Travel to Kullu Valley

Distance : 69km from Mandi, 270 km from Chandigarh
Population :14,500
Altitude :1,219m

¤ A Tourist Paradise

Kullu and Manali are perhaps the two most frequentily travelled destinations in Himachal Pradesh. Thousands of pilgrims, trekkers and casual tourists pour into these towns every year. Not just that, Kullu and Manali are certainly very popular with sickeningly love-dovey honeymooners too.

Kullu, on the western banks of the torrential Beas, occupies the central part of the Kullu Valley. It has the largest settlement in the valley and doubles as the district headquarter. The charming town was made capital by the British who had settled here in the hope of making it big in tea growing. See History of Kullu Valley for more. Today the place is in the happy position of being a well-developed tourist destination without having being ruined by tourists,top on chart of Himachal tourism. Mid-March to mid-April and mid-September to mid-November are the perfect months to visit Kullu.

Location of Manali:
Manali is situated in the central parts of Himachal Pradesh, Manali is 32 km from Kullu valley, 280 km north of the state capital Shimla and 108 km from Mandi. Manali is located at an altitude of 2050 meters above sea level and is spread along the banks of the river Beas.

Travel to Kullu Valley by Air

Nearest airport is Bhuntar -50 kms.

Travel to Kullu Valley by Rail

Nearest railhead is Chandigarh -272 kms.

Travel to Kullu Valley by Road

Ambala -606 kms, Chandigarh -556 kms, Delhi -798 kms, Pathankot -278 kms, Shimla -240 kms, Manali -40 kms, Palampur -164 kms, Rohtang Pass -91 kms, Dharamshala -213 kms, Dalhousie -334 kms, Jogindarnagar -166 kms.

Places to see in Manali:

Kothi
12 km. A quiet but picturesque spot. The Rest House overlooks the narrow valley and commands views of the mountains. Below Kothi, for more than a kilometre the river Beas flows through a deep gorge, almost a subterranean passage, 30 metres or more in depth, and the cliffs which flank both sides of the canyon are a favourite haunt for rock pigeons. The site of the bridge provides an interesting historical episode in the early annals of Kullu.

Solang Valley
13 km. A splendid valley between Manali and Kothi which offers views of the glaciers and snow-capped mountain peaks. The plateau is frequently used for holding camps by the trekking parties. Good skiing slopes of the Mountaineering Institute. Venue of annual winter carnival from February 10-14. Bus service upto Palchan village (10 km) and then by jeep or on foot.

Rahla Falls
2 km from Kothi. Here the river Beas hurtles down from a height of about 50 metres. Charming spot for picnics.

Manali Sanctuary
A bridle path from the Manali log huts goes past the Dhoongri Temple and wanders into the dense deodar, kail, horse chestnut, walnut and maple forest which is a part of this sanctuary. Camping overnight in tents at Lambadug or Galiani Thatch is possible.
Lush green alpine pastures and glaciers lie beyond Galiani Thatch. Musk deer, monal and brown bear are often spotted. For those who venture still further into the glacier zone in summer, there are herds of ibex.

Around Manali:

Rohtang Pass
51 km. At an altitude of 4,112 metres on the highway to Keylong, the pass affords a wide-spread panorama of mountain scenery. In place of the pinnacled hills, sheltered valleys and cultivated tracts, the eye meets a range of precipitous cliffs, huge glaciers and piled Moraine, and deep ravines. Almost directly opposite is the well defined Sonepani glacier, slightly to the left are the twin peaks of the Geypang, jagged pyramids of rock, snow streaked and snow crowned.

The Beas river rises near the crest of Rohtang from a block of Mica-Schist. The pass normally opens for traffic after mid-June and officially closes in November. To its left, 200 metres higher, is the little lake of Sarkund (Dashair) visited by a number of people, the general belief being that a bath in these waters effects a cure of all bodily ailments-real or imaginary. 10 km before Rohtang is the barren-landscape of Marhi which hums with activity during summer and autumn months because almost everyone stops here for refreshments.

Keylong
117 km. A fair sized village amidst green fields of barley and buckwheat, Keylong is the headquarters of the Lahaul and Spiti district, surrounded with brown hills and snowy heights. Karding Monastery overlooks Keylong and is 3.5 km across the Chandra river while Shashur Monastery is about 1 km. HPTDC Tourist Bungalow.

Triloknath and Udeypur
These are two important places of pilgrimage in Pattan Valley. At Triloknath is a six armed image in white marble of Avalokiteshvara, Bodhisattava. Visitors will enjoy crossing the Chandra-Bhaga river and the trek of 3 km to reach the destination. The temple of Marikula at Udeypur is highly remarkable for its wood carvings. Udeypur is 166 km from Manali.