Kullu

Overview

Celebrated as 'Dev Bhumi' or the 'Valley of Gods,' Kullu is a lush alpine valley situated at an elevation of 1,279 meters (4,196 feet) along the banks of the roaring Beas River in central Himachal Pradesh. Nestled between the lower Shivalik ranges and the high Himalayas, Kullu is world-famous for its ancient wooden palaces, sacred temples, sprawling apple orchards, white-water river rafting, authentic Himachali handloom shawls, and the week-long international Kullu Dussehra festival.

At the historical heart of the valley, 20 km from Kullu town, stands Naggar Castle—a magnificent 15th-century wood-and-stone palace built by Raja Sidh Singh of Kullu. Constructed using the traditional 'Kath-Kuni' mortarless architecture (alternating layers of heavy timber beams and dressed stone), the castle withstood the massive 1905 earthquake undamaged. Today it houses a heritage hotel and offers sweeping views of the Beas Valley. Nearby lies the Nicholas Roerich Himalayan Art Gallery, the former estate of the famous Russian painter and philosopher exhibiting original oil paintings of the Himalayas.

Spiritual landmarks abound across Kullu Valley. Bijli Mahadev Temple, located at 2,460 meters atop a high mountain ridge, is famous for its 60-foot butter-clad Shivalinga that is struck by lightning during thunderstorms, which local priests restore using sacred butter. Other revered shrines include the Raghunath Temple in Kullu town, housing the presiding deity of the valley, and Jagannathi Devi Temple in Bekhli.

Kullu is also an adventure and shopping hub. The stretch of the Beas River between Pirdi and Jhiri provides thrilling grade-III and IV white-water river rafting. Local markets in Kullu town offer authentic soft Angora and Pashmina wool Kullu shawls, hand-woven caps, and wooden handicrafts. Every autumn (October), over 200 local village deities travel in decorated palanquins to the Dhalpur Maidan in Kullu to pay homage to Lord Raghunath during Kullu Dussehra.

Enjoying pleasant weather year-round, Kullu serves as a central hub connecting Manali, Kasol, Tirthan Valley, and Mandi. Shiv Bhumi Travel Agency offers customized Kullu holiday packages, white-water rafting arrangements, Naggar heritage stays, and seamless private taxi transfers from Bhuntar Airport and Chandigarh.