45-552: The Kullu Manali Circuit is a tourist route in India. The initial entry point to Kullu Manali Circuit is from Chandigarh , India. Most of the stopovers and destinations lies on the National Highway No. 21. This highway originates from Chandigarh and ends at Manali. This path from Chandigarh to Manali followed by National Highway No 21. The circuit is categorised into 4 main segments:- This Himachal Pradesh location article
90-615: A 12 hours journey. Kullu doesn't have any Railtracks until now. But Government has surveyed the land for railway construction. It may take some time though. See Economy section in Kullu district . For places of interest, festivals, and outdoor sports in Kullu, see Attractions section in Kullu district . Lahaul The Lahaul and Spiti district in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh consists of
135-658: A broad mountainous ridge having the village-temples of Bijli Mahadev , Anant Nag and Peej. Beyond the ridge lies Manikaran valley, along the Parvati river which joins Beas at in Bhuntar. On the south of Kullu lie the towns of Bhuntar and Aut, leading to Anni, Banjar, the Sainj Valley) and Mandi (in Mandi district). Historically Kullu was accessible from Shimla via the Seraj valley, or through passes on
180-486: A collection of rare scriptures, pieces of art, and wall paintings - Thankas, and Stucco. There is a modern guest house with a dining hall and amenities. Kardang Monastery: Kardang Monastery , is located at an elevation of 3,500 meters across the river, about 8 km from Keylong . Kardang is well connected by the road via the Tandi bridge which is about 14 km from Keylong. Built-in the 12th century, this monastery houses
225-549: A decrease in food supplies have led to a large reduction in the population of the Tibetan antelope , argali , kiangs , musk deer, and snow leopards in these regions, reducing them to the status of endangered species. The locals of Spiti do not hunt these wild animals due to their religious beliefs. Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary is the largest wildlife sanctuary in Himachal Pradesh. It is situated at an altitude of 3600m to 6700m, on
270-543: A gorge in the southeast to meet the Sutlej River . It is a typical mountain desert area with an average annual rainfall of only 170 mm (6.7 in). The district has close cultural links with Ngari Prefecture of Tibet Autonomous Region . The harsh conditions of Lahaul permit only scattered tufts of hardy grasses and shrubs to grow, even below 4 km (13,000 ft). Glacier lines are usually found at 5 km (16,000 ft). Due to changes in climate, people in
315-574: A large library of Buddhist literature including the main Kangyur and Tangyur scriptures. Tnagyud Gompa : Built during the early decade of 14th century, Tnagyud Gompa is of historical importance and belongs to the Sa-kya-pa sect. Kungri Gompa : This is the second oldest monastery of Spiti, and is located in Pin valley. The natural scenery and numerous Buddhist monasteries are the main tourist attractions of
360-449: A population of 437,903. Males in Kullu are 225,452 whereas females are 212,451. Sex ratio of Kullu is 942 females per 1000 males which is higher than national sex ratio . The average literacy rate of Kullu is 79.40% whereas male literacy rate is 87.39% and female literacy rate is 70.91%. The people speak the Kullui language. Kullu town, as the administrative headquarters of Kullu district, has
405-528: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Kullu Kullu is a municipal council town that serves as the administrative headquarters of the Kullu district of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh . It is located on the banks of the Beas River in the Kullu Valley about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) north of the airport at Bhuntar, Kullu . Kullu Valley is a broad open valley formed by
450-512: Is a popular activity with tourists in Spiti. Yak Safari: Yak rides are used to see the flora and fauna of the trans-Himalayan desert. From Baralacha La to the confluence at Tandi, Lahaul. From the confluence of the Chandra and Bhaga rivers at Tandi to Chamba district border downstream of Udaipur, Lahaul From the confluence at Tandi to Kunzum La separating Lahaul and Spiti From Kunzum La to
495-583: Is accepted in a few isolated regions. Divorces are accomplished by a simple ceremony performed in the presence of village elders. Divorce can be sought by either partner. The husband has to pay compensation to his ex-wife if she does not remarry. However, this is uncommon among the Lahaulis. Agriculture is the main source of livelihood. Potato farming is common. Occupations include animal husbandry, working in government programs and services, and other businesses and crafts that include weaving. Houses are constructed in
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#1732891782873540-422: Is also known as Kullu-Manali airport and has a runway more than a kilometre long. Indian Airlines and some private airlines have regular flights to the airport. Himalayan Bulls in collaboration with Deccan Charters started flights on Kullu-Chandigarh-Kullu sector beginning 2 April 2014 with 2 to 3 unscheduled flights each day in eight-seater planes. The Pane Ticket usually has a very high price. Chandigarh airport
