Kullu
1,220m · the Beas river valley, south of Manali — known across India as the Valley of Gods.
Where the Beas gets rafted, and the Gods get carried.
Kullu town sits at around 1,220m, lower and warmer than Manali just up the valley, and it's the district's practical hub — and India's whitewater rafting capital, with the Beas running Grade II–III rapids right through the valley floor.
The "Valley of Gods" name isn't just marketing: it refers to the local tradition of village deities, carried in palanquins, who all converge on Kullu town every October for the week-long Kullu Dussehra — recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage.
A lightning-struck temple, and a hot spring shared by two faiths.
- 01Bijli Mahadev TempleA dramatic ridge-top temple with a legend of its central shivling being periodically struck by lightning.
- 02Raghunath TempleKullu's principal deity's home, and the ceremonial centre of the Dussehra festival.
- 03Great Himalayan National ParkA UNESCO World Heritage Site protecting some of the Western Himalaya's richest biodiversity.
- 04ManikaranHot springs shared by a Sikh gurdwara and a Hindu temple, a short drive up the Parvati Valley.
- 05Kasol & ToshThe Parvati Valley's backpacker villages — cafes, guesthouses, and trailheads.
Best time & getting here.
Best Time to Visit
March–June and September–November for the valley. October for Kullu Dussehra, if you want the festival crowds and colour.
Getting Here
Nearest airport Bhuntar (Kullu–Manali), right in the valley. ~250 km / 7–8 hrs from Shimla by road.
Activities
River rafting on the Beas, trekking in the Parvati Valley and Great Himalayan National Park, apple orchard visits, paragliding near Bijli Mahadev.
Good To Know
Kullu makes a natural add-on to a Manali itinerary rather than a standalone base — we usually route them together.