Kullu: Festivals, Kullu Shawls and Mountain Sports

Kullu is the administrative headquarters of the district and home to the valley’s most important deity, Raghunathjee. Festivals, religious sites, textile crafts and activities in the mountain region give a trip here a variety of possible focuses. Visitors exploring Kullu may therefore be interested in both recurring traditions and specific routes and seasonal sports.

Festivals and traditions in Kullu

Pipal Jatra, the traditional name for Vasantotsava, takes place every year on the sixteenth day of the month of Baisakh in Dhalpur, Kullu. Its annual date offers a specific point of reference for a trip planned around the festival. During Kullu Dussehra, hundreds of deities from surrounding villages are carried on palanquins to the Dhalpur grounds. The procession thus connects the participating villages with the festival site. Kullu Dussehra also features local delicacies prepared especially for the festival. The palanquin procession and special foods are therefore both central to this festival.

Both festivals share Dhalpur as their venue, but have different emphases: the annual date of Pipal Jatra is a clear point of reference, while the deities carried in procession and the delicacies prepared for the festival shape the format of Kullu Dussehra. If you are planning a trip around either event, check the event dates before booking.

The Kullu shawl and its weaving technique

Textile crafts are also among the region’s distinctive features. The Kullu shawl is woven using the tapestry technique, which uses short lengths of differently coloured weft yarn. It is known for its intricate, multicoloured geometric pattern, woven with wool yarns. The technique and pattern describe two aspects of the same textile: the tapestry technique explains how the weft yarns are used, while the geometric design shapes the shawl’s appearance. Those interested in textiles can thus consider the making and the pattern as related aspects of the Kullu shawl.

Pilgrimage site and protected monument

Manikaran is a pilgrimage site for Hindus and Sikhs and is associated with Raghunathjee and Gurudawara. The Gauri-Shankar Temple in Naggar offers another cultural point of interest: it is a protected monument estimated to be about 800 years old. The two sites appeal to different interests—Manikaran for its role as a pilgrimage site, and the temple for its protected status and estimated age. Together, they illustrate how religious connections and the history of monuments can each provide a distinct focus when planning a trip.

Trekking, mountain passes and winter sports

Kullu district is associated with trekking and mountaineering. Rohtang is one of the mountain passes leading into and out of the Kullu region, and is popular with trekking groups. There is also a specific route description for the walk to Bijli-Mahadev Temple: it passes through rugged terrain and green forests, with views of waterfalls and sweeping panoramas. In winter, skiing in Solang Valley is a popular sport. These activities therefore vary by type and season: trekking and mountaineering contrast with winter skiing, while the walk to the temple also offers a particular route and landscape.

Manikaran is served by HRTC buses, private bus services and taxis for hire. Manali has good road connections; HRTC buses, private bus services and taxis for hire are also available there. Road access and the same three modes of transport are therefore relevant to both places. Check the latest schedules for your travel dates when planning your journey.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Manali, Shamshi, Tipri, Jagatsukh, Bashisht, Banjar, Baragran, Shoja, Diyar, Jibhi, Malana, Jari, Gushaini, Nasogi, Mohal, Jana, Katrain, Soil.

For the main travel overview: Himachal Pradesh.