585-595: Is dotted by numerous Buddhist Monasteries or Gompas. These are some of the important monasteries in the Lahul and Spiti valleys. Kye Monastery: Kye Monastery is one of the main learning centers of Buddhist studies in Spiti. The monastery is home to some 100-odd monks who receive their education here. It is the oldest and biggest monastery in Spiti. It houses rare paintings and scriptures of Buddha and other gods and goddesses. There are also rare 'Thangka' paintings and ancient musical instruments 'like trumpets, cymbals, and drums in
630-584: Is popular with trekkers due to the challenging nature of its treks. These treks take people to remote areas including rural villages and old Gompas, as well as wildlife trails. High-altitude treks allow travelers to cross passes such as Parangla Pass (connecting Ladakh with Spiti Valley), Pin Parvati Pass, Baba Pass, Hamta Pass trek, and Spiti Left Bank Trek. Popular trekking routes in the area include Kaza-Langza-Hikim-Komic-Kaza, Kaza-Ki-Kibber-Gete-Kaza, Kaza-Losar-Kunzum La, and Kaza-Tabo-Sumdo-Nako. Skiing: Skiing
675-455: Is rural. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 7.08% and 81.44% of the population respectively. Languages of Lahaul and Spiti district (2011) 41% of the population speaks Kinnauri , 27% Pattani , 3.0% Bhotia , 2.9% Hindi , 2.8% Nepali and 2.6% Tibetan as their first language. The language, culture, and populations of Lahaul and Spiti are closely related. Generally, the Lahaulis are of Tibetan and Indo-Aryan descent, while
720-665: Is the fourth least populous district in India (out of 640 ). It is the least densely populated district of India, according to the Census of India 2011. Geologically located in the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau , Lahaul and Spiti district is connected to Manali through the Rohtang Pass . Kunzum la or the Kunzum Pass (altitude 4,551 m (14,931 ft)) is the entrance pass to
765-446: Is the nearest large airport. Kullu can be reached from Delhi by national highway NH 1 up to Chandigarh and from there by national highway NH21 that passes through Bilaspur , Sundernagar and Mandi towns. The road distance from Delhi to Chandigarh by bus is 260 km (160 mi) and from Chandigarh to Kullu is 252 km (157 mi); the total distance from Delhi to Kullu thus is about 512 km (318 mi). It's almost
810-483: The 2011 census , the Lahaul and Spiti district has a population of 31,564. This gives it a ranking of 638th in India (out of a total of 640 ). The district has a population density of 2 inhabitants per square kilometre (5.2/sq mi). Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was -5%. Lahul and Spiti has a sex ratio of 903 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 76.81%. The entire population
855-450: The Beas River between Manali and Larji. This valley is known for its temples and its hills covered with pine and deodar forest and sprawling apple orchards. The course of the Beas river, originating from Beas Kund presents a succession of hillside settlements studded amongst forests of deodar that tower above pine trees on the lower rocky ridges. Together with the river Beas running through
900-469: The Nanda Empire , Mauryan Empire , Shunga Empire , Gupta Empire , Pala Dynasty and Karkoṭa Empire . After a brief period of supremacy by King Harshavardhana , the region was once again divided into several local powers headed by chieftains, including some Rajput principalities, these principalities were later conquered by Mughal Empire , Maratha Empire , Sikh Empire . The name Kullu derives from
945-567: The Spiti Valley from Lahaul. It is 21 km (13 miles) from Chandra Tal . To the south, Spiti ends 24 km (15 miles) from Tabo , at the Sumdo where the road enters Kinnaur and joins National Highway 5 . Spiti is barren and difficult to cross, with an average elevation of the valley floor of 4,270 m (14,010 ft). It is surrounded by lofty ranges, with the Spiti River rushing out of
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#1732891782873990-515: The Kullu Valley and Lahaul is now paved all the way, to connect and provide the major access route between the northern Indian plains to Leh in Ladakh . Kullu town has an average elevation of 1,278 m (4,193 ft). It lies on the bank of Beas River . A major tributary, Sarvari, (derived from "Shiv-Baardi") leads to the less explored and steeper Lug-valley on the west. On the east of Kullu lies
1035-556: The Lahaul valley are able to grow some vegetables like cabbages, potatoes, green peas, radishes, tomatoes, carrots and leafy vegetables. The main cash crops are potatoes, cabbages, and green peas. Some of the most common species of flora found in the Valley of Spiti include Cousinia thomsonii , Seseli trilobum , Crepis flexuosa , Caragana brevifolia and Krascheninnikovia ceratoides . There are over 62 species of medicinal plants found there as well. Several species of juniper grow in
