Most of India wraps up Dussehra on Vijayadashami. The Kullu valley starts its party the day after. In 2026, Dussehra falls on Tuesday, 20 October, and the International Kullu Dussehra runs from 21 to 27 October at Dhalpur ground in Kullu town. Those are the dates the Kullu Dussehra Festival Committee is using in its official notices, so ignore older listings that still show 20 to 26 October or mid-October.
If you are planning to go, here is the practical side: what is new this year, which days to pick, where to stay, and why a rented bike or scooter from Manali, Bhuntar or Kasol is often easier than bringing a car into a town that fills up with lakhs of visitors.
Why Kullu Dussehra is not like any other Dussehra
There is no Ravana effigy here. The festival is about the valley's village deities. Each devta is carried down from its village in a decorated palanquin, often with drums, trumpets and long brass horns, to pay respects to Lord Raghunath at Dhalpur. The tradition goes back to the 17th century, and the organising committee says around 365 local deities are worshipped across Kullu, which is why people call it Devbhoomi.
For 2026, invitations have gone out to 347 deities, according to a local report, up from 332 last year. The festival opens with the Rath Yatra of Lord Raghunath, when the chariot is pulled across the ground by devotees. After that, the week settles into a rhythm: deity camps on the ground during the day, a huge market of local handicrafts, woollens and food stalls, and cultural evenings at the Kalakendra stage.
What is new in 2026
At the curtain-raiser held at Atal Sadan in Kullu this month, the committee chairman announced a few additions:
- A drone show with about 500 drones on the second, fourth and sixth days of the festival. With the festival starting on 21 October, that works out to 22, 24 and 26 October.
- A laser show during the festival week.
- A "Global Dance" performance that mixes Indian folk dance with troupes from other countries, arranged through the Indian Council for Cultural Relations.
- The usual International Folk Dance Festival, with groups from Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, J&K, Punjab and other districts of Himachal.
The administration has also talked about LED screens and live streams, but nothing replaces standing at the edge of Dhalpur when the palanquins come in.
Which days to go
You do not need all seven days. Two or three well-chosen days are enough for most people. Here is how the calendar lines up:
- Saturday 17 to Tuesday 20 October: The Dussehra long weekend. If you take Monday off, you get four days. Use them to reach the valley and settle in before the crowds peak.
- Wednesday 21 October: Opening day and the Rath Yatra. This is the day most people want to see, and also the most crowded.
- Thursday 22, Saturday 24 and Monday 26 October: The planned drone show nights. Monday 26 October is also Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti, a restricted holiday in many offices, which may give some people a three-day weekend.
- Tuesday 27 October: Closing day.
A good plan is to arrive by the 20th, watch the Rath Yatra on the 21st, spend the 22nd riding around the valley and come back for the drone show that evening. If you can only do a weekend, 24 to 26 October gives you two drone nights and slightly thinner crowds than opening day.
Why a two-wheeler makes more sense than a car during the festival
Kullu is a small town squeezed between the Beas and the hills, and Dhalpur sits right in the middle of it. Every year the roads around the ground jam up, and parking is the main headache. A few things have already been announced for 2026:
- A new parking area at Sarvari is being levelled and is expected to hold more than 500 vehicles during Dussehra.
- The road from the truck union at Akhara Bazaar up to the Laxmi Narayan temple at Ramshila was declared a no-parking zone in September, initially for 30 days, because it is narrow and keeps getting blocked.
- The district administration has started meetings on traffic and security arrangements, so expect diversions and one-way routes during the festival.
A bike or scooter will not make the crowd disappear, but it is much easier to park, lighter on fuel, and lets you slip out of town for a ride between events. It also means you are not locked into a taxi's timings when the procession runs late, which it usually does.
