Malana - An Ancient Village Blog

Malana village.. a tiny little village in Himachal that needs no introduction. Separated bypasses on all sides.. this mountain top village is known to be one of the oldest human settlements while being isolated.

The main source of income for the malanese folk is exporting of Malana Cream. An extremely orthodox community with a rich history, rituals – it is an experience to learn of a place so secluded. Malana is a magical place overlooking the Deo Tibba and Chandrakhani Peaks. 

Rules for Tourists :-

1. Don’t get in physical contact with the villagers in Malana. While people are friendly, outsiders are not allowed to touch people here, without permission. So much so, the shopkeepers will ask you to keep the money on the counter, so refrain from physical contact.

2. Keeping in line with the above – if you are photographing villagers – it is best to seek permission. Well, you should seek it anywhere in the world.

3. Visitors are not allowed to use the local dialect – Kanashi. Further, visiting temples is also strictly prohibited. This prohibition may be to maintain the secrecy around their practices.

4. Police Intervention is not allowed. If you seek the help of the police – you’ll be fined.

5. Hunting of wild animals is not allowed without permission from the village council. Wood burning is also prohibited. Fixing nails on trees is banned as well. In short – respect mother nature.

Best time to visit :-

The best time to visit Malana village is either the summer months (April to July) or the post-monsoon months (September to November). However, the village is gorgeous no matter when you visit in the year.

A word of caution that the connectivity will be minimal or even non-existent in the harsh winter months due to the presence of snow. 

How to reach Malana :-

The most efficient way to reach Malana from Delhi(Gateway For Malana) is from Jari Village (17 Km). You can hire a cab from Jari to reach the end of the road. Then walk for 4 km to trail to Malana village from the endpoint.

By Train

The nearest railway station is Joginder Nagar railway station, 140 km away. Cabs/Taxis are available at the station for private hire as well as shared option. The journey will take you approximately 4 to 5 hours.

By Road

The total driving distance from Delhi to Jari Village or Malana is 550 km. It will take you a driving time of 13 to 15 hours. After crossing Chandigarh and entering the hills, you’ll be driving next to Beas river for a dominant part of your journey. It is a sight to behold as it is the same journey you take for a Delhi – Manali trip for the most part.

While the roads are in decent conditions for the most part – there is extensive tunneling work going on and the roads near Sundernagar and Mandi are quite bad.

 By bus or public transport

Many public transport buses leave ISBT Delhi or Majnu-Ka-Tilla, for an overnight journey to Kullu. Volvo/Mercedes buses will be available starting INR 1500 and An HRTC bus from Chandigarh will take you around 8-9 hours to reach Bhuntar, from where you can catch the next bus to your destination.

No public buses ply from Jari to Malana. However.. you can hire a private cab at Jari for the 23 km journey to the point where the road ends. Malana Power House is about 1.5 KMs from the journey, and foreign tourists have to register here at the police checkpost (Naka) before proceeding further.

The overall journey takes about 1.5 hours from Jari to the end of the road at the base of Malana village. After that, you will need to hike about 4 km. The hike is one of the easier treks of Himachal Pradesh, with laid out steps and should not be a concern at all.

Stay :-

 Most travelers tend to return to Jari or Kasol on the same day – there are a few basic Guest Houses available at Malana. Among all Malana hotels, Dragon House Cafe and Eagle Cafe & Guest House are a couple of options worthy of exploring.

Another great option is camping near the village and overlooking some crazy beautiful night skies. Many campsites are available. However, the rules for this keep fluctuating. So it is best to check with the locals, in Jari village, preferably, before making any concrete plans for camping.

Food :-

Fundamental food is available at Malana. You should keep in mind that these are extremely isolated locations, deep in the hills, and any expectation to have is too much. Whatever you get, you should happily consume as food is not a leisure item here, but sustenance.

You will find about half a dozen shacks splattered across the region, and the guesthouses also provide food. Near Jari, Hotel Negi’s Nest serves a widespread.

Sightseeing :-

• The Chanderkhani 
• The Deo Tibba Mountain 
• The Hampta Pass  
• The Great Himalayan National Park
•  Renuka Devi Shrine Temple 
• Jamadagni Temple

Few more things to know about Malana :-

• You can purchase Hashish.. But it illegal substances in India  and is not advisable. Also, you should not carry anything from the village as there are Police Nakas shortly after exiting the village.

• Malana is famous for its hashish known as Malana cream, a unique cultural heritage, and isolation from the world.

• There is a taxi union in Jari. For a small car, charges are Rs 800 (one way) and for SUVs, the charges are Rs 1300. (Approximate rate)

• Ideally.. 2-3 days sufficient to cover the village and nearby areas.

Feel free to mail me to hazraniladri1997@gmail.com for more information and sample itinerary.