1080-568: The Lahauli and Spiti Bhots is Bhoti , a Tibetic language of the Western Innovative subgroup . They are very similar to the Ladakh and Tibetans culturally, as they had been placed under the rule of the Guge and Ladakh kingdoms at occasional intervals. Among the Lahaulis, the family acts as the basic unit of kinship. The extended family system is common and evolved from the polyandric system of
1125-611: The Lung Pe Chhoi religion can be seen in the behavior of the Lamas , who are believed to possess certain supernatural powers. The Losar festival (also known as Halda in Lahauli) is celebrated between the months of January and February. The date of the celebration is decided by the Lamas . It has the same significance as the Diwali festival of Hinduism , but is celebrated in a Tibetan fashion. At
1170-709: The Spiti Bhot is closer to the Tibetans, owing to their proximity to Tibet. The district has a Himachal Pradesh state legislative law in place to curb antique looting by travelers, given past incidents. In the pre-independence era, the ethnic tribal belt was divided into the British Lahaul and the Chamba Lahaul, which was merged with Punjab post-1947. This is the second-largest district in the Indian union. The language spoken by both
1215-716: The Tibetan architectural style, as the land in Lahul and Spiti is mountainous and quite prone to earthquakes. Most of the Lahaulis follow a combination of Hinduism and Tibetan Buddhism of the Drukpa Kagyu order, while the Spiti Bhotia follow Tibetan Buddhism of the Gelugpa order. Within Lahaul, the Todh-Gahr (upper region of Lahaul towards Ladakh) region had the strongest Buddhist influence, owing to its close proximity to Spiti. Before
1260-436: The current name of Kullu or Kulu. The Buddhist pilgrim monk Xuanzang visited the Kullu Valley in 634 or 635 CE. He described it as a fertile region completely surrounded by mountains, about 3,000 li in circuit, with a capital 14 or 15 li in circumference. There were some twenty Buddhist monasteries, with about 1,000 monks, most of whom were Mahayanist . There were also some fifteen Hindu temples, and both faiths occupied
1305-561: The eldest son will inherit the family property, while the eldest daughter inherits the mother's jewelry, and the younger siblings inherit nothing. Men usually fall back on the social security system of the Trans-Himalayan Gompas. The lifestyles of the Lahauli and Spiti Bhot are similar, owing to their proximity. Polyandry was widely practised by the Lahaulis in the past, although this practice has been dying out. The Spiti Bhot does not generally practice polyandry anymore, although it
1350-463: The flora and fauna of this Himalayan area, many places are declared as wildlife sanctuaries, such as: Khokhan Sanctuary, Kais Sanctuary, Tirthan Sanctuary, Kanawar Sanctuary, Rupi Baba Sanctuary, Great Himalayan National Park and Van Vihar Manali. The temperature in Kullu valley in summer season is about 20 to 30 degree C. December and January during winter observe lowest temperatures ranging from −4 to 20 °C (25 to 68 °F), with heavy snowfall in
1395-499: The higher regions and very light snowfall in the main town, though the frequency is declining. Evenings and mornings are cold during winters. Annual highest temperature in summer ranges from 24 to 34 °C (75 to 93 °F) during May to August. Months of July and August are rainy because of monsoon, having around 150 mm (5.9 in) rainfall monthly. Climate is pleasant in October and November. As of 2011 India census , Kullu had
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1440-477: The left bank of the Spiti River in the district of Lahaul and Spiti. It is sprawled over an area of 2220.12sq km. This cold desert area sanctuary was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1992. The fauna of Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary includes ibex , snow leopard, blue sheep , and birds such as snow cock, griffons, and bearded eagle. The flora consists of Monkshood, Somlata, Pink Arnebia, Orchid, and Gentian. According to
1485-492: The monastery. Tabo Monastery : Perched at an altitude of 3050 meters, Tabo Monastery is often referred to as the 'Ajanta of the Himalayas'. It is located 45 km from Kaza, Himachal Pradesh , the capital of the Spiti region. This monastery garnered interest when it celebrated its thousandth year of existence in 1996. The Tabo Monastery was founded by scholar Richen Zangpo. The monastery houses more than 60 lamas and contains
1530-644: The offices of Deputy Commissioner, the Superintendent of Police and the District courts. It is also the largest and the most varied constituency of Lok Sabha , the lower house of the parliament of India. Kullu administration was transferred from Sultan Pur (former capital ) to present Kullu town. The nearest airport (IATA code KUU) is at Bhuntar town, situated on NH21 at the confluence of the Parvati and Beas rivers (latitude 31.8763 N and longitude 77.1541 E), about 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Kullu town. The airport
