Malana 5

Malana Trek: A Democratic “High”

“Are you Rajput?”… asked the old man.
We were barely half way through. Our city bred and pollution-fed constitutions were on the verge of breaking down. After three hours through steep wilderness and gradual realization of the folly of not carrying a water bottle, we’d finally located a wooden house with a living person at the doorstep. I personally expected the usual hospitality I often find in the hills. But all he was bothered about was whether the travellers belonged to the same caste as him. Although none of us were, Hilly said yes, went in and had water. I preferred to be less pragmatic and choose to wait for other options.

Myths, Rumours and things that must not be named:

Let me just go back in time a bit and reach a more conventional starting point. I was in the Parvati Valley with Hilly, who came to visit the hills all the way from Bombay (OK OK Mumbai!). The idea was to relax for a few days, mingle with the hippies and look for certain materials that this region is known for (but which must not be named). We were planning to use Kasol as the base but even before reaching there, we decided to do away with the Malana trek first. It seemed the more hectic part and so after this we expected to catch some well-deserved break at Kasol.

Now, there are many stories surrounding Malana. Some of them may be real and some others mere myths. According to the most popular myth, they were the remnants of Greeks who came with Alexander, just like the Kalash. I have not seen any conclusive studies proving the same. The people out there did have some hints of exotic genes in their looks, but I did not really notice any significant traits. Besides, they generally claim to be Rajputs.

The other popular story here is that of Malana being one of the oldest “democracies”. This is a more convincing one. Basically it used to be a secluded village until recently. They were never a part of any kingdom and never paid taxes even to the Brits. From what I understood, modern amenities have also reached the village fairly recently. New roads have made the approach a bit easier but it still takes several hours of trekking. Are they living fossils giving us a glimpse of the ancient pre-Mauryan republics? I do not know.

As for the stuff that must not be named, Malana is well known for cultivating the same. From random shepherds on the trek to village children higher up, everybody offered to sell us the same.

Choosing the Longer Path:

We were told that there are two approaches to the village. We were not sure about the availability of buses but we figured out that there are shared cars from Jari, a small settlement 10 kms before Kasol. We spent the night at an ancient wooden building turned a budget guesthouse at Jari. In the morning we found a car whose driver was already rolling a joint at 7 in the morning! Anyways, he gave us two options. The nearer entry point costs INR 300 per head but the trek from there are much longer and difficult. The other option would cost INR 500 per head but leave us at a point from where the trek is much shorter and well-marked with no obstacles. We chose the more difficult option. Whether it was due to our hard working nature or our poverty is anybody’s guess.

Not quite the spring:

The driver lit the rolled joint and started the car. He was generous enough to share the same and so the car as well as its passengers achieved various “altitudes” as we moved on. After around 30 minutes of driving, he suddenly stopped and pointed out to a narrow and steep path on the left side of the road. Some villagers had just descended through the same path. They told us that it will take around an hour. They seriously overestimated us!

It was March and the lower valleys were blooming with spring colours. But slightly higher reaches leading up to Malana were still dry and sleepy. We crossed the streams whose banks were lined with naked trees and grey rocks. Initial steep climb led to a flatter portion which again led to a steeper stretch. After around two hours, we met the aforementioned person. I thought we can quickly climb up the rest of the hill and get refreshments. But I was wrong!

The end of the road… almost!

As we climbed higher, traces of snow became visible. Winter was firmly on here. After some difficult climbing, we reached a spot where there was no path remaining. There was a stretch of very soft and slippery slope with thick snow (in fact it was brittle ice). It is in fact the same stream we had crossed earlier. At that height, the surface was not only frozen but almost vertically inclined. We could see the trail on the other side and a safer option was to climb down, cross the stream at a safer location and climb up again. But we were too tired for all that. We saw sheep and goats walk down those slopes effortlessly but weren’t sure if we could do the same. We hesitated and for some moments even considered giving up. But finally we just decided to take the risk. We had to literally crawl to avoid slipping and fall off several feet below. It was the riskiest 15 feets of our lives but we managed it!

At Malana:

After that crossing the path was clear. We met a few local women carrying (most probably) firewood. They pointed towards a transmission tower at the top and asked us to keep walking towards that. After a while, we finally reached the top and found that it was a completely different world. While we had seen scattered stretches of snow along the trek, the village was completely covered in thick snow altogether.
More importantly, we’d arrived from the wrong direction. Main village was on the other side of the plane and we still had to traverse some uncomfortable yards. I slipped several times and then finally stepped on some soft ice and started downing like one does in quicksand. Finally when I stopped, I was buried till my waist. I pulled myself out with my bare hands and the palms pained due to sheer connection with sub-zero material. Thankfully that sensation did not last long. It took half an hour just to cover those final yards and enter the village, only to find children asking whether we need “stuff”.
I gulped some of the ice flakes out of thirst. After meandering through the village for a while, one person asked what we were looking for (As it turned out he was also hoping to sell his “stuff”). But we were too exhausted, famished and thirsty for such fancy things and so asked him if there was any restaurant available.

