The Kullu valley, sometimes called the “Valley of the Gods”, runs along the Beas from Aut to Manali. Almost every village has its own devta (deity), and once a year hundreds of them are carried in decorated palanquins to Kullu town for Dussehra — one of the most spectacular festivals in the Himalaya.
On the quieter left bank of the Beas, the old capital Naggar looks across the valley from a hillside of orchards. Its castle, temples and the Roerich estate make an easy half-day from Manali, and the river below is the base for rafting.
Top things to do in Kullu & Naggar
Kullu Dussehra
Kullu’s Dussehra begins on Vijayadashami — the day celebrations end elsewhere in India — and lasts a week. The deity Raghunath is pulled on a chariot to the Dhalpur maidan, where hundreds of village devtas gather, accompanied by drums and long brass horns. Dates follow the Hindu calendar, usually in October.
Naggar Castle
Built around the 15th century by the Kullu rajas in the traditional kath-kuni style of alternating stone and timber, it survived the 1905 earthquake and is now a heritage hotel run by HPTDC with a small museum and a café terrace.
Roerich estate
The Russian painter and philosopher Nicholas Roerich settled in Naggar in 1928. His house is a gallery of his luminous Himalayan paintings, and the nearby Urusvati museum covers folk art. Check opening days locally (usually closed Mondays).
River rafting on the Beas
The main rafting stretches run between Pirdi (near Kullu) and Jhiri, with rapids of around grade II–III — fun and suitable for beginners. The season is roughly March to June and again from late September; rafting is suspended in the monsoon.
Bijli Mahadev and Manikaran
A steep drive and walk above Kullu, the Bijli Mahadev temple is known for its tall staff said to attract lightning, with superb valley views. The Parvati Valley leaves from Bhuntar just south of Kullu.
How to get to Kullu & Naggar
- Kullu is on the Chandigarh–Manali highway, about 40 km (1–1.5 hours) south of Manali. Bhuntar airport is 10 km south of town.
- Naggar is on the left-bank road, about 21 km from Manali and 25 km from Kullu; local buses run between them via Patlikuhl.
- For Dussehra, book accommodation in Kullu or Manali weeks ahead and expect road restrictions near Dhalpur.
Insider tips
- Book rafting with operators registered with the tourism department, and insist on helmets and life jackets.
- Kullu shawls and caps are sold everywhere; the cooperative showrooms guarantee genuine hand-loomed wool.
- The left-bank road via Naggar is a quieter, prettier alternative to the highway between Kullu and Manali.
Tours that include Kullu & Naggar
These guided trips cover Kullu & Naggar or combine easily with a visit:
Private day tour Private Solang Valley Sightseeing Day Tour from Manali
A full private day that pairs the high-altitude fun of Solang Valley with the culture of the Kullu valley: the timber-and-stone Naggar Castle, the Russian painter Nicholas Roerich’s estate and traditional shawl workshops along the Beas.
- Solang Valley snow slopes, ropeway and paragliding
- Naggar Castle and the Roerich art gallery
- Kullu valley shawl weavers and riverside stops
Private sightseeing Manali City Tour with Car (5 hours)
An easy half-day introduction to Manali by private car: the 16th-century Hadimba temple, the hot springs and temples at Vashisht, the lanes of Old Manali and the Manu temple, the Tibetan gompa near the bazaar and finally Mall Road.
- Hadimba Devi Temple in its deodar forest
- Vashisht hot baths and Old Manali
- Tibetan monastery, Manu Temple and Mall Road
