<P> The Buddhist pilgrim monk Xuanzang visited the Kullu Valley in 634 or 635 CE . He described it as a fertile region completely surrounded by mountains, about 3,000 li in circuit, with a capital 14 or 15 li in circumference . It contained a Stupa built by Mauryan Emperor Ashoka, which is said to mark the place where the Buddha preached to the local people and made conversions, Stupa was taken away by a Mughal ruler and put in feroz shah kotla maidan in Delhi . There were some twenty Buddhist monasteries, with about 1,000 monks, most of whom were Mahayanist . There were also some fifteen Hindu temples, and people of both faiths lived mixed together . There were meditation caves near the mountain passes inhabited by both Buddhist and Hindu practitioners . The country is said to have produced gold, silver, red copper, crystal lenses and bell - metal . </P> <P> Kullu got its first motorable access only after Indian Independence . The long centuries of seclusion have, however, allowed the area to retain a considerable measure of its traditional charm . The road through the Kullu Valley and Lahaul is now paved all the way, to connect and provide the major access route between the northern Indian plains to Leh in Ladakh . </P> <P> Kullu town has an average elevation of 1,278 m (4,193 ft). It lies on the bank of Beas River . A major tributary, Sarvari, (derived from "Shiv - Baardi") leads to the less explored and steeper Lug - valley on the west . On the east of Kullu lies a broad mountainous ridge having the village - temples of Bijli Mahadev, Mounty Nag and Pueed . Beyond the ridge lies Manikaran valley, along the Paarvati river which joins Beas at Sangam in Bhuntar . On the south of Kullu lie the town of Bhuntar, Out (leading to Anni, Banjar and Siraj Valley) and Mandi (in Mandi district). Historically Kullu was accessible from Shimla via Siraj valley or through passes on the west leading to Jogindernagar and onto Kangra . To the north lies the town of Manali, which through the Rohtang pass leads onto the Lahaul and Spiti Valley . One can see an enormous change in the climate as one climbs up the windward side of the ranges to proceed to the leeward and much drier plateaus to the north of Manali . </P> <P> The valley has varied biodiversity, It has some of the rarest of animals like Himalayan tahr, western tragopan, monal and Himalayan brown bear . The Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) is also located here . The park was built in 1984 . It spreads over an area of 1,171 km (452 sq mi) which lies between an altitude of 1,500 to 6,000 m (4,900 to 19,700 ft). In order to protect the flora and fauna of this Himalayan area, many places are declared as wildlife sanctuaries, such as: Khokhan Sanctuary, Kais Sanctuary, Tirthan Sanctuary, Kanawar Sanctuary, Rupi Baba Sanctuary, Great Himalayan National Park and Van Vihar Manali . </P>

Who edited the vanshavali of the rajas of kullu princely state