Kullu is a district in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, situated in the western Himalayas. The district takes its name from the town of Kullu, which serves as its administrative headquarters and lies on the banks of the Beas river. It is well known for the Kullu Valley, the Dussehra festival held at Dhalpur Maidan, apple horticulture, woollen handicrafts, and as a gateway to the Lahaul and Spiti region across the Rohtang Pass.
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Himachal Pradesh |
| Region | Western Himalayas |
| Headquarters | Kullu |
| Major river | Beas |
| Notable pass | Rohtang Pass |
| Principal language | Hindi; Pahari dialects including Kullvi |
The district lies in the central part of Himachal Pradesh and is dominated by the Kullu Valley, drained by the Beas river and its tributaries such as the Parvati, Sainj, Tirthan and Sarvari. It is bounded by Lahaul and Spiti to the north, Kinnaur and Shimla to the east and south-east, Mandi to the south-west, and Kangra to the west. The terrain ranges from forested mid-altitude valleys to high alpine zones, and the district contains the Great Himalayan National Park, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2014.
Kullu district is part of Himachal Pradesh and is administered by a Deputy Commissioner. The district is divided into sub-divisions and tehsils including Kullu, Manali, Banjar, Nirmand, Ani and Sainj. Major towns include Kullu, Manali, Bhuntar, Banjar and Manikaran. The town of Bhuntar hosts the Kullu–Manali Airport, the principal air link to the valley.
The Kullu Valley has a long recorded history, mentioned in early Indian texts under the name Kuluta. It was ruled for centuries by a local dynasty whose seat shifted between Jagatsukh, Naggar and ultimately Sultanpur (modern Kullu town). The valley came under Sikh influence in the early nineteenth century and subsequently under British paramountcy after the First Anglo-Sikh War, when it was attached to the Kangra district of Punjab. After Indian independence and the reorganisation of hill territories, Kullu was constituted as a separate district of Himachal Pradesh in 1963.
The economy is based on horticulture, agriculture, handicrafts and tourism. Apple cultivation is the mainstay of rural incomes, with the Kullu valley being one of the leading apple-producing regions of India along with plums, pears and stone fruits. Handloom products, particularly the Kullu shawl and Kullu topi, have received Geographical Indication recognition. Tourism centres on Manali, Solang, Manikaran, Kasol and the Parvati and Tirthan valleys, supported by trekking, river-rafting and winter sports.
Kullu is associated with a distinctive folk culture marked by deity (devta) traditions, in which village gods are carried in palanquins to fairs and festivals. The most prominent event is Kullu Dussehra, held at Dhalpur ground in Kullu town, which begins on Vijayadashami when celebrations elsewhere conclude. The festival, centred on the deity Raghunathji, was recognised as an international festival by the state government and draws hundreds of village deities from across the region.
National Highway 3 (formerly NH-21) passes through the district, connecting it with Mandi and Chandigarh to the south and with Lahaul via the Atal Tunnel to the north. The Kullu–Manali Airport at Bhuntar provides scheduled air services. The nearest broad-gauge railhead is at Chandigarh, while the narrow-gauge Kangra Valley Railway terminates at Joginder Nagar in the neighbouring Mandi district.