas-valley highway, so we keep schedules flexible then.
Things to do
Experiences in Kullu
Kullu Dussehra in the Dhalpur maidan
The valley's great autumn festival, when hundreds of village deities converge around Lord Raghunath, an escorted visit timed to the processions.
Raghunath Temple
The town's principal shrine to Lord Raghunath, the deity at the heart of Kullu's spiritual and festival life.
Bijli Mahadev
A ridgetop Shiva temple across the Beas, famous for a tall wooden staff said to draw lightning, reached by a short climb with sweeping valley views.
Kullu shawl & cap workshops
A guided visit to the handloom weavers whose geometric-bordered shawls and caps are the valley's signature craft.
Beas river rafting
Seasonal white-water rafting on the Beas near Kullu with vetted operators, run only when flow and safety allow.
Great Himalayan National Park gateway
The UNESCO-listed park in Kullu district, whose Tirthan and Sainj buffer valleys open to escorted nature walks.
Getting there
How to reach Kullu
Bhuntar (Kullu-Manali airport, KUU) lies about 10 km south with limited service; most guests fly to Chandigarh (IXC) and continue by our fleet on a full-day chauffeured leg.
Kullu sits on NH3, the Chandigarh-Manali highway; the drive up the Beas valley is scenic but winding, and we schedule it with buffer for traffic and weather.
The nearest broad-gauge railhead is at Chandigarh; the narrow-gauge Joginder Nagar line ends far short of Kullu, so onward travel is by our fleet.
Our GPS-tracked, orthopedic-grade mountain vehicles handle the Beas-valley legs and the branch drives to Manali, Naggar, and the Parvati valley.
Where to stay
Boutique lodges and resorts set along the Beas around Kullu and Katrain, chosen for river outlook and quiet grounds.
Character stays in restored valley houses and apple-orchard properties, several toward Naggar with its old castle.
Family-run Kullvi homestays offering local food and genuine village contact away from the highway.
Where to eat
Hearty highland fare, siddu (steamed stuffed bread), rajma with local rice, and seasonal greens, best eaten in a valley homestay.
The traditional sit-down thali of madra, dal, and rice cooked by botis (local cooks), served on festive occasions and by request.
Multi-cuisine menus at the Beas-side resorts and cafés, from Himachali dishes to North Indian and Continental standards.
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Good to know
Kullu, your questions
What makes Kullu Dussehra different?
It begins on the very day Dussehra ends in the rest of India, runs for about a week in the Dhalpur maidan, and gathers hundreds of village deities carried in from across the valley to pay homage to Lord Raghunath. It is recognised as an international festival, visually extraordinary, but very crowded, so we book stays and access well ahead.
Is Kullu just a stop on the way to Manali?
It can be, but it rewards a proper stay. Kullu has its own temples, its famous weaving tradition, river activities, and access to the Great Himalayan National Park and the Parvati valley. Many of our guests base here for a quieter, more cultural experience than busier Manali.
Can I go river rafting at Kullu?
Yes, in season. The Beas near Kullu offers white-water rafting with experienced operators, which we book only when water levels and safety conditions allow. It is weather- and flow-dependent, and always at the operator's discretion.
How many nights should I plan in Kullu?
Two nights suits most itineraries, enough for the temple circuit, a shawl workshop, and either a river day or a nature outing, with the option of more if you are folding in Dussehra or the national park.
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