Kullu Manali - The Destination
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Once known as Kulanthpitha,
which means end of habitable world, by the banks
of the shining river Beas lies the Silver
Valley of Kullu. Here is the core of an
intricate network of numerous valleys—each
of which is a visual delight and is more beautiful
than the other.
The town of Kullu has been a centre of faith
since long. 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 Kullu
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valley. A not-to-missed
celebration here is the Dussehra festival.
Decorated palanquins and processions convey
Gods and Goddesses from temples all over the
valley to Kullu, to pay homage to the reigning
deity, Raghunathji. A Fair happens during the
festival which is celebrated with a great deal
of singing, dancing and festivity.
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For a more peaceful trek, head to Solang
Nullah where you could walk along the
road and then go on the rocks by the river
all the way to where skiing and paragliding,
and sometimes, heliskiing happens. As
for drive downs, one of the most popular
excursions is to the Rohtang Pass, the
threshold of the cold desert. It is a
lovely drive ascending through the thick
of forests and offers great views, but
the road could be blocked due to landslides
or snow. There is a colorful Tibetan Monastery
here, a recent addition and a good place
to watch carpet weavers at work.
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Manali, the most beautiful destination
in Himachal Pradesh (Himalayas) is rightly
known as Queen of hill stations. It is
surrounded by lush green forests of deodar
and snow capped mountains towering around
it. Its major asset is its proximity to
the snowline. Manali is the ultimate tourist
destination for the trekking, mountaineering,
rafting, skiing, helicopter skiing etc.
Named after it’s sage savior, Manu,
Manali is heaven for those who seek it
- be it in the shape of an unnatural,
dopey high or the innocent high of fresh,
chilly mountain breeze.
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Kullu Manali - Facts
at a Glance
| State
: |
Himachal Pradesh
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| Area
: |
Kullu Area
- 6.68 sq.kms
Manali Area - 5.12 sq.kms |
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Temperature : |
25°C
- 12°C (Summers)
15°C - 03°C (Winters) |
| Altitude
: |
Kullu
- 1,219 metres
Manali - 1,926 metres |
| Language
: |
Pahari
(Local Dialect), Hindi, English |
| Best
Season : |
April
- Mid-July; September - November |
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History of Kullu Manali
Known as Kulanthapitha (The end of
the habitable world), the earliest inhabitants
of Kullu date back to the 1st century. Jagatsukh
was the first capital, which then moved to Naggar
before the British shifted it once again to
Kullu town. The great Pandavas of the Mahabharata
are believed to have visited Kullu thrice.
The picturesque town of Manali
is named after Manu, the ancient lawgiver. He
is believed to have arrived at this beautiful
hill station when he was fleeing from a great
flood thousands of years ago.
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