Kullu
Overview
The Kullu valley runs along the Beas and is known for its Dussehra festival, apple orchards and handloom shawls. The district includes Manali, the Parvati valley (Kasol and Manikaran), the Tirthan valley, and the Great Himalayan National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Reviewed places in Kullu
Bhrigu Lake Trek
Gulaba, near Manali
A short high-altitude trek from near Manali to a glacial lake at about 4,300 m on a ridge east of the Rohtang road, usually done over two to three days.
Bijli Mahadev Temple
Mathan, near Kullu
A hilltop Shiva temple above the Kullu valley at about 2,435 m, reached by a short climb, with a tall staff said to attract lightning.
Great Himalayan National Park
Sainj / Tirthan valleys
A UNESCO World Heritage protected area in the upper Kullu district — a roughly 750 km² national park inside a wider ~1,170 km² conservation area covering the Tirthan, Sainj and Jiwa Nal catchments.
Hampta Pass Trek
Jobra, near Manali
A 3–4 day crossing from the green Kullu side to the arid Lahaul side over a pass of about 4,270 m, usually done with a side trip to Chandratal.
Hidimba Devi Temple
Manali
A 1553 CE wooden temple to Hidimba Devi, set in a cedar grove in old Manali, known for its tiered pagoda roof and carved doorway.
Jalori Pass
Between Ani and Banjar
A 3,120 m road pass in the Seraj region of Kullu, with a small temple at the top and short walks to Serolsar Lake and the Raghupur fort ruins.
Jibhi
Banjar Valley (Tirthan)
A small village in the Banjar (Tirthan) Valley with wooden hill architecture, a nearby waterfall and forest walks, close to Jalori Pass and the Great Himalayan National Park.
Kasol
Parvati Valley
A riverside village in the Parvati Valley, a long-standing traveller hub with cafes and guesthouses, and the usual base for Kheerganga, Malana and Tosh.
Kheerganga Trek
Parvati Valley
A popular one- or two-day trek up the Parvati valley from Barshaini to a meadow with a natural hot spring at about 2,960 m.
Manali
Manali
The main resort town of the upper Beas valley at about 2,050 m — a base for Solang and Rohtang, and the gateway to Lahaul, Spiti and Ladakh via the Atal Tunnel.
Manikaran
Parvati Valley
A pilgrimage town on the Parvati river known for its natural hot springs and the Gurudwara Manikaran Sahib, sacred to Sikhs and Hindus alike.
Manu Temple, Manali
Old Manali
A temple in Old Manali dedicated to the sage Manu, said to be the only one of its kind in India, a short uphill walk above the old village.
Naggar Castle
Naggar
A 15th–16th century stone-and-wood castle that was the seat of the Kullu rulers, now a heritage hotel and museum above the Beas near Naggar village.
Raghunath Temple, Kullu
Sultanpur, Kullu
The 17th-century temple in Kullu town that houses the idol of Raghunath (Rama), the presiding deity of the valley and the focus of Kullu's Dussehra.
Rohtang Pass
Manali–Keylong road
A 3,978 m pass on the old Manali–Leh road between the Kullu and Lahaul valleys, visited mostly for snow — now bypassed year-round by the Atal Tunnel.
Solang Valley
Solang, near Manali
A side valley about 13 km from Manali used for skiing in winter and for ropeway rides, zorbing and paragliding in summer.
Tirthan Valley
Gushaini / Banjar
A quiet river valley on the western edge of the Great Himalayan National Park, known for trout fishing, riverside homestays and short forest walks.
Vashisht Temple & Hot Springs
Vashisht, Manali
A stone temple to the sage Vashishtha in the village of Vashisht across the Beas from Manali, with natural sulphur hot springs and bathing tanks alongside.
More places worth visiting
- Manali
- Solang Valley
- Bijli Mahadev
- Kasol
- Manikaran
- Tirthan Valley
- Great Himalayan National Park
- Jalori Pass
Detailed pages for these are being written and reviewed before they go live.