Kullu Dussehra Package 3 Nights / 4 Days – Manali, Naggar & Rohtang

Pickup: our driver meets you at Manali Volvo Parking (overnight Volvos arrive 7–10 AM) and transfers you to your hotel.

After you freshen up, we spend the day getting a feel of the Valley of the Gods. First the 500-year-old, pagoda-style Hadimba Devi Temple, set in a grove of towering deodar trees on a hillside above Manali, with animal horns of old sacrifices hanging from its verandah. Back towards Mall Road we visit two Buddhist monasteries – one built by Tibetan settlers in the early 1960s with old thangkas and a large Buddha, the other a newer monastery with an enormous gilded Buddha. Lunch is at the Club House on the banks of the Manalsu stream.

After a short rest at the hotel, in the late afternoon we drive 3 km up to the ancient village of Vashisht, with fine views of the upper Beas valley and the Pir Panjal peaks, for a refreshing dip in its hot sulphur springs. Relaxed evening and night at your hotel.

• 🛕
  Hadimba Devi Temple · Dhungri forest · 2 km
  Four-tier pagoda wooden temple built in 1553, dedicated to Hidimba, wife of Bhima. Set in a tall deodar forest, with the Ghatotkach shrine nearby. Yak rides and photos in local Himachali dress.
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  Tibetan Monastery · Near Mall Road
  Colourful Gadhan Thekchhokling monastery built by Tibetan settlers, with a large Buddha statue, murals and prayer wheels. Tibetan market for handicrafts nearby.
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  Club House · Old Manali road · 2 km
  Fun spot on the Manalsu stream with indoor games, river crossing and small amusement rides. Good for families, with a small market for woollens.
• ♨️
  Vashisht Hot Springs · Vashisht village · approx. 3 km
  Old stone village above the Beas with natural hot sulphur springs in two large tanks, believed to have healing properties.

🌙 Overnight stay at hotel in Manali

Early morning drive to Kullu in time for the opening ceremony of Kullu Dussehra, started by the erstwhile royal family of Kullu. The richly decorated chariot of Lord Raghunath, the presiding deity of the valley, is pulled with huge sacred ropes to the Dhalpur ground, where the palanquins of over 200 village deities wait to pay homage. After the ceremony, stroll around the fair with its countless stalls of food, sweets, handicrafts and clothing.

Around noon we drive to Naggar, the old capital of the Kullu kingdom, for lunch with sweeping views over the widest part of the valley. Visit the small museum in Naggar Castle and walk up to the Roerich Art Gallery, home of the haunting Himalayan paintings of Russian artist and philosopher Nicholas Roerich. The drive back to Manali along the left bank of the Beas, with little waterfalls and streams, is one of the prettiest in the valley. Evening at leisure.

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  Raghunath Rath Yatra · Kullu · opening & closing day
  The decorated chariot of Lord Raghunath, the presiding deity of the valley, is pulled by hand with sacred ropes while over 200 village deities in palanquins pay homage.
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  Dhalpur Maidan (Dussehra Ground) · Kullu · approx. 40 km
  The big Dussehra ground of Kullu, filled with fair stalls, food tents, folk music and hundreds of visiting village deities during the festival week.
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  Naggar Castle · approx. 21 km
  Built around 1460 by Raja Sidh Singh in Kath-Kuni style of stone and wood. Now a heritage hotel with the Jagti Patt temple and wide valley views.
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  Roerich Art Gallery · Naggar · approx. 22 km
  Former home of Russian painter Nicholas Roerich, showing his famous Himalayan paintings in a garden setting.

🌙 Overnight stay at hotel in Manali

After a leisurely breakfast we drive up to the Rohtang Pass (13,050 ft), the gateway through the Pir Panjal range to the high-altitude desert of Lahaul & Spiti. On the way we stop at the cascading Rahalla Falls and the busy hamlet of Marhi with its tea and snack stalls and wide views of the upper Kullu valley. In October there is a good chance of snow on the slopes near the pass – walk around and, if there is snow, enjoy a snow-scooter ride (extra cost). To the north the stark, barren mountains of Lahaul stand in sharp contrast to the green Kullu valley.

Back in Manali by early evening. The evening is free to relax or stroll along Mall Road for handicrafts, Kullu shawls, caps and mufflers.

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  Rahalla Fall · approx. 27 km
  Waterfall fed by melting snow, falling over rocks beside the road. A popular photo stop.
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  Marhi · approx. 33 km
  Last halt before Rohtang with dhabas for tea, Maggi and parathas. Snow dresses can be hired on the way.
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  Rohtang Pass · 3,978 m · approx. 51 km
  High mountain pass between Kullu and Lahaul. Snow, glacier views, snow scooter, skiing and sledging (extra cost). Permit included.

🌙 Overnight stay at hotel in Manali

After breakfast, check out from the hotel. Free time for last-minute shopping.

Drop: after check-out we drop you at Manali Volvo Parking for your onward Volvo (usually 4–6:30 PM). On request we also book your onward bus, taxi or flight to Delhi at extra cost.

Tour ends with happy memories.