Harish Thakur:


The man took us to a wooden hut that was completely buried in snow. A narrow hole was cut through several feet thick ice to uncover the door and enable people to enter. Inside it was mostly dark but there was Harish Thakur, our saviour of the day. He told us stories about his long tenure as a guide in the mountains. He is now settled here and runs this little shop. He made parathas with pickles and raw tomato chutney that I have encountered only in this region. We finally found proper drinking water too and of course there was thick milk tea to go with. We sat there for more than an hour replenishing ourselves.

Jamlu Rishi:

After the food, we felt better but it was time to leave. So we decided to take a short stroll around the village. The main deity here seemed to be Jamlu Rishi or Jamadagni, Parashuram’s father. Architecture of the wooden houses seemed unique but I lack the expertise to comment too much on the same. The temple however seemed newly constructed. We also noticed the famed signboards warning visitors against touching the villagers or photographing them. But I guess they are mostly lenient about these rules now.

The Descent:

We took the other route for our descent. There were no roadblocks here. Some other trekkers were coming towards the village, so it seemed to be the more popular route. It did not take much time and effort and at the end there was a shop by the side of the motorable road, further indicating that it was the main entrance used by travellers. We joined some other people on shared a car, thus paying only INR 200 per head and reached Jari before dark. We’d evacuated our rooms in the morning but had left our luggage at the guest house. So we collected the same and then took an evening bus to Kasol, which was 10 kms further up the valley. I’ll be back with that story in a day or two.

PS: Photos that feature me were clicked by Hilly.

Malana Travel Guide

Here is everything you need to know, in order to visit Malana, which involves some travel along the hilly roads and a short trek at the end.

parvati valley trekking map
Parvati Valley trekking map

What and where on Earth is Malana?

It is a secluded village situated somewhere in the Parvati Valley of Himachal Pradesh. Nearest major towns are Bhuntar and Kasol. Altitude is around 2600 meters according to my map and even 3000 meters according to some other sources.

Why is Malana Famous?

Its secluded nature is the reason for its fame. There are various myths regarding the origin of the people and they remained a secluded society for a long time without paying taxes to any of the rulers of India. They have unique language, culture, traditions and even unique genes if some myths are to be believed. More importantly, the area is famous for the high quality cannabis crops that naturally grow here. However, do note that it is not exactly legal and although people may approach you all the time ti sell it.

How to Reach Malana?

Malana is around 16 KMs from a small roadside village called Jari, and 22 KMs from Kasol. Jari is one the Bhunter-Kasol Road. Bhunter also has the airport, which serves Kullu-Manali, as well as Parvati region. From Jari or Kasol, you can find local cabs to take you to the trekking points of Malana.

Airports near Malana?

Bhunter airport is not far from here. It is the airport that serves Kullu district and is connected to Delhi. From there, you can find buses and cabs to go to various parts of Kasol/Parvati Valley.

Are there buses to Malana?

I have noticed a bus from Bhunter to Malana at the bus stand. It surely can’t go up to the village but it can also leave you at the beginning point of the trek at a negligible cost. However, I am not sure about the timing. You can ask around at the Bhunter bus stand. I have NOT seen any bus on the Kasol to Bhunter route.  (Try to spot the places in the MAP above to understand the routes).

Kasol to Malana

As you can see from the map above, from Kasol, you will have to come back to Jari and then take a detour to Malana. In fact, I think, it is better to do Malana first, and then go to Kasol the next day.

Hiring Cabs to Malana from Kasol or Jari?

You can get cabs from Kasol to Malana trekking point via Jari. But I guess that will cost a lot. So, I suggest you take a local bus and come down a few KMs to Jari, which is the maint taxi station for Malana. Even Jari to Malana dropping now costs INR 850 per car! It used to be much cheaper but the system has been unionized with the increasing tourist flow. It is now hard for solo and budget travellers. Your best option is to gather 4-5 people to share the costs.

Malana to Jari and Kasol return?