Where to stay and where to pick up your ride
Staying inside Kullu town during Dussehra is expensive and noisy, and rooms go early. Most travellers stay a little outside and ride in. Hire N Ride does not take bookings inside Kullu town yet, but three nearby bases work well:
Bhuntar: closest to the action
Bhuntar is about 10 km south of Kullu and has the valley's airport. If you are flying in, you can land, pick up a bike and be at Dhalpur quickly. It is also where the Parvati Valley road branches off towards Kasol. Browse bike and scooter rental in Bhuntar and, if it is your first time renting here, read our guide to documents and deposits in Bhuntar before you go.
Manali: most choice of stays
Manali is roughly 40 km north of Kullu. You get far more hotel and homestay options, cooler evenings, and a scenic ride down the valley each morning. You can take the main highway along the Beas or use the quieter road on the other bank through Naggar, which has its own castle and is worth a stop. See bike rental in Manali for Royal Enfields, Himalayans and scooters.
Kasol: for a slower trip
If you want quiet mornings by the Parvati river and are happy riding in for the big days, Kasol is a relaxed base. Combine the festival with a ride to Manikaran on the same trip. Check bike rental in Kasol.
A simple 3-day festival ride plan
Day 1: Reach and settle
Arrive at your base, pick up your bike in daylight, and do a short test ride. Check brakes, horn, tyre pressure and lights before you leave the pickup point. Keep the evening free.
Day 2: Rath Yatra day
Ride in early. Park at a designated lot like Sarvari or wherever police direct you, and walk to Dhalpur. The ground is compact, but the crowd is dense, so walking is faster than looking for a spot close in. Spend the afternoon at the deity camps and the market, then leave before the evening rush if you are riding back to Manali.
Day 3: Valley ride and drone show
Use the day for a loop out of town: Naggar and its castle, the Parvati Valley towards Kasol and Manikaran, or simply the river stretches between Kullu and Bhuntar. Come back to Kullu for the evening programme or the drone show if it falls on that day.
Weather and road conditions
October is usually one of the clearer months in the Kullu valley, with pleasant days and cold nights. This year the mountains have already had an early taste of winter. In the third week of September, snowfall and rain closed 26 roads in Lahaul-Spiti, and the administration there advised tourists to avoid unnecessary travel. Kullu and Bhuntar sit much lower, so this does not affect the festival itself, but if you plan to extend your trip beyond Manali through Atal Tunnel towards Sissu or Keylong, check the Lahaul-Spiti road status on the morning you ride.
For the festival week, pack for both: a light layer for sunny afternoons at Dhalpur and a proper jacket and gloves for riding back after dark. Riding gloves matter more than you think on a cold evening.
Practical tips for riding during Kullu Dussehra
- Carry your documents. Your original driving licence and a government ID are needed at pickup, and police do check papers on hill roads.
- Wear the helmet, always. It is the law for rider and pillion, and festival traffic is unpredictable, with pedestrians spilling onto the road.
- Fill up before you enter town. A full tank means no fuel stop in the middle of festival traffic.
- Do not try to ride into Dhalpur. Park and walk. Follow police diversions even if your map app says otherwise.
- Keep valuables light. Crowds at the Rath Yatra and in the market are thick. Keep your phone and wallet in a zipped pocket.
- Avoid long night rides. If you are staying in Manali, the ride back after a late show on a cold night is not much fun. Leave a little early or stay closer for that night.
- Respect the devtas. Palanquins have right of way. Do not cut through a procession, and ask before photographing rituals up close.
Book early for Dussehra week
Hotels, flights into Bhuntar and rental bikes all get tight around the Rath Yatra and the long weekend before it. If your dates are fixed, lock in your stay and your ride now. If you are still deciding between two wheels and four, our self-drive car rentals are an option for families who want a car for the drive into the valley, but inside Kullu during festival week, a bike or scooter will save you a lot of time.
Kullu Dussehra is one of the few festivals where the whole valley takes part. Get there early, park well, and give yourself time to ride around. The Beas and the autumn light are part of the show.
