Destination guideKullu, Himachal Pradesh
Kullu, Kasol & Manikaran The Beas, the Parvati & hot springs
Last updated
In short
Overview
Kullu is the district town of the Kullu valley at 1,279 m, about 10 km north of Bhuntar airport and 40 km south of Manali. At Bhuntar the Parvati valley branches east to Kasol (1,580 m, 30 km) and the hot springs and gurudwara at Manikaran, 3.5 km further. Every Leisure Himachal Manali package includes a full day here.
Getting there
How to reach Kullu, Kasol & Manikaran
By air
Kullu–Manali Airport at Bhuntar, about 10 km south of Kullu and 30 km from Kasol.
By rail
No nearby railhead; Kiratpur Sahib and Chandigarh are the broad-gauge stations.
By road
Kullu is on the Chandigarh–Manali highway, about 40 km before Manali. Kasol is 30 km up the Parvati valley road from Bhuntar.
Sights
What to see in Kullu, Kasol & Manikaran
- 01
Kullu shawl weavers
Handloom shawls in the Kullu pattern, woven and sold along the highway between Kullu and Manali.
- 02
Raghunath Temple, Kullu
Established in 1650 by Raja Jagat Singh; the presiding deity of the Kullu Dussehra procession.
- 03
Vaishno Devi temple, Kullu
The cave temple on the highway just north of Kullu, a stop on every Kullu–Manikaran day.
- 04
Kasol
A riverside village on the Parvati, base for walks to Chalal, Malana and Kheerganga.
- 05
Manikaran
Boiling hot springs, the Manikaran Sahib gurudwara with its langar, and the Ram and Shiva temples beside the Parvati.
- 06
River rafting on the Beas
Seasonal white-water rafting on the Beas between Kullu and Manali.
The guide
Kullu, Kasol & Manikaran travel guide
Why go?
Most people drive straight through Kullu on the way to Manali. That is a mistake worth correcting for a day. The valley below Manali is where the river is widest and the apple orchards are thickest, and at Bhuntar the Parvati valley opens up to the east: a narrow gorge, a fast blue-green river, Kasol’s cafés, and at the end of the road the steam rising from the springs at Manikaran.
When is the best time to visit?
- March to June — warm days; the rafting season on the Beas.
- July to mid-September — monsoon; the Parvati valley road is prone to slips.
- October — Kullu Dussehra, when the valley’s village deities are carried to Dhalpur maidan for a week.
- November to February — cold and quiet; Kasol gets snow from late December.
How it fits into a trip
The Kullu–Manikaran day is built into every Manali package — the Manali Volvo tour, the honeymoon package, Shimla Manali and Manali Dharamshala. The Manali Dharamshala tour adds rafting on the Beas the same day; rafting is otherwise an add-on — see river rafting.
Tour packages
Tours that include Kullu, Kasol & Manikaran
Before you go
Kullu, Kasol & Manikaran: questions
Can I do Kullu, Kasol and Manikaran as a day trip from Manali?
Yes. It is the standard full-day excursion — about 80–90 km each way — and it is included in every Leisure Himachal Manali package.
How far is Kasol from Manali?
About 75–80 km by road, via Kullu and Bhuntar, then 30 km up the Parvati valley.
When is Kullu Dussehra?
Kullu Dussehra begins on Vijayadashami, in October in most years, and runs for a week at the Dhalpur maidan. Book early; Kullu and Manali fill up.
Is the water at Manikaran really hot?
Yes. The springs are hot enough that the gurudwara kitchen uses them for cooking, and there are separate bathing pools for men and women.
Travel guides
More destinations
-
Manali
Snow, Solang & the Rohtang road -
Shimla
Colonial heritage & Kufri -
Dharamshala & McLeodganj
Culture, cafés & the Dhauladhar -
Dalhousie & Khajjiar
Pine ridges & the Khajjiar meadow -
Chamba
Temples on the Ravi -
Spiti Valley
The high-altitude cold desert -
Bir Billing
Paragliding above the Kangra valley -
Leh-Ladakh
Jeep safaris over the high passes
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these sources on 24 October 2026. Fees, permits, timings and road openings change — check them before you travel.