Mandi it is easy to come to Kullu, the Valley of the Gods, through Bajaura, with the shrine of Basheshwar Mahadev. Kullu town is on the river Beas, at a height of 1,200 metres. There is a meadow between the town and the river--the Dhalpur Maidan where Dussera festival is celebrated. The Maidan springs to colourful life when Raghunathji (the deity originally brought from Ayodhya and residing in a temple adjacent to the palace of the erstwhile ruler) is driven in a chariot. The festival continues for five days.
From the meadow can be seen an imposing structure on the hill, the shrine of Bijli (which literally means electricity) Mahadev at a height of 2,435 metres and 11 km from Kullu. A sixty feet high white mast in front of the temple is said to attract lightning which strikes the Shiva Lingam and shatter it to pieces. The priest puts them together and reconstructs the symbol with the help of parched barley and butter.
The well-known- hot springs of Manikaran are 45 km from Kullu, in the Parvati valley. According to a legend, once an earring of Parvati fell down here. The snake-king carried it away to the nether-world. But Shiva, through mediation commanded him to return it, the snake-king emerged here and surrendered the ornament. The spring gushed forth with him and has remained ever since.