1575-497: The past. The family is headed by a senior male member, known as the Yunda, while his wife, known as the Yundamo, attains authority by being the oldest member of the generation. The clan system, also known as Rhus, plays another major role in the Lahauli society. The Spiti Bhot community has an inheritance system that is otherwise unique to the Tibetans. Upon the death of both parents, only
1620-467: The region. The dangerous weather in Lahaul and Spiti permits visitors only between the months of June to October when the roads and villages are free of snow and the high passes (Rothang La and Kunzum La) are open. It is possible to access Spiti from Kinnaur (along the Sutlej) all through the year, although the road is sometimes temporarily closed by landslides or avalanches. To-do-Trails: The Spiti Valley
1665-411: The region. There were meditation caves near the mountain passes inhabited by both Buddhist and Hindus. The country is said to have produced gold, silver, red copper, crystal lenses and bell-metal. Kullu got its first motorable access only after Indian Independence . The long centuries of seclusion have, however, allowed the area to retain a considerable measure of its traditional charm. The road through
1710-473: The spread of Tibetan Buddhism and Hinduism , the people were adherents of the religion 'Lung Pe Chhoi', an animistic religion that had some affinities with the Bön the religion of Tibet . While the religion flourished, animal and human sacrifices were regularly offered up to the 'Iha', a term that refers to evil spirits residing in the natural world, notably in the old pencil-cedar trees, rocks, and caves. Vestiges of
1755-469: The start of the festival, two or three persons from every household will walk in the procession holding burning incense. The burning sticks are then piled into a bonfire. The people will then pray to Shiskar Apa, the goddess of wealth (another name Vasudhara ) in the Buddhist religion. Spiti is one of the important centers of Buddhism in Himachal Pradesh. It is popularly known as the 'land of lamas'. The valley
1800-400: The two formerly separate districts of Lahaul ( Tibetan : གར་ཞ་ , Wylie : gar zha ) and Spiti ( Tibetan : སྤི་ཏི་ , Wylie : spi ti ; or Tibetan : སྤྱི་ཏི , Wylie : spyi ti ). The present administrative center is Kyelang in Lahaul. Before the two districts were merged, Kardang was the capital of Lahaul, and Dhankar the capital of Spiti. The district was formed in 1960 and
1845-595: The valley, noted for their adaptation to the cold desert climate conditions. They are used by local people for religious purposes and for subsistence. The juniper forests are threatened by overuse and habitat degradation. The valley is inhabited by snow leopards , foxes , ibex , Himalayan brown bear , musk deer , and Himalayan blue sheep. Snow leopards are protected within the Pin Valley National Park and Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary. The Lingti plains are home to animals such as yaks and dzos . Over-hunting and
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1890-629: The valley, the town of Kullu offers truly magnificent views. Kullu Valley is sandwiched between the Pir Panjal , Lower Himalayan and Great Himalayan Ranges , located in Northern India, 497 k.m. away from the capital of India. Historical references about the Kullu valley dates back to ancient Hindu literary works of Ramayana , Mahabharata and the Puranas . During Vedic period several small republics known as " Janapada " existed which were later conquered by
1935-413: The west leading to Jogindernagar and onto the district of Kangra. 40 km. north lies the rather famous town of Manali. A few hours of a very winding car ride on the main highway leads to Rohtang Pass and the source of the Beas river, at 13,500 ft, 4110 m. The same road continues on to the Lahaul and Spiti Valley(now also accessible by Atal tunnel). One can see an enormous change in the climate as one climbs up
1980-606: The windward side of the ranges to proceed to the leeward and much drier plateaus to the north of Manali. The valley has varied biodiversity. It has some of the rarest of animals like the Himalayan tahr , western tragopan , monal , Himalayan brown bear and the snow leopard. The Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) is also located here (near Banjar). The park was built in 1984. It spreads over an area of 1,171 km (452 sq mi) which lies between an altitude of 1,500 to 6,000 m (4,900 to 19,700 ft). In order to protect
2025-534: The word "Kulant Peeth", meaning "end of the habitable world". As per legends, during the Great Flood, Manu visited this valley but was unable to cross the Rohtang pass. He named the last settlement he found as Kulant Peeth and chose to settle and meditate in what has now become the town of Manali (Manu's Place). The name further devolved into " Kulut ", as the kingdom was known for a long time; before finally being known by
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