About Mana Village
Mana Village is located approximately 3 kilometers from Badrinath in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, at an altitude of about 3,200 meters. Known as India's first or last village before the Indo-Tibetan border, this Himalayan settlement is home to the Bhotiya tribe and features ancient stone houses, mythological sites including Vyas Gufa and Ganesh Gufa, the Bhim Pul natural bridge, and the origin point of the Saraswati River.
Visitors guide
Visitors can explore traditional stone houses with carved wooden balconies, visit ancient caves associated with the Mahabharata epic, see the Bhim Pul natural stone bridge over the Saraswati gorge, witness the origin of the Saraswati River, and experience the last tea shop of India. The village offers trekking opportunities to Vasudhara Falls and other high-altitude destinations, surrounded by snow-capped peaks and alpine terrain.
Key highlights
- 01
Bhim Pul - natural stone bridge over Saraswati River gorge
- 02
Vyas Gufa - cave where sage Ved Vyas composed the Mahabharata
- 03
Ganesh Gufa - sacred cave temple
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Origin of Saraswati River
- 05
India's last tea shop
- 06
Traditional Bhotiya tribal culture and architecture
- 07
Gateway to treks including Vasudhara Falls and Satopanth Lake
History of Mana Village
According to Hindu mythology and the Mahabharata epic, Mana Village is believed to be the place from where the Pandavas began their final journey to heaven (Swargarohini). The village contains Vyas Gufa, a 5,000-year-old cave where sage Ved Vyas is said to have composed the Mahabharata with Lord Ganesha's assistance.
Culture & Context
Mana is home to the Bhotiya tribe, specifically the Marchha and Jad clans, who are a semi-nomadic Himalayan community with cultural connections to Tibet. The village preserves centuries-old traditions, traditional architecture with intricately carved wooden balconies, and serves as an important site in Hindu mythology related to the Mahabharata epic.
Route
| By air |
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