Malana Village is a Himalayan hamlet perched at around 8700 feet that claims to be one of the world’s oldest living democracies. The tourist footfall in the now-famous Parvati valley has increased exponentially over the years due to three primary factors: improved road connectivity, new trekking trails, natural beauty, and high-quality Hashish. (Please note that possessing and consuming hash in India is illegal, so avoid engaging in such unlawful activities because you could be arrested.)
The high-quality Hashish known as “Malana Cream” brought the ancient village of Malana into the spotlight. It gets a lot of attention due to it and its strange rules. The area around Malana is ideal for growing cannabis, which is why it became a cash crop for the villagers because no other crops can develop due to the region’s geography.
The road connection until the Malana gate made it even more accessible, as it would have taken days to get to the village otherwise. more and more people began to visit this remote village, some searching for high-quality Hashish, others for its natural scenic vistas and beautiful unexplored trails, and others for the village’s unique but shocking history and rules.
But don’t let the infamous stereotypes about Malana on the internet fool you: the region around Malana is one of the best places in the country for hiking and trekking. Yes, most of them are somewhat accurate, but the region’s natural beauty is also unparalleled.
About Malana Village
Malana is a historical village in the Himachal Pradesh state. The village is located about 85 kilometers from Manali, 238 kilometers from Shimla, and 520 kilometers from Delhi. It is one of Himachal’s most talked-about villages, with an elevation of 2,652 meters (8,701 feet), and has been the subject of several documentaries due to its customs and traditions. Continue reading to learn more.
Malana Village History
Residents of Malana claim it to be one of the world’s oldest democracies. The villagers believe they are the only pure Aryan race descendants of Alexander the Great’s soldiers.
Jamlu Devta is the Village supreme deity, no decisions, rules, or regulations are made without approval. Jamlu rishi, according to legend, lived in this village and devised the rules and regulations for this ancient settlement.
They do not speak the Malana Kullu dialect, a standard mountain dialect. They have their dialect, Kanashi, which almost no one in the Kullu valley understands. Kanashi is not spoken by outsiders; only Malana residents are allowed to do so.
The hydroelectric project brought development in the form of roads; the village had minimal contact with the outside world. The newly constructed roads made life easier for the villagers and attracted a large number of tourists and visitors in search of the fabled Malana cream. Because the region is very conducive to cannabis plant growth, a word about the Hashish spread long before roads were built, and it became world-famous.
Malana Village has its own set of rules.
The eccentric rules of Malana are one of the reasons why it is on every traveler’s list of places to visit in Parvati Valley. To avoid disturbing the peace and preserve the sanctity of this village, I advise everyone to follow the rules strictly.
Do not contact the villagers or anything else in the village. You can’t touch the residents of this village, as strange as that may sound. If you break this rule, you’ll have to pay a hefty INR 3000.
Outsiders do not have permission to enter the temple. You can’t even touch anything in the village, let alone get a peek inside the temple.
Outsiders are not permitted to enter the Jamlu Devta temple. Failure to follow this rule will result in a fine of INR 3000.
You do not have permission to remain in the village. Malana is now only accessible by day trip.
No police intervention is possible. Malana has its own rules, so the villagers do not entertain police officers. A problem has to resolve, the villagers seek advice from Jamlu Devta, who has the final say in all village matters.
Before photographing anything or anyone in the village, you must first obtain permission.
The police don’t permit you to enter, you cannot seek their assistance or accompany them. You can find if you do so. If you need help with anything, you should contact the village council.
Without the permission of the village council, wild hunting animals is prohibited.
You are not permitted to burn wood in or around the village.
It’s also forbidden to hammer nails into trees.
How to reach Malana?
Compared to previous years, when there were no roads and one had to trek for hours or days to reach the village, getting to Malana has become much more manageable. Despite the road connections, Malana is still only accessible by foot. The only difference is that the trek is now only a couple of hours long.
I’ll assume you’re coming from Delhi to explain the route. Even if you’re coming from another city, the information below can still assist you in determining the best way to Malana village.
You can only get to Malana Gate by road, regardless of your mode of transportation. You’ll have to walk the final leg of your journey uphill to Malana Village.
One can reach Malana by road from Delhi.
It’s simple to get to Malana from Delhi or Chandigarh by self-driving car or motorcycle. The road to Parvati Valley diverges from Bhuntar, while most of the journey is on the Chandigarh-Manali national highway. The road splits again when you get to Jari from Bhuntar; one branch leads to Kasol, while the other leads to Malana gate.
The following is a map of the journey’s route.
Delhi – Karnal – Ambala – Chandigarh – Bilaspur – Sundernagar – Mandi – Aut – Bhuntar – Jari – Malana Gate
The distance between Delhi and Malana gate is approximately 525 kilometers, while the distance between Chandigarh and Malana gate is around 293 kilometers. While the distance between Kasol and Malana gate is 22 kilometers, the distance between Manali and Malana is about 84 kilometers.
Due to the amount of trekking involved, the journey from Delhi to Malana cannot complete in a single day. It would help if you also considered that you would be walking down the same day. As a result, the best way to begin the journey is to travel to Kasol or Tosh and spend the night there. You can take a day trip to Malana the next day.
What is the best way to get to Malana by bus?
To get to Malana, you must first travel to Bhuntar, easily accessible from Delhi or Chandigarh. To get to Bhuntar, you must take a bus bound for Manali. You can board one of the many HRTC and private Volvo and ordinary buses that depart from ISBT Kashmere gate in the evening and arrive in Bhuntar the following day.
It would help if you traveled from Bhuntar to Jari, easily accessible by local buses that frequently run between Bhuntar and Kasol and vice versa. If you don’t want to take the bus, you can hire a private taxi, which is a good option for traveling in a group because it will take you straight to Malana. However, solo and budget travelers can take a local bus and get off at Jari, where the road to Malana diverges.
Malana can only reach on foot, so the trek to Malana village begins at the Malana gate. The only way to get to the Malana gate from Jari is to hire a cab at a fixed rate of INR 700. To get to Jari, take a local bus from either Bhuntar or Kasol at any time of day. There are no buses from Jari to Malana gate, so you’ll have to find other people to share a cab with; otherwise, getting to the gate will be expensive.
F&Q’s Malana Village
What is Malana famous for?
Malana is known for its “Malana Cream,” a cannabis-based product produced in the Parvati valley. Malana cream is thought to be a high-purity hash.
Can we stay in Malana?
There are no lodging options in Malana because tourists are not permitted to enter the village. There are many places to stay in the Malana area, but none of them are in this area, so keep that in mind.
Can we touch people in Malana?
It is located near the Malana River and is cut off from the rest of the world. Outsiders are not allowed to touch anyone or anything in Malana, earning it the nickname “the village of taboos.”
What is the story of Malana?
According to legend, the people of Malana are descended from Aryans, and they gained their independence during the Mughal reign when Emperor Akbar walked to the village to cure an ailment he was suffering from. After being successfully cured, he issued a proclamation declaring that all the people of Malana belonged to him.
Is hash legal in Malana?
Though hashish is known as bhang in Himachal Pradesh, malana creme cultivation and consumption are illegal in India. It’s made from cannabis plant resin, and it’s usually extracted by rubbing fresh cannabis leaves with your hands.
