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Voykit pocket guide · India
Kullu
कुल्लू
Spend 2 days in Kullu for a mix of nature, adventure and cultural sights; skip if you only have time for Manali.
Kullu is a small hill station about 40 km from Manali, offering access to Rohtang Pass, hot springs, temples and adventure sports. Two days let you see the main sights and try a short trek or rafting.
- Country
- India
- Local name
- कुल्लू
- Best months
- Mar–Jun, Sep–Oct
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (monsoon)
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹1,200–₹2,000 excl. bed · Mid ₹2,500–₹4,000 excl. bed · High ₹5,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- Police 100 · Fire/ambulance 101 · General emergency 112
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Trout dish (restaurant) | ₹250–₹500 |
| Apple (per kg) | ₹80–₹120 |
| Local taxi (5 km (3.1 mi))Local taxi (3.1 mi (5 km)) | ₹150–₹250 |
| Bus ticket (city) | ₹20–₹40 |
| Rafting package (half‑day) | ₹1,200–₹2,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- KUU · Kullu–Manali Airport
- Flights from Chandigarh and Delhi (Alliance Air).
Typical fares
- Delhi → Kullu (state deluxe bus)
- ≈₹1,000, 12–14 h (check)
- Kullu → Rohtang Pass (shared taxi)
- ≈₹300–₹500, 45 min (check)
- Local bus (city)
- ₹20–₹40 per ride
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Intra‑town buses and shared taxis run frequently; motorbike rentals are common for mountain rides.
See and do
Known for
- Rohtang Pass
- Great Himalayan National Park
- Dussehra festival
- Trout from River Beas
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Rohtang Pass | Bus or shared taxi from Kullu, about 45 min; road may be closed in winter | ≈1 h |
| Manikaran | Bus from Kullu, ~30 min | ≈45 min |
| Jalori Pass | Private taxi or jeep safari, ~2 h | ≈3 h |
Sleep
- Himalayan Hamlet Valley View Hotel & Resort
- Comfortable hotel near the main road; good base for short trips.
- Hotel Shobla Royale
- Has restaurant, bar and parking; near Dussehra Ground.
- The Garsa Village Homestay
- Pahari cottage‑villa; affordable for longer stays.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | माफ़ कीजिएmaaf kijiye |
| Thank you | धन्यवादdhanyavaad |
| How much is it? | कितना है?kitna hai? |
| Where is the toilet? | शौचालय कहाँ है?shauchalay kahan hai? |
| Can I pay by card? | क्या कार्ड से भुगतान कर सकते हैं?kya card se bhugtan kar sakte hain? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Roads can be narrow and winding; drive cautiously, especially in monsoon.
- Rohtang Pass may be closed due to snow; check status before traveling.
Kullu is generally safe; watch for sudden weather changes, road landslides, and keep valuables secure in crowded buses.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Kullu yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Rohtang Pass
- Great Himalayan National Park
- Dussehra festival
- Trout from River Beas
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Kullu: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12345
- Wikivoyage: Kullu, revision 5268523 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5268523
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/kullu). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.