A Remote High-Altitude Village at 3200 Metres, Just 3 km from Badrinath
Mana Village is the last inhabited Indian village before the Indo-Tibetan border, situated at 3200 metres, just 3 km from the Badrinath Temple in Chamoli district. Despite its remote location, Mana receives thousands of visitors who come as an extension of their Badrinath pilgrimage. The village has a population of about 500 Bhotiya tribal people, who traditionally had trade relations with Tibet.
Key attractions in Mana include the Vyas Gufa (cave where sage Vyas is said to have dictated the Mahabharata to Ganesha), the Ganesh Gufa, the Saraswati River (which disappears underground near Mana — believed to be the spot where the Saraswati meets the Alaknanda invisibly), and the natural rock bridge called Bheem Pul over the Saraswati River. The last tea shop and last dhaba "in India" signs are a major draw for tourists.
May to mid-October, same season as Badrinath. Village may be inaccessible in winter when residents migrate to lower areas. Best in May–June and September–October.
Nearest railway: Rishikesh (298 km). Taxi to Badrinath, then 3 km to Mana.
Bus to Badrinath, then walk/tempo to Mana village.
298 km from Rishikesh (10 hrs). 3 km from Badrinath — walk or local tempo.