Kullu District: Location, Administration, Court, Railway Station, Pin Code

Kullu is one of the best-known mountain districts of Himachal Pradesh, with Kullu town serving as its administrative headquarters. The district is famous for the Kullu Valley, Manali, Parvati Valley, Great Himalayan National Park, traditional temples, apple orchards and the internationally known Kullu Dussehra. Kullu was declared a district of Punjab in 1963 and became part of Himachal Pradesh on 1 November 1966. Census 2011 records an area of about 5,503 sq. km, a population of 4,37,903 and a literacy rate of 79.40%.

Quick Overview of Kullu District

The latest district administration lists five subdivisions, seven tehsils, two sub-tehsils, six development blocks and 235 Gram Panchayats.

Location of Kullu District

Kullu lies in the central part of Himachal Pradesh in the valleys of the Beas River and its tributaries. The district contains high Himalayan mountains, forested valleys, alpine meadows and several well-known tourist settlements.

Kullu town is situated at an altitude of about 1,200 metres on the banks of the Beas. It is approximately:

• 70 km from Mandi
• 260 km from Shimla
• 312 km from Chandigarh
• About 570 km from Delhi

Manali lies around 45 km from Kullu town.

The district’s economy is strongly associated with tourism, horticulture, hydropower, agriculture and handicrafts. Apples and other temperate fruits are important, while Kullu shawls and caps are widely recognised local products.

Administration of Kullu District

Kullu town is the district headquarters. The district presently has five subdivisions:

• Kullu
• Manali
• Banjar
• Nirmand
• Anni

There are seven tehsils:

• Kullu
• Bhuntar
• Manali
• Banjar
• Anni
• Sainj
• Nirmand

The two sub-tehsils are:

• Jari
• Nitthar

The six development blocks are Kullu, Naggar, Banjar, Anni, Bhuntar and Nirmand.

Urban Local Bodies

Kullu district has two Municipal Councils:

• Kullu
• Manali

It also has two Nagar Panchayats:

• Bhuntar
• Banjar

The official municipal directory lists Kullu Municipal Council at Akhara Bazar, Manali Municipal Council near Nehru Park, and Nagar Panchayat offices at Banjar and Bhuntar.

Kullu District Court

The principal judicial establishment is the District and Sessions Court, Kullu.

The district judicial system includes the District and Sessions Court, Additional District and Sessions Court, civil courts and judicial magistrate courts. Judicial court complexes also operate at Manali and Banjar.

Citizens can use eCourts services to check case status, hearing dates, court orders, cause lists and CNR details.

District Court Location

The main judicial complex is located at:

Judicial Courts Complex, Dhalpur, Kullu, Himachal Pradesh – 175101

The official district court directory places the District and Sessions Judge and other principal courts at the Judicial Courts Complex in Dhalpur.

Dhalpur is in central Kullu and is also an important administrative and cultural area of the town.

Railway Station in Kullu District

Kullu district does not have a railway station.

The district administration identifies Joginder Nagar Railway Station as the nearest railway station, around 120 km from Kullu. It is the terminus of the narrow-gauge line from the Pathankot side.

Station Code: JDNX

Indian Railways records Joginder Nagar under station code JDNX on the Northern Railway network.

For travellers preferring broad-gauge rail, Kiratpur Sahib and Chandigarh-side stations can be more practical depending on the train and onward road journey.

Joginder Nagar Railway Station Location

Joginder Nagar Railway Station is situated in Joginder Nagar town in Mandi district, outside Kullu district.

From the station, passengers must continue to Kullu by road. The route passes through the Mandi side before entering the Kullu Valley.

Because the railway is narrow gauge and comparatively slow, many long-distance travellers prefer a broad-gauge station followed by bus or taxi travel.

Road Connectivity

Road transport is the main mode of travel to and within Kullu district.

Important road connections lead towards:

• Mandi
• Chandigarh
• Delhi
• Shimla
• Manali
• Lahaul
• Ladakh-side routes
• Parvati Valley

HRTC and private buses operate from Kullu and Manali to major cities. The district administration also confirms regular taxi services.

Mountain weather, landslides and snowfall can occasionally affect travel, so road conditions should be checked before long journeys.

Nearest Airport to Kullu

Kullu has its own nearby commercial airport:

Kullu-Manali Airport, Bhuntar

The airport is about 10 km from Kullu town and around 50 km from Manali. The Airports Authority of India confirms that it operates from Bhuntar under PIN 175125.

Flight schedules can be limited and weather-sensitive, so passengers should confirm the operating schedule before travel.

Kullu Pin Code

The main PIN code of Kullu town is 175101.

India Post officially lists:

Kullu Head Post Office – 175101.

Other important postal codes include:

• Bhuntar – 175125
• Banjar – 175123
• Manali – 175131
• Naggar – 175130
• Jari – 175105

Therefore, 175101 should not be used for every address in Kullu district.

Major Tourist Places in Kullu District

Manali

Manali is around 45 km from Kullu and is the district’s most famous tourist destination. It is known for mountain scenery, temples, adventure activities and access towards Rohtang and the higher Himalayan region.

Great Himalayan National Park

The Great Himalayan National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site containing forests, alpine meadows, glaciers and rare Himalayan wildlife. The protected landscape has no normal drive-through tourist roads and is mainly explored through trekking routes.

Manikaran

Manikaran lies in the Parvati Valley and is famous for its natural hot springs as well as Hindu temples and Gurudwara Manikaran Sahib.

Naggar

Naggar was once the capital of the former Kullu kingdom. Major attractions include Naggar Castle, the Nicholas Roerich Art Gallery and historic temples.