When Kullu's Gods Gather at Dhalpur, Ride Down from Manali

By Nitin Kanish · 10 October 2026

Every October, the gods of the Kullu Valley travel. Carried in palanquins on the shoulders of villagers, to the sound of horns and drums, hundreds of local deities make their way to one open ground in Kullu town to pay their respects to Lord Raghunath. This year the International Kullu Dussehra runs from 21 to 27 October 2026 at Dhalpur Maidan. If you are staying in Manali, the festival is about an hour's ride down the valley, and a bike rental in Manali is one of the easiest ways to get there, move around the crowds and get home again.

This guide is for riders who want to plan a festival day or two, and for Manali bike owners thinking about the busy fortnight ahead.

What makes Kullu Dussehra different

Most of India marks Dussehra with the burning of Ravana effigies on a single evening. Kullu does it differently. According to Wikipedia, the festival here begins on Vijayadashami itself and then continues for seven days. Its roots go back to the 17th century, when Raja Jagat Singh of Kullu installed an idol of Raghunath on his throne as an act of penance, and Raghunath was declared the ruling deity of the valley. The Tribune dates the festival's origins to 1660.

The heart of the festival is the gathering of the devtas, the village deities of the valley. The Tribune reports that the district administration and the Kullu Devi Devta Kardar Sangh have invited 347 deities this year, 15 more than the 332 invited in 2025. Some come from temples close to town, others from as far as Anni and Nirmand, nearly 200 km away. For the week, Dhalpur becomes their camp, and Kullu becomes a town full of visiting gods and the people who travel with them.

What to see during the week

The rath procession

On the first day, Lord Raghunath is seated in his wooden chariot, the rath, and devotees pull it from the northern end of Dhalpur Maidan to his camp temple at the centre of the ground, with the palanquins of hundreds of deities around it. This is the moment most people come for, and it is also the most crowded. Find a spot early, keep your belongings close and follow the instructions of the police and volunteers.

Deities, music and the camp

Through the week, the deities stay in their camps around the maidan, and you can walk among them. Each comes with its own musicians playing horns, trumpets and drums, and its own group of followers. Be respectful: ask before taking photographs of rituals, do not touch the palanquins, and step aside when a deity is being carried through.

Cultural evenings and the folk festival

The evenings are given over to performances. The International Folk Dance Festival is a main attraction every year, with Himachali folk dances, including the Kullvi nati, alongside troupes from other states and abroad. Hill Post and The North News report that this year's plans include a global dance programme with international artists, plus a drone show and a laser show. Artist auditions were held at Dev Sadan in Kullu in early October.

The Dussehra bazaar

Dhalpur also hosts a large fair: the Dussehra bazaar, exhibitions, a food court and rides. It is a good place to look for Kullu shawls, caps and local produce, and to eat your way through a few stalls. Bring some cash as well as your phone for payments.

The ride from Manali to Kullu

The main road from Manali runs south along the Beas through the valley to Kullu town. OSRM gives about 50 km from central Manali to Dhalpur and a little under an hour of riding, but during the festival week expect it to take longer, especially near Kullu. The road is familiar to anyone who has ridden from Manali to Bhuntar or on to the Bijli Mahadev ride, and it passes orchards and riverside villages along the way.

There is also a quieter road along the other bank of the Beas through Naggar. It is narrower and slower, but a pleasant change if you want to ride down one way and back the other. Check local advice on road conditions before you choose it.

A simple plan for opening day

• Early morning: pick up your bike in Manali, check the fuel and set off after breakfast.
• Mid-morning: reach Kullu, park in a designated area away from the maidan and walk in.
• Midday to afternoon: watch the deities arrive and find your place for the rath procession. Check the official schedule for timings, as they are announced locally.
• Late afternoon: wander the bazaar, eat, and decide whether to stay for the evening programme.
• Before dark: ride back to Manali, or check into a room in Kullu if you are staying over.

If you would rather avoid the biggest crowds, choose one of the middle days of the week. The deities are still in camp, the bazaar is in full swing and the cultural evenings continue, but the crush of the opening day has eased.

Riding tips for festival week

• Wear a proper helmet, and make sure your pillion does too. It is the law in Himachal Pradesh.
• Expect diversions and parking rules around Dhalpur. Follow police instructions and park only where it is allowed.
• Lock the bike and take the helmet with you or leave it securely with the bike.
• Ride slowly through villages and town, where processions, pedestrians and buses share the road.
• Carry warm layers. Late October evenings in the valley are cold, and the ride back gets chilly after sunset.
• Do not ride after dark if you can avoid it. Valley roads can be poorly lit, and traffic is heavy after the evening programmes.
• Keep your documents handy: driving licence, a photo ID and your booking details.
• Never ride after drinking. Festival evenings are no exception.

Make a longer trip of it

If you have a few days in the valley, pair the festival with rides closer to Manali. Spend a morning at Vashisht and walk on to the waterfall in our guide to parking at Vashisht and walking to Jogini, or head up the valley towards Solang; our Solang Valley distance guide covers the drive and timings. October is a good month for both: the air is clear, the apple harvest is winding down and the high peaks are starting to whiten.

Choosing your bike

The ride to Kullu is on a main valley road with gentle gradients, so a scooter or a 125 to 150 cc bike handles it well for one or two riders. If you also plan to ride higher, towards Solang or beyond, a bike with more power and good brakes is more comfortable on the climbs.

When you book, check a few things with your host:

• That helmets are provided for each rider and fit properly.
• Brakes, tyres and lights are in good shape, since you may ride home in fading light.
• The fuel level at pickup and the fuel policy at return.
• Who to call if something goes wrong on the road.

On Hire N Ride you can read a host's profile and reviews before you choose. You can also compare other platforms such as Zoomcar; whichever you use, check the reviews for the specific vehicle and host, and book early, because festival weeks fill up fast.

Book a bike in Manali on Hire N Ride

For Manali bike owners: make the most of festival week

Kullu Dussehra brings a wave of visitors into the valley at the end of the main tourist season, many of them staying in Manali and looking for a simple way to get to Kullu and back. That is exactly the kind of day rental a well-kept scooter or bike can earn from, and good reviews from festival riders keep bringing bookings well after the week is over.

Hire N Ride works like Airbnb for vehicles. You list your bike, set when it is available and build a professional host profile. Every good trip earns a review, and more reviews bring more bookings. Hire N Ride also helps you run the business side: vehicle surveys, GPS management, and reminders for insurance renewal, PUC certificates, RC, permit expiry and servicing, so the paperwork stays on track while your bike is out on the road.

Become a host: list your bike on Hire N Ride

Conclusion

Kullu Dussehra is not a festival you watch from a distance. It is a week when the valley's deities come down from their villages to one ground, when horns and drums fill the streets and Lord Raghunath's rath rolls across Dhalpur. From 21 to 27 October 2026, it is about an hour's ride from Manali. Start early, park once and walk, be respectful around the rituals, dress warmly for the evening and ride back carefully. With a bike rental in Manali, you can be part of one of Himachal's great gatherings and still be back in the mountains by night.

About the author

Nitin Kanish writes travel and road-trip guides for Hire N Ride, focusing on practical rides and drives from the cities where Hire N Ride hosts operate, and on helping vehicle owners grow their rental business.

Banner and in-article photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited in the captions (banner: Kondephy, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0). Festival dates and details are from The Tribune, Hill Post and Wikipedia; distances are from OSRM routing. Check the official schedule, road conditions and parking rules before you travel.