Village · Badrinath & Mana, Garhwal
Mana village walk to Vyas Gufa and Bhim Pul
Wander the stone lanes of Mana, a Bhotiya village 3 km beyond Badrinath at about 3,200 m, then climb to the cave shrines of Vyas Gufa and Ganesh Gufa and down to the rock bridge of Bhim Pul over the roaring Saraswati.
Photo: Deepak 13 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · CommonsMana is home to about 1,200 people of the Marchha and Jad Bhotiya clans, who lived for centuries by trading with Tibet across the Mana Pass. Since the pass closed in the early 1950s, they have turned to farming potatoes and buckwheat, herding, weaving and, increasingly, pilgrims. Every winter the entire village moves down to lower valleys near Chamoli and Gopeshwar, returning when Badrinath reopens.
From the taxi stand, lanes climb between houses of stone and timber where women sit knitting caps, socks and shawls for sale. Above the village, a few minutes' climb, is Vyas Gufa, a small cave with a roof of layered rock said to look like the pages of a book; tradition holds that Vyasa composed the Mahabharata here, with Ganesh as his scribe at nearby Ganesh Gufa.
Below the village, the Saraswati river crashes through a narrow gorge beneath Bhim Pul, a single huge rock that bridges it. Legend says Bhima threw it across so Draupadi could cross on the Pandavas' last journey. Walk gently, buy woollens directly from the women who make them, and ask before photographing residents. The village is close to the border; follow any instructions from army or police posts.
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Photo: Anubha khare · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Tapt Kund dip and Badrinath darshan
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Photo: Gouravmsh · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Commons
Walk to Vasudhara Falls from Mana
A stony trail of about 5 km from Mana past the Saraswati temple and up the Alaknanda valley to Vasudhara, a slender wat…
Trips through Badrinath & Mana
Do this on a trip
Each of these trips stops in Badrinath & Mana. Tell us and we keep a slot for this day.
Photo: McKay Savage from London, UK · CC BY 2.0 · Commons
Comfort
Kedarnath, Tungnath and Badrinath by car
Private car with driver
Photo: McKay Savage from London, UK · CC BY 2.0 · Commons
Saver
Valley of Flowers and Hemkund by bus
UTC and GMOU buses, shared jeeps and walking
Sleep nearby
Stays in Badrinath & Mana
Questions
Before you book
Why is Mana called the first village of India?
Mana was long signposted as the last Indian village on the road towards the Tibet border. In recent years the signboards were changed to call it the first village of India. It is about 26 km from the border, and it is the last settlement before the Mana Pass.
Do I need a permit to visit Mana village?
No permit is needed for Indian visitors to Mana village, Vyas Gufa, Bhim Pul or Vasudhara. Foreign visitors should carry passports. Going beyond Mana towards the pass requires special permission. Rules can change; check current status before you travel.
What can I buy in Mana?
Hand-knitted woollen caps, socks, gloves and shawls made in the village, along with local rajma, herbs and tea at the shops. Buy from the women who knit them, and pay the asking price, which is usually modest.