Kullu Dussehra

At Dhalpur in Kullu, village deities arrive on decorated palanquins with their attendants and musicians. Lord Raghunathji's wooden chariot is at the centre of the main procession. This is not simply a fair with a procession added to it. The deities and the people travelling with them are the reason Dhalpur fills for Kullu Dussehra.

The celebration continues for a week. Around the religious gatherings, there are stalls selling local wares and cultural performances in the evening. You can enjoy those parts of the fair too, but leave time simply to watch the processions without trying to hurry from one attraction to another.

A gathering of deities at Dhalpur

If you would like to spend time at a cultural performance, get to know Nati, Himachal's group folk dance. Watch the shared steps and music, and ask before joining a group rather than assuming every dance is open to visitors.

The festival takes place at Dhalpur ground in Kullu town. Deities come from villages across the region, accompanied by people for whom this is an important annual meeting. The rath procession for Lord Raghunathji is one of its central moments.

It is easy to arrive thinking you will find a single show with a fixed start and finish. Dhalpur is a gathering place as well as a fairground, and the day changes as processions move through it. Leave the route open for the people carrying the palanquins and the chariot. When a crowd gathers tightly, stand back rather than stepping in for a photograph. Ask before taking close-up pictures of people taking part in worship.

When to be there in 2026

Kullu district has scheduled the 2026 festival for 21 to 27 October. If the chariot procession is the moment you most want to see, choose your day after checking the current programme on the Kullu Dussehra website or the district festival notice. Check the day's programme before setting off, as past years' timings may not hold.

If you are staying for an evening cultural programme, consider spending the night in Kullu. It gives you room to stay without depending on a late return to Manali after a crowded day.

Plan for the crowd before you plan to park

Dhalpur draws a great many people during the festival. Do not count on parking beside the ground, even if your map leads you straight to it. Parking around Dhalpur includes regulated and reserved areas on ordinary days, and festival traffic arrangements can change where vehicles may enter or stop.

If you drive, check the latest Kullu district or police directions before leaving, use only the parking areas marked for visitors on the day, and be prepared to walk the last stretch. Keep hospital access, emergency spaces and the procession route clear. A taxi avoids the search for a parking space, but your driver may still need to drop you and collect you away from the ground. Agree on a meeting point before you separate.

The bus is another way to avoid parking. If you are coming from Manali, ask at the bus stand about Kullu services and the return before setting out. Once in Kullu, ask for the best open way to Dhalpur that day. Do not assume a late service will be available after the evening programme.

Coming from Manali

Dhalpur is about 40 km by road from Mall Road in Manali, following NH3 south into Kullu. It can be a day visit, but give the festival the whole day rather than treating it as a quick stop. Leave generous time for the road, the walk into the ground and your return. The drive may take much longer than an ordinary map estimate when people are arriving for the procession.

Carry water, comfortable shoes and a light layer for later in the day. If you are visiting with children or someone who would welcome a break from the crowd, agree on a place to meet outside the busiest area. You will enjoy the gathering more when nobody in your group is worried about finding the car or catching an uncertain bus.

For the rest of your stay, the Manali destination page can help you keep this festival day separate from other outings. If you are still arranging your arrival, see how to reach Manali.

Photograph: Kullu Dushera by Bleezebub, taken on 3 October 2014. Cropped to remove the camera date stamp, resized and converted to WebP by 2050 XP. The photograph and this adapted version are available under CC BY-SA 4.0.