--Select Destination-- Ladakh Zanskar Lahaul Spiti Kinnaur Kullu Manali Garhwal Kumaun -- Select Trip Category -- Trekking Climbing Mountain Biking Cultural tours --Kullu Manali-- Hamta pass 5 days chandratal lake 10 days Deo Tibba base camp Malana village 5 days Beas Kund trek Bara Banghal Bir trek Pin Parvati trek	MALANA VILLAGE TREK    5 days MALANA -A Lost Utopia In The Himalayas                                                              By DR. VIRENDRA BANGROO Below the Chanderkhani pass of the Kulu Valley lies a small cluster of around two hundred stone roof houses constituting a village called Malana.  Its inimitable culture and the temple of Jamlu distinguish the village.  The village consists of around 1500 inhabitants and has an impeccable system of administration with a higher and lower court guided by the spirit of village God Jamlu.  Malana stands out as an autonomous self-sufficient unit whose inhabitants claim Greek ancestry Some  stories about the village called "a little greece," This village in the interior of  the Himalayas is its architecture, language, worship rituals and autonomous administrative system.  The unique geographical location of Malana has enabled it to preserve its biodiversity and it is an ecological haven. Malana is connected to Kulu by three mountain passes - it can be reached from Parbati valley crossing over the 3180 metres Rashol Pass and via Nagar over the 3600 metres beautiful Chanderkhani pass.  The easiest way to reach Malana is from Jari, which is a 23 km picturesque trek to Malana.  Jari is two hours drive from Kulu and is situated at the confluence of the Malana and Manikaran nallah, which join to form the Parbati River. Jari is an entry point to Malana.  About 1.5 km from Jari is the Malana powerhouse and visitors have to register their names before entering the valley From the powerhouse to the dam is a 10 km trek and thereafter it is an uneven trek of 7 km to Malana.  The last 4 km stretch to Malana is treacherously uphill.  But the greenery all around with interceptions of waterfalls and streams make the climb bearable.  About 2 km from Malana powerhouse is Chowki, a small hamlet, and the only towering structure in the village is the Shiva temple.  This is the nearest village to Malana.  However, the people of Chowki have nothing in common with the Malanese. For the outsiders, there is a long list of do's and don'ts to be followed in the village.  The people are friendly but outsiders are told to keep distance and not to touch anything in the village. Malana is divided into two - upper Malana (Dhara Beda) and lower Malana (Sor Beda). Kanashi, the language of Malana, does not resemble any of the dialects spoken in its neighbourhood but seems to be a mixture of Sanskrit and several Tibetan dialects. Two important festivals are celebrated in Malana.  One called Badoh mela is celebrated in August and the other called Fagdi mela in February.   Total days: 05, trek days 5. Region: Malana & Parvati valley (Kullu) Himachal Pradesh. Best Season: Mid April to October end. Maximum elevation: 3660 mtrs. Photo Gallery Day 1: Drive Manali (2040m) to Naggar (1700m) & Trek to Rumsu ( 2377m). Day 2: Trek to Base of Chanderkhani Pass (3660m). Day 3: Trek to Chandrakhani pass (3660m) -  Malana (2650 m). Day 4: Trek to Rashol Pass ( 3180 m ) Rashol village (2590 m). Day 5: Trek to Kasol, drive to  Manikaran and back to Manali.   Cost Includes: All meals: bed tea, break fast, packed lunch, hot drinks, snacks, dinner. Staff: Guide, cook, helpers, trekking porters. All trek gear and accessories, Camp fee and national park fees. Transportation to and fro as per itinarary.  ___________________________________ Cost excludes: Sleeping bags, Alcohal, personal laundry, Personal insurance. Entrance fee at temple. Personal Tipping.   ITINARARY Day 1: Manali (2040 mtrs) -  Naggar (1700 mtrs) Rumsu ( 2377 mtrs ) . Drive 21 kms, trek 2-3 hrs. From Manali we drive 21 km to Naggar on the left bank of Beas river. Which presents spectacular sights of villages all along the way. At Naggar we visit Nicolas Roerich (Russian) art gallery and Naggar castle. And start trek at this point. Gentle climb through apple orchrds to lovely village of Rumsu. Overnight camp. Day 2: Rumsu - Base of Chanderkhani Pass (3660 mtrs),  trek 5  hours Today easy climb through forest of conifer to alpine meadows which offers a magnificient view Pir Panjal range and peaks rising above 6000 mtrs. Overnight camp. Day 3: Base of Chanderkhani  - Chandrakhani pass (3660 mtrs) -  Malana (2650 mtrs) 6/7 hrs. A lovely trail which leads to pass and offers splendid view of Dhauladhar range , Parvati valley and Malana valley. We descent to Malana which is steep. Overnight camp at Malana. Evening visit Malana villages and explore local life. Day 4: Malana -  Rashol Pass ( 3180 mtrs ) Rashol village (2590 mtrs) trek 5 hrs. A descent to Malana river, we cross by bridge and climb steadly to Rashol pass and enter in Parvati valley. Easy descent  until village of Rashol. Overnight camp. Day 5: Rashol  -  Kasol Manikaran Manali, trek 4 hrs. drive 90 kms. Today  we walk through forest of Deodar. Cross Parvati river before arriving at Kasol. We drive to visit Manikaran and its hots spring water and ancient temples and finally back to Manali . Overnight at hotel.	Rashol jot (pass)
Chandrakhani Pass 3660 mtrs.

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