Many of us love the mountains, and some of us like the adrenaline rush that climbing peaks give us. We make annual treks like a pious pilgrim. Some of us are into mountain biking, and some just like the hills to cozy up and read. And Mana has something to offer to all of us.
It is the last Indian village on the road that leads to Indo-China border. And you have to visit this, not only to check off a milestone but also because it has many mesmerising sights to offer.
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It takes less than an hour on a well-built tarmac road from Badrinath to reach here. As you enter Mana, the gate to the village proudly announces ‘The Last Indian Village’. The air is rendered mystical by the mix of raw beauty with modern necessities. Mountain dogs frolic outside army camps. The line of military tents below the rugged mountain peaks reminds us that we cannot avert our eyes from the necessary evils of today.
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But you will be soothed by the sound of the gushing Saraswati river. When you talk to the village urchins, they regale you with tales from the Mahabharata, which form the core of the stories they have heard growing up. No wonder, the epic forms the core of village narrative here, as Mana boasts of Vyas Gufa, the cave where Ved Vyas compiled the four Vedas and narrated Mahabharata for the first time.
You can also sit by the banks of the mystical Saraswati, that emerges only 100 meters after the village, and merges with Alaknanda in the village. The site by the river bank, sitting as the river gushes, surrounded by the raw natural beauty of the mountains, is worth traversing the long distance to reach this isolated village.
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Trekkers can also enjoy the off beats trails around the village like the Swargarohini, Satopanth Lake and Vasudhara Falls. Even many bikers make it a special trip to ride the Mana pass.
You can also sip tea at India’s last tea shop. But besides this spot, you must try the special green tea in the village, which is a blessing for tea lovers and health freaks. It is better to find accommodation at Joshimath, and visit Mana from here.
So, if you want some offbeat adventure beyond the crowded Valley of Flowers, head to Mana for a day.
