Kullu Travel Guide
¤ A Historic Perspective
 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.
¤ Formation of The Scenic Valley
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.
¤ Places of Attraction
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’.
|
