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Kullu Dushehra Tourist Guide
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Kullu Dushehra Tourist Guide - Destination Overview
Kullu Dussehra Tourist Guide
Dussehra is a popular festival celebrated by Hindus all over India, albeit with different names. It is also known as Vijaydashmi ('Vijay' meaning 'victory' and 'Dashmi meaning 'tenth day) as it is believed that it was on this day that Lord Rama killed the demon-king, Ravana and won over Lanka, his kingdom.In Himachal Pradesh, a week -long fair in the hill town of Kullu is a part of the Dussehra celebrations. This time the Kullu Dussehra festival will be celebrated from 28th September to 4th October 2009, with traditional gaiety and fervors. From the little temples in the hills, deities are brought in procession to the 'maidan' in Kullu, to pay homage to the reigning deity, Raghunathji.More than one hundred gods and goddesses mounted on colorful palanquins participate in this procession. The ceremony feels as if the doors of heaven have been opened and the gods have come down to the earth to rejoice. These draw large number of people every year. The entire night of Dussehra passes in an enthusiastic and enchanting fair like ambiance and people enjoy every bit of it.
Kullu Dussehra is the Dussehra festival observed in the month of October in Himachal Pradesh state in northern India. It is celebrated in the Dhalpur maidan in the Kullu valley. Dussehra at Kullu commences on the tenth day of the rising moon,After the whole country winds up the celebration of Dussehra by burning the effigies of Ravana, then the Dussehra at Kullu begins. The festival commences on the tenth day of the rising moon, i.e. on 'Vijay Dashmi' day itself and continues in seven days. The birth of Dussehra in Kullu lay in royal fads and it nourished on religious, social and economic factors and ultimately came to be well established, because of the inborn love of the hill-men for fun, frolic, displayed in community singing and dancing. Numerous stalls offer a varity of local wares. This is also the time when the International Folk Festival is celebrated.
Kullu Dusshehra is a beautiful amalgam of history, culture and customs. Unlike other regions of India, here effigies of Ravana, Meghnath and Kumbhakarana are not burnt. Kullu Dusshera starts usually on the day it ends in the rest of the country.It all started back in 1637 A. D. when Raja Jagat Singh was the ruler of the Valley. One day he came to know that a peasant Durga Dutt of village Tipri owned beautiful pearls, which the Raja wanted to obtain. Durga Dutt tried to convince the Raja by all means that the information was wrong and that he owned no pearls, but all his pleas were in vain.The Raja gave him a last chance. Durga Dutt got so scared that he burnt down his own family and house and cursed the Raja for his cruelty. His curse resulted in Raja's leprosy and as he realized the fact he felt guilty.Kishan Das known as Fuhari Baba advised him to install the famous idol of Lord Raghunathji to get rid of the curse of the peasant. He sent Damodar Dass to steal the idol from Tret Nath Temple of Ayodhya who finally brought it from there in July 1651 A. D. After installing the idol, he drank Charnamrit of the idol for several days and was in due course cured. He devoted his kingdom and life for the lord and from then onwards Dusshera started being celebrated with great splendour. Thus on the first fortnight of Ashwin month (mid September to mid October), the Raja invites all the 365 Gods and Goddesses of the Valley to Dhalpur to perform a Yagna in Raghunathji's honor.
On the first day of Dusshera Goddess Hadimba of Manali comes down to Kullu. She is the Goddess of the royal family of Kullu. At the entrance of Kullu, the Royal Stick welcomes her and escorts her to the Palace. After blessing the royal family, she comes to Dhalpur.The idol of Raghunathji is saddled around Hadimba and placed in a Rath (chariot) adorned beautifully. Then they wait for the signal from Mata Bhekhli, which is given from top of the hill. The Rath is pulled with the help of ropes from its original place to another spot where it stays for the next six days. More than one hundred gods and goddesses mounted on colourful palanquins participate in this procession. It gives impression as if the doors of heaven have been opened and the gods have come down to the earth to rejoice.
Kullu Dushehra Tour Package Itinerary
Kullu Dussehra Tours
Tour Package Duration : ( 04 Nights / 05 Days )
Destinations Covered : Delhi - Manali - Rohtang Pass - Kullu.
Day 01 : Delhi - Manali (580 kms) Overnight by Volvo Coach
Board the Volvo Coach in the evening at around 5:30 pm. Drive to Manali overnight at Coach.
