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?Kullu Himachal Pradesh • India
Coordinates: (find coordinates)
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
District(s)	Kullu
Population	18,306 (2001)

Kullu is the capital town of the Kullu District, in the state of Himachal Pradesh, India. It is located on the banks of the Beas River in the Kullu Valley about ten kilometres north of the airport at Bhuntar. In the nearby Lug Valley are located the main forest contractors who have been extracting timber from the forests for the last 150 years and continue to do so today.^[1]

Contents 1 Administrative 2 Demographics 3 Geography 4 Diaspora 5 Culture 6 Vicinity 7 Notes 8 External links

Kullu is the administrative capital with the offices of District Collector, the Superintendent of Police and the District courts. It is also the largest and the most varied constituency for the lower house of the parliament.

As of 2001 India census,^[2] Kullu had a population of 18,306. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. Kullu has an average literacy rate of 81%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 84%, and female literacy is 77%. In Kullu, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.

The town of Kullu lies on the bank of River Beas. A major tributary Sar-vari, (derived from "Shiv -Baardi") leads to the less explored and steeper Lug-valley on the west. On the east of Kullu lies a broad mountainous ridge having the village-temples of Bijli Mahadev, Mount Nag and Pueed. Beyond the ridge lies Manikaran valley, along the Parvati river which joins Beas in Bhuntar. On the South of Kullu lie towns of Bhuntar, Out(leading to Anni, Banjar and Siraj Valley) and Mandi(a separate district). Historically Kullu was accessible from Shimla via Siraj valley or through passes on the west leading to Jogindernagar and onto Kangra. To the north lies the famous town of Manali, which through the Rohtang pass leads onto the Lahaul and Spiti Valley. Once can see an enormous change in the climate as one climbs up the windward side of the ranges to proceed to the leeward and much drier plateaus to the north of Manali.

http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=31.962503&lon=77.109261&z=13&l=0&m=h&v=2 Kullu on wikimapia 31°57'55"N 77°6'34"E are wikimapia's coordinates of Kullu.

Due to it being the commercial and economic center the township of Kullu has had an eclectic diaspora of nearby village/district inhabitants, shop owners and govt. employees from bordering states which give a different feel from the rest of the valley. This has also contributed to a stronger sports and educational infrastructure in the town.

Kullu Valley, also known as the "Valley of Gods", is well known for the seven day festival of Dussehra, a celebration of the mythical Lord Rama's victory over the evil king Ravana. The festival takes place in the months of October or November depending upon the Hindu calendar.

Other places of interest in the area include Manikaran (famous for its hot springs) and hot water springs at Vashisht village near Manali, 40 km north of Kullu, a hub for tourists and rock climbers. Malana, Kaish-Dhaar in Lug Valley, Bijli Mahadev, Bhekhli and Bajaura house the famous temples of the region. Manali is perhaps the most famous town and center of all tourist attraction in the state. Manali also has a well-known temple dedicated to the mythical princess Hadimba.

The economy of the town largely depends on tourism, horticulture (apples, plums, pears, and almonds) and handicrafts (shawls, caps etc.).

Shiva shrine, Kullu

Road workers crushing rocks, Kullu

Roadside restaurant, Kullu

Raja Rupi Kulu Palace

1. ^ History of Ropeways in Kullu. Retrieved on 2006-12-24.
2. ^ Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns. (Provisional). Census Commission of India. Retrieved on 2007-09-03.

v • d • e Himachal Pradesh related topics
Districts	Bilaspur · Chamba · Hamirpur · Kangra · Kinnaur · Kullu · Lahul and Spiti · Mandi · Sirmaur · Shimla · Solan · Una
Culture	Arts and crafts of Himachal Pradesh · Kangri language · Kinnauri language · Pahari languages · Music of Himachal Pradesh · Traditional dances of Himachal Pradesh
Economy	Agriculture · Animal Husbandry · Industry · Social services · Transportation
Jurisdiction	Chief Ministers of Himachal Pradesh · Governors of Himachal Pradesh · Himachal Pradesh High Court · Vidhan Sabha
Geography	List of lakes in Himachal Pradesh · Rivers in Himachal Pradesh · Districts of Himachal Pradesh · Climate of Himachal Pradesh · Protected areas of Himachal Pradesh
History	Prehistory and protohistory of Himachal Pradesh · Early history of Himachal Pradesh · Mughal rule · British rule · Freedom struggle · Kangra-Lambagraon · Punjab Hill States agency · Guge
Education	Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry · Green Hills Engineering College · Himachal University · IITT college of Engineering · Indian Institute of Advanced Study · Institute of Engineering and Emerging Technologies · National Institute of Technology, Hamirpur · Jaypee University of Information Technology · Lawrence School, Sanawar
People	Anuj Sharma · Ruskin Bond · Chander Kumar · Dhani Ram Shandil · Narain Chand Parashar · Pratibha Singh · Prem Kumar Dhumal · Rajendra Krishan · Baba Kanshi Ram · Preity Zinta (more...)
Images	Image gallery at Wikimedia Commons · Picture gallery

• Himachal Tourism website
• Ski Touring in the Kullu Valley
• Malana, IGNCA archive
• ASI list of temples in Himachal
• About Kullu Valley on Indian Travel Portal - Discovery of India

v • d • e  Kullu Manali Circuit
Sutlej Tail: Swarghat | Bilaspur | Deothsidh
Beas Trail: Mandi | Rewalsar | Jogindernagar
Kullu Valley Trail: Kullu | Raison | Naggar | Manali
Across The Rohtang Pass: Keylong | Lahaul and Spiti