Kullu Dussehra 2026 runs from Wednesday 21 to Tuesday 27 October at Dhalpur ground in Kullu town, opening with Lord Raghunath's Rath Yatra on 21 October and with drone shows planned for 22, 24 and 26 October. The easiest way in is a rented bike or scooter from Manali (about 50 km, just under an hour), Bhuntar (about 10 km) or Kasol, parked at a designated lot so you can walk to the ground.
Most of India wraps up Dussehra on Vijayadashami, which fell on Tuesday, 20 October this year. The Kullu valley starts its own week-long celebration the day after. Below is the practical side: what is new this year, which days to pick, where to stay, and why a two-wheeler is often easier than bringing a car into a town that fills up with lakhs of visitors.
Key Takeaways
- Dates: 21 to 27 October 2026 at Dhalpur, Kullu, as reported by The Tribune and Hill Post.
- Biggest day: 21 October, when Lord Raghunath's wooden rath is pulled across the ground with deity palanquins around it.
- Drone shows: about 500 drones on the second, fourth and sixth days, which works out to 22, 24 and 26 October.
- Getting there: OSRM routing puts Manali to Dhalpur at about 50 km; Bhuntar is about 10 km south of Kullu.
- Parking: park once at a designated lot such as the new Sarvari area and walk in.
Why Kullu Dussehra is not like any other Dussehra
There is no Ravana effigy here. The festival is about the valley's village deities. According to Wikipedia, 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 organising committee says around 365 local deities are worshipped across Kullu, which is why people call it Devbhoomi.
For 2026, the district administration and the Kullu Devi Devta Kardar Sangh have invited 347 deities, The Tribune reports, 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. Each devta is carried down in a decorated palanquin with its own drums, trumpets and long brass horns, and for the week Dhalpur becomes their camp.
What to see during the week
The Rath Yatra
On the opening day, Lord Raghunath is seated in his wooden chariot and devotees pull it from the northern end of Dhalpur 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 also the most crowded. Find a spot early, keep your belongings close and follow police and volunteers.
The deity camps
Through the week the deities stay in their camps around the ground, and you can walk among them. Be respectful: ask before photographing rituals, do not touch the palanquins, and step aside when a deity is being carried through.
Cultural evenings and the folk festival
Evenings belong to the Kalakendra stage. The International Folk Dance Festival brings Himachali dances, including the Kullvi nati, alongside groups from Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, J&K, Punjab and other districts of Himachal.
The Dussehra bazaar
Dhalpur also hosts a large fair with handicrafts, woollens, a food court and rides. It is a good place for Kullu shawls, caps and local produce. Bring some cash as well as your phone for payments.
What is new in 2026
At the curtain-raiser held at Atal Sadan in Kullu, the committee chairman announced a few additions:
- A drone show with about 500 drones on 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 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:
- Wednesday 21 October: Opening day and the Rath Yatra. The day most people want to see, and 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.
- Middle days: The deities are still in camp, the bazaar is in full swing and the cultural evenings continue, but the crush of opening day has eased.
- Tuesday 27 October: Closing day.
If you can only manage a weekend, 24 to 26 October gives you two drone nights and 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 been announced for 2026:
- A new parking area at Sarvari was being levelled 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 because it is narrow and keeps getting blocked.
- The district administration has held meetings on traffic and security, so expect diversions and one-way routes.
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. You are also 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 has far more hotel and homestay options and cooler evenings. The main road runs south along the Beas past orchards and riverside villages; OSRM gives about 50 km from central Manali to Dhalpur, but expect it to take longer near Kullu during festival week. There is also a quieter, narrower road on the other bank through Naggar, pleasant if you want to ride down one way and back the other. 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; our Parvati Valley and Manikaran route guide covers it, and bikes are listed on 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. Watch the deities arrive, find your place for the procession, then spend the afternoon at the camps and the bazaar. 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 the Bijli Mahadev ride and walk from Bhuntar. Come back to Kullu for the evening programme or the drone show if it falls on that day.
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 that helmets are provided for each rider and fit properly, that brakes, tyres and lights are in good shape since you may ride home in fading light, and what the fuel policy is. On Hire N Ride you can read a host's profile and reviews before you choose; whichever platform you use, Hire N Ride or Zoomcar, check the reviews for the specific vehicle.
Weather and road conditions
October is usually one of the clearer months in the Kullu valley, with pleasant days and cold nights. In the third week of September, snowfall and rain closed 26 roads in Lahaul-Spiti. Kullu and Bhuntar sit much lower, so this does not affect the festival itself, but if you plan to extend your trip through Atal Tunnel towards Sissu or Keylong, check the Lahaul-Spiti road status on the morning you ride. Pack a light layer for sunny afternoons at Dhalpur and a proper jacket and gloves for riding back after dark.
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 in Himachal Pradesh for rider and pillion.
- Fill up before you enter town so you do not need a fuel stop in festival traffic.
- Do not try to ride into Dhalpur. Park and walk, and follow police diversions even if your map app says otherwise.
- Lock the bike and keep your phone and wallet in a zipped pocket in the crowds.
- Ride back before dark if you can. Valley roads can be poorly lit and traffic is heavy after the evening programmes; if you want the cultural nights, stay over in Kullu.
- Never ride after drinking. Festival evenings are no exception.
- Respect the devtas. Palanquins have right of way. Do not cut through a procession.
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. Families who prefer four wheels for the drive into the valley can look at self-drive car rental in Manali, though inside Kullu during festival week a bike or scooter will save you a lot of time.
For more routes in the region, see our Himachal bike and car rental guide.
Book early for Dussehra week
Hotels, flights into Bhuntar and rental bikes all get tight around the Rath Yatra and the drone show nights. 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.
Book a bike in Manali on Hire N Ride
Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited in the captions. Festival dates and details are from the Kullu Dussehra Festival Committee, The Tribune, Hill Post and Wikipedia; distances are from OSRM routing. Check the official schedule, road conditions and parking rules before you travel.