If you are not having your own vehicle or hiring a vehicle for the round trip (which can be really expensive), you come back to the road after visiting the village by repeateing the same trek. Tourist cabs wait there hoping for clients. You can also bargain here and can get it at a cheaper rate compared to the starting rates at Jari. But don’t wait until th eevening because in that case you may get stuck. Once I even got a lifet for free while coming back. Your primary goal is the return to Jari, because from Jari you will get the buses to Kasol.

Trek Routes to Malana

Eventually Malana is a trek. From where the cab or bus will drop you, you will have to do a short trek to the village. However,  here are actually two routes for the same.

Malana Short Trek from the Front

This is what most people do. This is the famous entry pont of Malana, whose photographs you may have seen before. It is around 16 KMs from Jari. From here, you first go down to the base of the river, cross a small bridge, and go up again to reach the village. It is a mostly easy 1.5 Kms trek and takes anything between 30 mins to 1 Hr depending on your stamina.

If you don’t specify, most cabs will also drop you here only.

Malana Long Trek from Back Side

Most people don’t know about this route but this is what we took. It is steeper and you emerge at Malana from the back side. The entry point is somewhere before the other point. Keep an eye on the left side of the road for this one as you may miss it if you drive past too fast. I felt it was at least 2-3 KMs and took 1.5 Hrs. However, we did it in March, when the route was still covered in snow. It may be easier in the summer.

Malana Village Trek Distance

The short and easy route is barely 1.5-2 KMs long. It involves a descent, followed by an ascent. The longer alternative route may be 2-2.5 KMs long but much steeper.

Malana Trekking Time

As mentioned before, the shorter route should take no more than an hour even for teh slowest trekker. The lesser-known, alternative route is steeper and longer, and can take up to 2 hours.

How difficult is the Malana trek?

The shorter route is pretty easy. Longer one from the back side is of moderate difficulty and at some points the path may be broken. Carry some water with you.

Where to Stay in Malana?

Earlier you could stay in the village. However, it was banned in 2017. So, now you can not have a night stay, although you can visit. However, you can stay in some of the shacks on teh route, just outsid the village, and also at nearby campsites in Waichin Valley. Read my post about Malana Tourist Restrictions for more details.

Are there any restaurants in Malana?

Yes, there are some basic eateries in Malana where you can rejuvenate yourself after the trek. So, food will not be a problem.

What is the best season for Malana?

It can be done all the time. It was March but was still under several feet deep snow. Later on I visited it once in June and it was green and clear. So, summers and post monsoon seasons will be nice. Avoid the slippery rainy season.

Malana Do’s and Don’ts

Be careful in Malana due to its eccentric customs and restrictions.

  • Do not touch the local people.
  • Be careful while photographing. You can click landscapes but ask permission before clicking local people or temples.
  • In general be respectful during the interaction with the locals.

What else can one do at Malana?

One can go to something called “Magic Valley” (Mozik Valley) and Waichin Valley, which is another pristine meadow a few KMs ahead of Malana along the same route. If you have time, you can also trek over the Chadrakhani Pass and move over to the other side and reach Naggar. But you will need guides and equipment for the trek. It is also possible to trek to Rashol, another high village in the valley. But we trekked to Rashol separately from Kasol a couple of days later.

Read the Parvati Valley Travel Guide for more details about this region.

 

Jitaditya Narzary

60 thoughts on “Malana Trek: A Democratic “High””

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  3. Sanchari Bhattacharya

    hello again

    i am a little confused..
    the longer route is the safer one? or the one where you encountered the frozen stream?

    also, is having a guide necessary? or are the paths more or less self explanatory if one has a moderate sense of direction? 😐
    thanks 🙂

    1. Thanks for your comment Sanchari…
      There are two paths… shorter one is quite simple… the longer one that we took may offer you a few challenges but you will always find some local villager to ask…

  4. Hello Man it appears as one hell of a experience too impress with that!!!!
    We too are planning to go there in sep end It would be a kind off you if we could get some local contacts there
    Thank you in advance really appreciate your hard work man!

    1. I don’t really have local contacts as I did not spend the night there… Ask for the restaurant of Harish Thakur… he should be helpful eno8ugh in case you need anything…

      1. Sumedha Mukherjee

        Hi, I have been to Kasol and surroundings..I plan to tour malana during this march end…can you please tell me if it is possible for a group of 12 people to stay at malana for the night?? I mean if proper accommodation is available because we really want to spend the night in malana… please reply

        1. Hi,
          I went there last March and it was still half buried in snow. So, I am not sure if all the facilities will be fully functional.

          So, I suggest you go early in the morning so that you have time to be back, in case you do find a place.

