Kullu

Kullu is the headquarters of Kullu district. It sits on the banks of the Beas river at about 1,280 m, roughly 10 km north of Bhuntar airport. It lies between the Pir Panjal and Great Himalayan ranges, with deodar forest on the higher slopes and orchards in the valley. The town is best known for the Kullu Dussehra festival, held around October. Deities from villages across the valley are carried to the Dhalpur maidan and gather there for about a week. Kullu is also a centre for hand-woven shawls and caps. Beas river rafting runs on stretches such as Pirdi to Jhiri. Kullu is a transit point for Manali, the Parvati valley and Manikaran, the Great Himalayan National Park and the Raghunath temple. The town is busy and not very scenic, so most visitors stay one night or just pass through. Spring and autumn are best. Summer afternoons are hot, and the monsoon causes landslides on valley roads.