KULLU

Kullu is the valley of Gods and Goddesses. These Gods are alive just like you and me. They Sleep, Wake up, Eat, Dance and Enjoy the Beauty of Nature like Everyone Else. They have relative and near ones who join in the celebration. Some of these devis and Devtas do not like to travel while others like to visit far away Gods and Goddesses and move in a caravan with a medium, musician and followers. No wonder Kullu is Dev-Bhumi, the land of Gods.

All the seasons have their unique color and feel. The earthy flavour mixes with the fragrance of fruit blossoms in spring, and multi-colored flora dots vast alpine grasslands that at tract hordes of honeybees in summer. Monsoon brings greenery all around while sailing mist engulfs the valleys in its moist folds. Autumn colors the landscape differently as the sky shines a clear blue. The white winters are severe but glow with bonfires.

KULLU VALLEY, Confluence of Parvati & Beas>

Kullu and Mandi are the main towns located along the Beas River. A huge glacier near its origin at Beas Kund feeds the Beas River. The River rushes through alpine pastures, forests, gorges and waterfalls to reach Manali. It follows a gentle course till Kullu and by the time it leaves Kullu district it grows into a proper river fed by many high volume tributaries.

HISTORY OF KULLU>

  Kullu was known as ‘Kulantpitha’ the end of the habitable world. It finds mention in ancient Sanskrit texts like Vishnu Purana, Ramayana and Mahabharata. The Mahabharata record that Bhim Sen,  One of the Pandava brothers, married Hidimba, the presiding deity Kulantpitha after slaying her brother Hidimb. Hidimba has been worshipped since ancient times and offerings to her included human sacrifice. Her seat is at Dhungri near Manali and she is said to have granted the country to Kullu Rajas. Kullu finds mention in Rajtarangini as a separate state. In the sixth century AD, Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang (AD 629-645) describes the Country of K’ iu-lu-to situated at 700 li (117miles) northeast of Jalandhara which corresponds with the location of Kullu. Kullu state is said to have been founded by Behangamani pal. His son pachch pal succeeded him and consolidated the Kingdom. Bihang pal, Hin Pal and svarg Pal were next in succession. Kelas Pal (AD 1428) was the last Kullu Raja who bore the surname of Pal and Probably rules till AD 1450. After him the rulers of Kullu bore Singh as surname. Jagat Singh (AD 1637-1672) was one of the ablest Kullu chiefs. The kingdom expanded and consolidated under him. The celebration of the Dussehra festival in Kullu started during his reign. He was succeeded man Singh (AD 1688) and Bidhi Singh (Ad1672). Under Man Singh Kullu reached its zenith. At that time Kullu territory comprised upper Lahul, Bara, Bhagal extended to the town of Mandi and nearly to Shimla in the south.

Although no mention of mughals is found in Kullu chronicles, it is probable that Kullu, like most other hill states, came under the mughals in Akbar’s reign. Mr. Moorcroft was the first European to visit Kullu on his way to Ladakh in 1820 AD. He states that Shobha Singh, the wazir of Kullu Raja Ajit Singh, who was ten years old at that time, expressed his desire to be taken under British protection due to the tyranny of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

RIVERS

Beas is the principal river of the district. The Satluj also touches the fringes of the district in Nirmand and Ani tehsils. The entire drainage of  the district is received by these two rivers. Beas originates from Beas Kund, a small spring of Pir Panjar Range in Rotang and Flows south wards for about 120 km till it reaches Larji where it leaves Kullu distict. The tributaries of  Beas are Solang, Manalsu, Sujoin, Fozal and Sarvari.

The other main river of the district is Parvati which meets Beas at Bhuntar. The Parvati river receives the water of Malana nallah. The sainj rivulet originates from supa kuni, a high peak at the boundary of Kullu and spiti and the tirthan valley.

  CLIMATE

The climate of the district is cool and dry. Snowfall generally occurs in December and January at high elevations and some of  the regions  remain cut of f from the district Headquarter because of snow and closure of mountain passes. The district receives moderate rainfall, the bulk of it in the months of July and August.

FAIRS AND FESTIVALS

Kullu Dussehra, a one –week festival, starts on Vijayadashmi. Raja Jagat Singh (1637-1672 AD) was the one who started the festival. Legend is that once when the Raja was on his way to Manikaran, he was told that a Brahmin named Durga Dutt living in Tipri village had precious pearls. The Raja asked his courtiers to get the pearls from the Brahmin. The Brahmin claimed that he had no pearls; however, as he was harassed by the aides of the Raja, he said that he would give the pearls to the Raja when he returned, Durga Dutt locked himself  along with his family in the house and set fire to the house .