Malana
An ancient village nestled away amidst the towering mountains of Himachal Pradesh, Malana is rather famous as the perfect holiday destination for hipsters. The location is surrounded by lush, green trees and incredible valleys, making it apt for those who love the nature in its truest essence. The village is bordered by Parvati valley on the north-east and Kullu valley on the other side with peaks of Cahndrakhani and Deotibba shadowing the tiny, paradise of India.
Apart from the natural beauty, Malana is also known for its unique lifestyle and social structure that the locals essentially follow. Their dressing sense, the kind of food they eat, the festivals they celebrate, the way those festivals are celebrated and more reflect the vibrant culture and tradition that is quite unique to the place. This perfect holiday destination is situated at a height of 2,652 meters i.e. approximately 8,701ft above the sea level. There is so much beauty underlying in this town that there are numerous documentaries made on this town, depicting the wonders that Malana encompasses. A few popular documentaries that interested readers can check out are: Malana: Globalization of a Himalayan Village and Malana, A lost identity.
The traditional language spoken in Malana is Kanashi. Apart from that, there is much history that lies behind the existence of this beautiful location. Local legends suggest, the revered sage namely Jamlu Rishi was a resident on this place and he has been given major credits for setting up the rules, traditions and culture among other regulations of Malana. Locals even claim that Malana reflects the world’s oldest democracies with a well-established parliamentary system as well. Malana is believed to have held immense respect during the pre-Aryan times.
Malana Packages
Malana FAQ's
Travel advice:
Before you go to any destination of which you do not have absolute knowledge make sure that you attain all the necessary information and then plan a visit. It is always good to have maps open in your mobile.
Do not venture the secluded areas all alone. If you are going to any zone that is risky or secluded, make sure you travel in a group.
Girls, please make sure that the clothes you wear are not skimpy or revealing.
Respect the values and the cultures of the locals residing here.
The food of the street vendors can be really delicious but make sure you do a thorough quality check before eating street food.
Drink only bottled drinking water. In case the seal is broken return it right away.
Buy water only from the brands that you know off.
Do not indulge in any physical or verbal brawls with the locals here.
It is good to learn few words from the local languages prevalent in this area.
Do not indulge in drugs of any form. You may come across individuals who seem like drug dealers, it is good and safe to keep away from them.
Do not carry tons of cash in your pocket.
Do not leave your valuables in the hotel room.
Carry with you at least one proof of identity.
Drinking laws
In Himachal Pradesh the drinking laws are not strict. The legal age for drinking is 18 years.
Things to do in Manala:
Take a walk by the river Parvati: This is among the must-have experiences in Manala. Parvati river that flows through Manala is perhaps one of the cleanest and the most beautiful rivers in the whole of India. There is no other experience that you will enjoy better than this. Take a nice, relaxing walk by the river Parvati or even indulge in exciting adventure activities such as camping, river rafting and many other water-sports made available by the agencies operating within the vicinity.
Go on a trekking trail to Kheer Ganga: Kheer Ganga is merely located a few kilometres away from Manala. If you are the kind that thrives on adventure and love yourself some great adrenaline pump then this is one activity you must take part in. There are several facilities that organize groups and take them through appropriate routes to Kheer Ganga. While you are on your way, you will discover the beauties of nature – the kind you may not experienced ever before.
Shopping spree at the local market: Another important, must-have experience in Manala is to shop at the local market of the place. You will find yourself with endless options of expansive, ethnic and hippie products – ranging all the way from clothings to food and furniture. Take a souvenir home for the sake of remembrance of this beautiful holiday destination.
What will you like in Manala:
Take a long walk to Tosh: Another popularly visited place by tourists who visit Manala is Tosh. The experience is greatly similar to the kind you will get at Manala but you must definitely tick this off your check-list. Maybe even go on a drive to Tosh and enjoy the clear skies. Stop on your way to sip on some good tea or coffee and feel one with the nature.
Try the Israeli food at a local stall: What better way to truly experience the essence of a certain holiday destination? Manala is sprawled with tiny, simplistic stalls that sell Israeli food for people. This may not be as good as the food served at high-end hotels and resorts, but it sure is something that you must try out at least once before you leave Manala. You won’t find yourself disappointed, that is assured.
Government website: Himachal Tourism
Others: Tourism of India
Books on Manala: Himachal Pradesh (Inside India), Perspectives on a Growth-Oriented Hill Economy: Himachal Pradesh
Newly Added Malana Experiences
Malana Reviews
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