  5. pankaj sethi

    Hi, I am planning solo backpacker in the month of feb mid, could you please suggest me the shorter trek rout name for malana from jari.

    Also if you have any contact number and name of the locals, as i want accommodation in malana for a night.

    you can even pass me details on [email protected]

    thanks will look forward for your kind advise.

  6. Kapil sharma

    Hii!! I am planning to visit malana on 18th of march 2016with a group of 4to5 people.so,first tell me about the weather condition of that time? And please tell me how to reach malana from kasol?? Plese help me out asap… Thanks.

    1. Hi,

      It will be cold and the village will be buried in snow as you can see from this travelogue which was also done in March. Buses are not there or are rare in this route. You will get shared car from Kasol to the trekking point.

      1. Hii, i want to ask one thing more that how much time it will take to reach from kasol to jari? And instead of going to kasol can we stay in jari is there any good resort or something will be possible or not to stay for a night so that we can leave for trek on next morning?? Thanks…

  7. Its informative…but we two friends wanted to go for 3day treck packages where we need a guide..do u kno how much they charge for such treks?nd where can i get the guides? Its my 1st time of trekking..fingers crossed….thanks

    1. You will find guides in Kasol town as far as I know… although I do not think you need them for small day treks… I know for the first time you will have doubts but the anxiety is also a part of the game…

  8. Hi Jitaditya,

    Thanks for the details bro, wanted to knw a couple of thing:

    – Kheerganga trek – where to start from and how much time would it take.

    – Rashol trek – whr to start and time thatbit will take.

    Thanks

    1. Hi,

      Rashol trek starts from Kasol itself. If you know Chalal, then it is the same route, you just keep going upwards. You can return on the same day. (I also have a travelogue on it, have you seen it?)

      Kheerganga starts a bit ahead of Kasol. I have not done it but I think you get bus till Barsheni and then start it. You can stay there at night and come down the next day.

  9. Hi
    Am planning for kasol and malana trekking. My plan is to stay a night in malana. Can I have the phone number of guest houses or hotel in Malana. Also suggest me route from manali to kasol n then malana.

  10. Avishek Dutta

    Hey can you exactly mail me the info about that thing in malana and some other travelling routes for tosh! Actually we are 6 plnng for kasol malana and tosh trekk motorable or Whatever options u may suggest! Please mail me ASAP. We are planning it on end of june!
    [email protected]
    Please mail Asap..

  11. I hope there is no problem in getting back some souvenir from malana..if you know what I mean….are there cops waiting outside of malana!?

  12. Hey Jitaditya, amazing blog. im so excited to go to kasol now. Ok so first things first….is June 20th to 30th a good time to be there? can i go tenting all around Kasol and Malana, is it safe to stay in our own Tents there ? v are around 4 of us.
    and please tell me the sequence of going to places, as in from Kasol- kheerganga- Malana- Parvati Valley-Manikaran Sahib ???? please help me sequence these places.

    Thank you, waiting for your earliest replies.

    1. Yes you can stay in Tents but beware of the rains…
      Stay in Kasol-Chalal for a couple of days and do Malana as well as Rashol trek…

      Then move ahead and visit Manikaran for a couple of hours. Then move further to Barshaini and make a small trek to Kalga. From kalga you can go to Kheeganga the next day. The road to Tosh also starts from Barsheini.

  13. Bro..want to ask you a really needy ques.Tell me the interfernce of police checking around malana and bhunter.

  14. Loved reading this. I asked my friend from Delhi if he had been to Malana before because I will be in India for 3 weeks in January and he said he had never heard of it. I guess the local population still love the mysticism of it all?

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  16. Wow. I am very impressed that you guys finished that 2-5 hour hike. Looks intense. The view is amazing thoughand I think it’s reallycool that this might be the oldest democracy. I would have to pass on the styff that must not be named though. Not my rthing but great article.

  17. I’ve hiked longer hikes before but never in the snow so imagine it would be much more difficult and challenging, very rewarding experience though especially at the top!

  18. Anja / Womanhattan

    It is so interesting to read about other people’s adventures that I would never probably engage in myself. The hike really looks hard, I am not sure I would dare to try.
    Great photos!

  19. Wow! This seriously sounds like an incredible, one-of-a-kind experience! I’m also impressed by how easily mountain goats can scale cliffs and steep mountainsides, and just run freely.

  20. It’s crazy because the Malana trek looks so similar to the area I live in, even though it’s half way around the world. It blows me away! Looked like it was a beautiful hike!

  21. Shane Prather

    I believe this is my first time to your corner of the interwebs but I was blown away! Comprehensive post with beautiful storytelling and imagery!

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