Malana Village Trek
Kullu, Himachal Pradesh
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- Max altitude
- 2,652 m
- Days
- 1 day
- Distance
- 8 km
- Difficulty
- Easy
Short and non-technical, but not flat: from the roadhead near the Malana Hydro Power Project the path drops to the Malana river and then climbs steadily, mostly on stone steps, gaining roughly 500-750 m to the village at about 2,652 m. Operators quote about 4-4.5 km each way and 1.5-2 hours up.
Photos
On the trail
The route
Day by day
Day 1 · highest point
Malana Dam roadhead (drive from Kasol via Jari) → Malana village and back to the roadhead
1,900 m → 2,652 m → 1,900 m
Ups and downs
Altitude profile
Where it is
Map
Trailhead and high point only — not a recorded track. Use it with a proper map.
Weather
Next 5 days on the trail
Live forecast for the trailhead and the high point. Mountain weather changes fast — check again on the morning you start.
Trailhead · Malana Dam (Malana Hydro Power Project roadhead)
at 1,900 mLoading forecast…
High point · Malana village
at 2,652 mLoading forecast…
Each day: high / low °C · rain mm and chance · snow cm · wind km/h
Weather data: Open-Meteo.comModel forecast, not an official warning. For alerts follow IMD and the local administration.
Plan the trip
How to reach
- Trailhead
- Malana Dam (Malana Hydro Power Project roadhead) (nearest town: Jari)
- Nearest railway
- Chandigarh (broad gauge); the narrow-gauge Joginder Nagar station is closer but has few trains
- Nearest airport
- Bhuntar Airport (Kullu), about 31 km from Kasol
- By road
- Kasol to Jari (about 9 km on the Parvati valley road), then about 18-23 km of narrow mountain road from Jari to the roadhead near the Malana Hydro Power Project dam; Bhuntar to Jari by bus or taxi along the Parvati valley road
- Drive
- About 8 h from Chandigarh
Plan the trip
Permits and fees
We could not confirm the current permit rules and fees from an official source. Check with the local forest department or tourism office before you go.
Plan the trip
Cost
Self-guided
₹500–2,000
With an operator
₹2,500–17,000
Per person, ex-Kasol. Guided prices published October 2026: Himtrek lists a 2-day road trip and walk to Malana at ₹2,500 (struck-through list price ₹3,500) + 5% GST; Himalaya Shelter lists its one-day Malana Village Trek at ₹17,000 per person (it appears to be a private guided day with transport). Self-guided is an estimate: a taxi from Jari to the roadhead costs about ₹850 (small car) to ₹1,300 (SUV) one way per vehicle according to Travel Coffee, shared between passengers, plus the Kasol-Jari bus and food. There is no entry fee, but village fines of up to ₹3,500 apply for touching people, houses or the temple.
Gear
Top picks for this trek
The gear that matters most on this route, chosen from its altitude, season and risks.
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Packing checklist
Matched to this trek: altitude, season, days and the risks on the route.
Packed 0 of 23
Monsoon months (Jun, Sep): pack everything in plastic or a dry bag and wear shoes with good grip.
Tick each item as it goes in the bag.
Know before you go
Good to know
- Mobile network
- Very limited; BSNL may work in patches and there is no reliable internet in the Malana valley.
- Last ATM
- Kasol or Jari; Malana has no ATM and digital payments are rarely accepted, so carry cash.
- Nearest hospital
- No medical facility in Malana; nearest care in the Parvati valley towns and the hospitals at Kullu.
- Water
- Carry 1.5-2 litres from Jari; a few tea stalls and basic shops near the village entrance operate in season. Treat any stream water.
Highlights
- Malana, a self-governing village at about 2,652 m in the side valley of the Malana Nala, run by its own village council in the name of Jamlu Devta (Maharshi Jamadagni)
- Old wood-and-stone houses with carved balconies and the wooden Jamlu Devta temple, seen from the village path
- A steady climb on stone steps through forest and terraced fields, with views down the Malana glen and across to the Chandrakhani ridge
- An easy add-on to a stay in Kasol, Jari or elsewhere in the Parvati valley
Risks
- Village rules are enforced strictly: do not touch villagers, houses, walls, belongings or any part of the Jamlu Devta temple complex; outsiders may not enter the temple and fines of up to ₹3,500 are charged for purification. Money is placed on the ground, not handed over.
