Kullu Dussehra 2026 begins on Vijayadashami, Tuesday, 20 October, and runs for about a week at Dhalpur Maidan in the Kullu valley, unusually starting just as the rest of India’s Dussehra ends. The nearest airport is Bhuntar (KUU), about 10 to 11 km from Kullu, but flights there are limited and weather-sensitive, so many travellers connect by road from Chandigarh or Delhi instead.
Updated October 2026 · HappyFares
Kullu Dussehra is one of Himachal Pradesh’s most distinctive festivals, timed to begin exactly when the rest of the country’s Dussehra celebrations are wrapping up. Here is what the 2026 dates look like and how to actually get there.
When is Kullu Dussehra 2026?
Kullu Dussehra starts on Vijayadashami, the tenth day that marks Dussehra elsewhere in India, which in 2026 falls on Tuesday, 20 October. The festival then continues for roughly a week, taking it through to around Monday, 26 October, with the main deity processions in the earlier days and a large mela, or fair, running through the back half of the week at Dhalpur Maidan.
This is the opposite sequencing from most of India, where Dussehra on Vijayadashami is the climax of Navratri. In Kullu, Vijayadashami is the opening day, and the valley’s own celebration runs on afterward.
What actually happens at Dhalpur Maidan?
The festival centres on Raghunath, the valley’s presiding deity since the seventeenth century, whose palanquin is carried in procession to Dhalpur Maidan. Over the following days, deities from villages across the Kullu valley are brought to the grounds in their own palanquins, accompanied by local Nati folk dancing, music and drumming, creating one of the largest gatherings of local gods and goddesses anywhere in the Himalayas. The later part of the week shifts focus to the Dussehra mela, a large retail and food fair that fills Dhalpur Maidan with stalls.
The event draws visitors from across Himachal Pradesh and beyond, and the valley’s small roads and limited accommodation mean the town feels noticeably busier than usual for the full week.
How do you fly into Kullu, and what are the limits?
The nearest airport is Bhuntar, also referred to as Kullu-Manali Airport (KUU), roughly 10 to 11 km from Kullu town. It is a small airport and flight schedules there are genuinely limited, typically served by a single operator on a thin network, and services are frequently affected by valley weather such as fog, low cloud and strong winds, especially as the season turns toward winter in October. Expect schedules to change or flights to be delayed or cancelled on short notice rather than planning around a guaranteed departure time.
Because of this, it is worth having a road backup in mind even if you book a flight to Bhuntar.
What is the road alternative?
Many travellers reach Kullu by road from Chandigarh, which has its own airport with far more flight options, or from Delhi, with an overnight bus or a longer drive through the hills. Chandigarh to Kullu is the shorter overland route of the two and is commonly used when Bhuntar flights are uncertain. If you are flying in from outside the region, routing through Chandigarh or Delhi and continuing by road is a more dependable plan than relying solely on a Bhuntar connection during festival week, when both demand and the chance of weather disruption are higher.
The drive itself winds through hill roads that narrow in places, so building extra time into your itinerary matters more here than on a flat highway. Many visitors also treat Manali, a further hour or so up the valley from Kullu, as a base, since accommodation choice is wider there and Bhuntar airport sits roughly between the two towns.
What should you plan for once you arrive?
October in the Kullu valley tends to bring clear, cool days and genuinely cold nights, especially once the sun drops behind the surrounding peaks, so pack layers even if you arrive during a warm afternoon. Accommodation in Kullu town fills up through festival week, and prices and availability both tighten closer to Vijayadashami, so booking a room alongside your travel plan rather than after arrival is the safer approach.
Because the event draws deity processions from villages across the valley, local roads around Dhalpur Maidan see rolling closures and diversions on the busiest days, so keep plans for getting around flexible rather than tightly scheduled.
Common Questions
Why does Kullu Dussehra start on Vijayadashami instead of ending there?
Local tradition around the deity Raghunath set the valley’s celebration to begin on the day the rest of India concludes Navratri and Dussehra, making Kullu’s festival run a week later than the national calendar.
Is Bhuntar the only airport near Kullu?
It is the nearest one, but given its limited schedule and weather sensitivity, many visitors treat Chandigarh airport as the more reliable entry point and travel the rest of the way by road.
How long does the festival actually last?
It is generally described as a week-long celebration starting on Vijayadashami, with deity processions in the earlier days and a fair running through the later part of the week.
Is Dhalpur Maidan easy to reach within Kullu town?
Yes, it sits within the town itself, though roads and parking around it get congested during the festival given the crowds it draws.
Does bad weather often disrupt travel to Kullu during the festival?
October can bring fog and unsettled mountain weather that affects both flights into Bhuntar and, less often, road travel through the hills, so building in a buffer day is sensible.
Can I combine a Kullu Dussehra visit with Manali?
Many visitors do, since Manali is a short further drive from Kullu and Bhuntar airport sits roughly between the two.
Heading to Himachal for Kullu Dussehra? Search flights to Chandigarh or Bhuntar on HappyFares and set a price alert if your travel dates are flexible around the festival week.
Festival schedules, flight operations and road conditions change. Verify current specifics with the airline, the Kullu district administration, or the airport before you travel.
