The best time to visit Kullu — month by month, from the IMD record
When to visit Kullu, from Bhuntar's IMD record: spring and autumn for clear walks, Dussehra in October, the July–August rain, and winter nights near freezing.
ArticleVerified 2026-10-23
Things to do in Kullu — 12 in and around the town, by distance
Twelve things to do in Kullu by measured drive time: the Raghunath temple, Dhalpur, rafting at Pirdi, Bijli Mahadev, Bajaura, Naggar, Jana Falls and Pandoh.
How this list is built
Kullu is a working town, not a resort, and the things worth doing are its temples, its river and the ridges around it. They are listed here by measured road time from the town, nearest first.
Photos: Dr. Chinchu (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Timothy A. Gonsalves (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Ms Sarah Welch (CC0) · B Balaji from Chennai, India (CC BY 2.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
In the town
1. The Raghunath temple
The temple of Raghunath, Lord Ram, the presiding deity of the old Kullu kingdom, stands above the bazaar in the old Sultanpur quarter. His idol came from Ayodhya in the seventeenth century for Raja Jagat Singh, who made Raghunath the ruler of the kingdom and himself the regent. Walk up through the old lanes.
2. The Dhalpur maidan
The Dhalpur maidan is the open ground at the south end of the town, a minute from the centre. In October it holds Kullu Dussehra, when the deities of the valley come down to attend Raghunath; the rest of the year it is the town's green.
3. The bazaar and the Kullu shawl
Akhara Bazaar and the main market are where the valley's shawls are sold. Read the Kullu shawl first: the price follows the wool, and the back of the pattern band shows whether it came off a hand loom.
A short drive out
4. Jagannathi Devi at Bhekhli
The Jagannathi Devi temple at Bhekhli, on the hill above the town, about 13 km and 31 min by the winding road, has a front covered in wood carving.
5. Rafting at Pirdi
Pirdi, about 7 min up the highway, is where the rafts put in on the Beas. Rafting stops when the monsoon raises the river; operators quote on the day.
6. Bhuntar
Bhuntar, about 19 min south, is the airport and the turning for the Parvati valley and Kasol.
7. Basheshar Mahadev at Bajaura
The stone temple of Basheshar Mahadev at Bajaura, about 21 min south, dates to the 8th or 9th century on its Wikidata entry and is a protected monument. Its carved niches are the reason to stop.
8. The river camps at Raison
Raison, about 20 min up the valley, is the gravel bank of the Beas where the camps sit, for a night on the river.
The ridge and the left bank
9. Bijli Mahadev
Bijli Mahadev stands on the ridge at about 2,460 m. Drive about 28 min to the road-end at Chansari, then walk the stone path: on our measure, 106 min up and 68 down. Here Shiva takes the lightning on himself to spare the valley, and the tall wooden staff stands in the courtyard.
10. Naggar Castle
Naggar Castle, about 36 min away on the left bank of the Beas, is the old capital's timber-and-stone castle with the valley below its courtyard.
11. Jana Falls
Jana Falls, about 49 min up the left bank, is the waterfall above the village of Jana, in forest on the left bank.
12. Pandoh and the Baglamukhi ropeway
Pandoh, about 67 min south on the highway towards Mandi, has the dam on the Beas and a ropeway across the reservoir to the Mata Baglamukhi temple, open since December 2024.
Plan it
The one-day temples and town plan, the Bijli Mahadev day and two days with the ridge string these together. For the seasons see the best time to visit Kullu.
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Questions people ask
What are the top things to do in Kullu?
Climb to the Raghunath temple above the bazaar, walk the Dhalpur maidan, raft the Beas at Pirdi, and give a morning to Bijli Mahadev on its ridge. Add the stone temple at Bajaura to the south and Naggar Castle on the left bank, and you have two full days without repeating a road.
How far is Bijli Mahadev from Kullu?
About 15 km and 28 min by road to the road-end at Chansari, then a walk up a stone path to the temple at about 2,460 m. Our measured path takes 106 min up and 68 down. Go in the morning, in clear weather, and carry water: the upper half has no shade.
Is Kullu worth visiting, or should I go straight to Manali?
Worth a day or two. Kullu is the valley's religious centre, with the Raghunath temple and the Dussehra ground, and it is the base for Bijli Mahadev, rafting at Pirdi and Bajaura. Manali is about 40 km and 49 min up the valley, so the two pair easily.