- Overnight stays inside the village have been banned by the village council since 2017 - plan a day visit and sleep in Jari, Kasol or outside the village boundary.
- Cannabis (charas) is illegal under Indian law (NDPS Act) even though Malana is known for it; do not buy, carry or use it.
- Photographs are generally allowed from the path, but ask before photographing people or the temple and put the camera away if asked.
- Foreign passport holders must register at the police check post (naka) near the Malana Power House, about 1.5 km into the walk; carry passport and visa.
- Monsoon (July-August): landslides on the Jari-Malana road and a muddy, slippery path with leeches in the lower sections.
- Winter (December-February): snow at village level can make the steps icy or block the path; only for walkers with proper gear.
- The stone steps are steep and sustained - hard on knees coming down; walk back before dark, as the road beyond Jari is unlit.
Know before you go
Questions
How long is the walk to Malana village?
Taxis from Jari go up to the roadhead near the Malana Hydro Power Project dam. From there operators and guides quote about 3-4.5 km to the village, gaining roughly 400-750 m, mostly on stone steps; most people take 1.5-2 hours up and a little less down. On some days vehicles can go a little higher, which shortens the walk.
Can I stay overnight in Malana?
No. The village council has banned overnight stays inside the main village since 2017. Day visits are allowed; stay in Jari, Kasol or at camps and guesthouses outside the village boundary and walk back before dark.
What are the rules for visitors in Malana?
Do not touch any villager, house, wall, belonging or the Jamlu Devta temple, and do not enter the temple. Breaking the rule brings a fine of up to ₹3,500 for purification. Keep to the path, place money on the ground when paying, and ask before taking photos of people or the temple.
Is there a walking trail from Kasol to Malana?
Not along the Parvati river. The practical route is by road from Kasol to Jari and up the Malana valley to the dam roadhead, then the short climb on foot. The longer walking route is over Chandrakhani Pass from Rumsu near Naggar, a separate multi-day trek.
Do I need a permit to visit Malana?
Indian visitors need no permit and there is no entry fee. Foreign passport holders must register at the police check post near the Malana Power House on the way up. Check locally for any new village or district rules before you go.
Is cannabis legal in Malana?
No. Production, sale and use of cannabis and charas are illegal under Indian law, and police cases are registered against sellers in the area. Do not buy or carry any.
In an emergency
Save these numbers before you lose signal. Tap to call.
- 112All emergenciesIndia’s single emergency number — works in every state
- 108Ambulance
- 1077District disaster control room
You are in
District: KulluHimachal Pradesh
- Nearest hospital
- No medical facility in Malana; nearest care in the Parvati valley towns and the hospitals at Kullu.
- Last ATM
- Kasol or Jari; Malana has no ATM and digital payments are rarely accepted, so carry cash.
- Phone network
- Very limited; BSNL may work in patches and there is no reliable internet in the Malana valley.
Before you set off
- Tell someone your route and when you will be back.
- Carry a charged phone and a power bank.
- Download an offline map of the route.
- Turn back if the weather turns bad — the mountain will wait.
Questions about Malana Village
No questions yet. Ask something and trekkers who have done it can answer.
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Where this comes from
Sources
Last reviewed:
- Malana Village Trek - One Day Hike — Himalaya Shelter
- Road Trip to Malana Trekking from Kasol — Himtrek
- Malana Village | No Touch Rule, Trek and Visitor Guide — Travel Coffee
- Kasol to Malana Trek Distance Guide — Trekgo
- 9 ways Cannabis Paradise Malana is Changing and How! — The Wild Cone
- Malana Trek: A Perfect Escape to the Himalayan Shangri-La — The Wild Cone
Photos: Greenpenguin3459, CC BY-SA 4.0; Ravi Raj Gupta, CC BY-SA 4.0; ArjunChhibber01, CC BY-SA 4.0
