Down the ages lost travellers have rediscovered themselves in a unique world – Kullu, the chosen valley of the gods. Set right in the heart of Himachal, this valley was originally known as Kulanthapitha, or ‘end of the habitable world’. and according to local belief, it also represents the beginning of the human race.
Kullu has a long, long history. In numerous ancient scriptures like the Puranas, Ramayana and Mahabharata it has been mentioned as the kingdom of Kuluta. It is believed that the kingdom was founded by Mukhar, a son of Vidur (of the Mahabharata fame). and that was somewhere around 1400BC. Kuluta was one of the more important kingdoms of ancient and medieval Himachal, at par with those of Chamba, Trigarta (Kangra), Mandi and others.
It is believed that the beautiful Kullu valley was once a lake, formed when the Beas was temporarily blocked by jolts in the mountains. Later when the natural dam burst, the lake waters drained away and the present day valley came into being. Large lush terraces are found on either side of the river in the valley.
In March you can see the fruit trees in bloom and by June the branches are heavy with fruit. Conifers and rhododendrons fringe the upper slopes which are covered by snow in winter.
The cheerful Kullu people are dressed in colourful garments of handwoven wool. Apple-cheeked children run about the quaint villages where rustic houses have carved wooden balconies and slate roofs. Kullu is truly a lush slice of heaven on earth.
The Kullu Valley is a well-developed tourist destination. It stretches between Mandi (760m) and the Rohtang Pass (3,978m), covering the upper valley of the Beas River and its tributaries like the Parbati, Tirthan and Sainj. This makes the valley a magicland about 80km long but no more than 2km wide. The Rohtang Pass is located atop the Pir Panjal Range that separates Kullu from Lahaul and Spiti districts.
The headquarters of the valley are located at Kullu. Some of the other hot spots are Mandi, Rewalsar, Manali, Naggar, Katrain and Manikaran. The locals have largely preserved their way of life which is a pretty fabric of numerous fairs and festivals, exotic costumes, orchards, looms and lots of happiness. No wonder Kullu is dubbed ‘abode of the gods’. |
