IRMT LOCATION IN THE KULLU VALLEY
The International Roerich Memorial Trust is located in the Naggar mountain village in the nothern part of the Kullu valley, approximately in between Kullu (administrative centre of the valley) and Manali city.
When you arrive to Kullu valley from the south (e.g. from Dehli, Chandigarh or Mandi), or from the north (from Manali, Solang or Rohtang) by bus, you should get down at Patli Kuhal village, situated at the bottom of the valley on the main road near the Beas river. Usually all buses stop at the bus stop, which is also a taxi station. From here you'll need to take either a taxi (approx. price 120 Rs) or auto riksha (80 Rs) - simply tell the driver to go to the Roerich Art Gallery - that's where everybody goes. The link road to Naggar (4 km long) will turn to the right off the main road, passing an iron bridge upon Beas and then climbing up to the mountains. You'll first reach the Naggar ground 'chowk' (in local dialect) and then, again turning to the right off the main road and passing the historical Naggar Castle, after 5 minutes you'll be at the Hall Estate (IRMT).
If you wish to visit Kullu Valley from Delhi, it is advisable to take the
governmental company buses like Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development
Corporation - HPTDC. Tickets can be booked at: HPTDC Marketing Office,
Chandralok Building, 36, Janpath street (opposite the Imperial Hotel). Contact numbers: 011 - 23325320, 23324764.
There are three kinds of HPTDC buses daily plying to Manali:
1. Ordinary bus: Departure time from Delhi 7 PM, price - Rupees 615;
2. Volvo Semi sleeper bus: Departure time from Delhi 6.30 PM, price - Rupees
815;
3. Volvo Sleeper bus: Departure time from Delhi 7 PM, price - Rupees 1100;
Same buses daily depart to Delhi from Manali, you can buy return ticket at
the Manali HPTDC Office, Manali Mall:
1. Ordinary bus: Departure time from Manali: 5 PM;
2. Volvo Semi sleeper bus: Departure time 4.30 PM;
3. Volvo Sleeper bus: Departure time 5.30 PM.
There are also many private buses going to Manali for lower prices, but we would advise you to travel by the governmental companies which are more reliable. The journey usually takes 13 to 14 hours.
If you decide to go from Chandigarh, you may take any bus from Chandigarh main bus station to Manali and get down in Patli Kuhal; the road takes approximately 5-6 hours. You can also take a taxi, approximate cost is 3,000 Rupees up to Naggar.
If you prefer to go to Kullu by plane, take a direct flight from Delhi
domestic airport - one company flies to Kullu (Bhuntar), that is Jagson
Airlines. Office in Delhi: 3rd floor, Wandana building 11, Tolstoi Marg, New
Delhi, phone: 011- 23721594, 23328580.
Cost of the ticket (one way): Rupees 4,621 for Indian nationals; for
foreigners: below 30 years - 142 US Dollars; above 30 years - 186 US
Dollars.
Flights are daily, but on Monday, Wednesday and Friday flights are going to
Kullu (Bhuntar) via Shimla, departure time - 7 Am, flight takes 2 hour 50
minutes.
On Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday - flights are direct: Delhi-Bhuntar,
flight takes 1 hour 20 minutes.
Departure from Bhuntar to Delhi: Monday, Wednesday and Friday - 9.20 AM
(via Shimla)
Tuesday, Thursday,
Saturday, Sunday - 10.20 AM (direct flight). Jagson Airlines Office in Bhuntar: phone 01902 - 265222, 265308.
Bhuntar airport is situated near Kullu. Taxi is available straight in the
airport. A taxi from Bhuntar to Naggar will cost you approximately 700 Rs. Local buses from there to Manali direction are available every few minutes.
Taxi from Kullu to Naggar costs approximately 500 Rs.
Taxi from Manali to Naggar costs approximately 400 Rs.
All prices are given for the beginning of 2006.
The best time to visit the Kullu valley is from the end of March till November. From mid-July till mid-September it is rainy season, but it's not bad - rains became quite a scarcity now. Still, it can happen, that sudden rains may fully flood the road, and then you risk to get stuck up in the valley. In the winter (December-February) there may be a lot of snow, but it varies from year to year, so whenever you decide to come, it's always better to about the current situation.