Day 02 : In Manali
Arrival morning in Manali. Reach hotel. Check in. After refreshment drive to Kullu to enjoy Dussera festival. Return hotel in Manali by evening. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 03 : Manali - Rohtang Pass (Snow Point)
After breakfast takes an excursion tour of Rohthang Pass (Upto Snow Line in case Rohtang is closed due to snow fall) and Sollang Valley also visit en route Rahala falls : The fall is the result of melting glaciers. It is about 27 km away from Manali located at an altitude of 2,501 m. It is a natural spot where tourist can view the natural beauty & Kothi Gorge, Gulaba Marhi. Return to hotel for relax & overnight stay.
Day 04 : Manali - Delhi
Morning leisure breakfast. Check out on time board overnight Volvo coach for Delhi.
Day 05 : In Delhi
Reach Delhi by morning.
Best Hotels in Kullu
Club Mahindra Manali, Snowpeaks - Ranked #1 of 18 hotels in Kullu
Apple Valley Resort - Ranked #2 of 18 hotels in Kullu
Hotel Century Gangri - Ranked #3 of 18 hotels in Kullu
Shobla International - Ranked #4 of 18 hotels in Kullu
Kullu Valley Hotel - Ranked #5 of 18 hotels in Kullu
Culture in Kullu
The fairs, customs, food habits, beliefs, attire and occupation explicate the hard-earned lifestyleKullu of the aborigines. The people of Kullu believe in simple living and perseverance.The fairs and festivals celebrated in the valley are an indispensable part of the native ethos. These vibrant fairs carry great religious and economic importance for the people here.The customs and rituals practiced in the valley depict the simple lifestyle of the natives, living close to Nature. The people here worship deities who are sages, snake gods and other powerful gods and goddesses mentioned in ancient Indian scriptures. Every village has beautiful temples dedicated to these deities.
The people of Kullu are primarily farmers, but now the population has also scattered into emerging occupations as tourism, handloom industry and other skillful fields like computer applications. More than 70% of the people here are literate. This includes an equal ratio of men and women. Govt. sector is one of the most favoured source of employment.There is a rich tradition of folk arts in Kullu. The excellent temple carvings, vibrant handicrafts , spectacular folk dances and melodious songs show the sensitivity of the people. The exquisitely build temples, castles, and forts are the monuments of an advanced form of architecture and sculpture that flourished in the valley in past.
Shopping in Kullu
SHOPPING
The artisans of Kullu valley preserve a rich heritage of handlooms and handicrafts. There is an amazing range of beautiful handloom and handicraft products in Kullu. The traditional brilliant colours of the Handlooms probably manifest people's zest for life and creation. The famous Kullu Shawls are admired for their elegant look. Kullu Caps are widely worn by the local people and are also equally popular among tourists.Warm local Tweeds, Pattus, Muflars etc. are the other handloom products largely produced in Kullu.
When to visit Kullu
Best Season / Best time to visit Kullu
Kullu has a charming climate all through the year but the most ideal tourist season is from September to June
Winter (mid-September to February) are very cool and minimum temperature can go down to well below 0°C and is accompanied by heavy snowfall and is a good time for honeymoon.
Summer (March to June) are pleasant and considered to be the ideal season for sight seeing and various adventure activities.
Monsoon (July to mid-September) witnesses some intermittent showers and unexpected landslides may cause disruption in travel.
In Kullu, summers are good for sight seeing and relaxation, while winter months are ideal for trekking, rock climbing, sight seeing and river rafting and enjoying snowfall.
How to reach Kullu
Reach Kullu By Air
The closest airport to Kullu is Bhuntar airport which is situated at a distance of around 10 km from the heart of the city, Kullu. Bhuntar is currently not operational therefore Chandigarh is the airport for Kullu Vally.
Reach Kullu By Road
State owned bus facilities of Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Corporation are accessible from Kullu connecting with the nearby cities. Kullu is linked to the national capital, New Delhi (570 km), Chandigarh (267 km), Pathankot (285 km) and Shimla (270 km) as well by tourist luxury buses of Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation. These deluxe buses solve much of the problems of the travelers worried about how to reach Kullu.
Reach Kullu By Train
Jogindernagar is the nearest railway station located near Kullu which is at a distance of around 125 km. This railway station is well linked to all the major cities and towns of the country through Chandigarh which is 270 km away from Kullu. Therefore, without thinking much about how to reach Kullu by rail, one needs to hop on a train.