Introduction:
Kullu is famous for its temples and the annual Dussehra festival,
both of which attract thousands of tourists the town of Kullu
has long been a centre of faith. In the 17th century, Raja Jagat
Singh installed here an idol of Lord Raghunathji, which he brought
from Ayodhya. As a mark of his penance, he placed the idol on
his throne and it became the presiding deity of the valley.
Formerly, the Kullu valley was known as Kulanthapitha, meaning
the end of the habitable world. The earliest recorded information
of this area goes back to 1st century AD, when this valley began
to be inhabited. In the medieval period, Kullu and the area
around it was ruled by a number of local rulers. The Kullu valley
was isolated from other parts of the country for many centuries
until it came under British rule.
The most charming and beautiful Kullu valley spreads out its
charm on either side of river Beas . Kullu was once known as
Kulanthpitha, which means the end of the habitable world. Beyond
rose the forbidding heights of the Greater Himalayas, and by
the banks of the shining river Beas , lay the fabled ' Silver
Valley '. The valley runs north to south of Beas river and is
80 kms. long and about 2kms wide.
Major Attractions in Kullu :
Today, Kullu is a major tourist attraction in the country. We
list below a selection of major attractions of Kullu –
Raghunath Temple - Kullu is famous for its
temples and festivals. The main tourist attraction of Kullu
is the Raghunath Temple, dedicated to Lord Ram. Raja Jagat Singh,
the ruler of Kullu, built this temple in 1660 to atone for his
wrongdoing. He obtained a statue of Lord Ram from Ayodhya and
established it within this temple.
Jagannathi Devi Temple - Jagannathi Devi Temple
or the Bekhli temple is 3 km from Kullu and is located in the
village of Bekhli. It is a stiff 1½-hour climb to reach
this temple, but it provides a panoramic view of Kullu.
The Bijli Mahadev Temple - The Bijli Mahadev
Temple is located on a spur at a height of 2460 m. True to its
name, the temple is often stuck by lightning (bijli, lightning).
The Great Himalayan National Park - Characterised
by dazzling high ridges, glaciers, deep gorges, alpine meadows
and valleys with closed virgin forests, the Great Himalayan
National Park with an altitudinal variation from 1,300m to 6,100m
in Kullu district is one of the best destinations for Himalayan
flora and fauna lovers. Supporting a diverse wildlife of over
three hundred species of birds and over thirty species of mammals,
the region was declared a national park in 1984.
Dashir Lake - Dashir Lake is situated near
the Rohtang Pass that connects district Kullu with Lahaul at
a height of 4,270m.
Deo Tibba - Also known as Indralika, this 2,953
metres (9,687 ft.) high snow dove Jagatsukh, has a legend around
it, with Arjuna. He started performing 'tapa' at this mountain,
under the advice of Maharishi Vyas, in order to obtain the powerful
Pasupata Astra from Indra.
Jagatsukh - Jagatsukh is the most ancient Kullu
capital, situated on the left bank, between Nagar and Manali.
Around the Jagatsukh secondary school playground there are two
ancient temples - the small shrine of Gaurishankar and the larger
chalet-roofed temple to the goddess Sandhya Devi, the stone
base of which is much more ancient than the 19th-century wooden
verandah and roof.
Mashru Peak - One can hike through thick forest
around Kufri to the Mahasu Peak- the highest peak in Kufri.
Himalayan Nature Park - The Himalayan Nature
Park,which has a collection of animals and birds,found only
in Himachal Pradesh.
Indira Tourist Park - The Indira Tourist Park
is near the Himalayan Nature Park and provides panoramic view
of the locations around.
Best
Time to Visit : May to October
How to reach
Kullu can be easily accessed through air, train or road.
By Air : The airport at Bhuntar is 10-km
from Kullu, where taxis and buses are available.
By Rail : The closest narrow gauge railhead
is at Jogindernagar, 95-km from Kullu.
By Road : By road, the distance from Delhi
via Mandi is 530-km and from Shimla this is 240-km. From Delhi
and Shimla, luxury buses ply to Kullu.
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