Mana village — India's last village before the Tibet border

Mana is a small settlement in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, perched at 3,219 m (10,560 ft) on the banks of the Saraswati river. It sits roughly 3 km north of the Badrinath temple — a 10-minute drive or a 35-minute walk along the Alaknanda valley.

For decades, a painted signboard at the village entrance read "Last Indian Village." In October 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Mana and said that border villages are India's first villages, not its last. By April 2023, the sign was officially changed to "First Village of India" under the central government's Vibrant Village Programme, which aims to develop settlements along the Line of Actual Control.

The village is roughly 24 km from the Indo-Tibet (China) border via the Mana Pass (5,545 m), one of the highest motorable passes in the world. The pass is restricted — only the Indian Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) use it to supply forward posts. Civilians cannot cross it.

Is Mana actually India's last village?

This is a common question, because Chitkul in Himachal Pradesh's Kinnaur Valley also claims the title. The distinction is straightforward:

Mana carries the official government designation as the first (formerly last) village of India, specifically on the Indo-China border in Uttarakhand.

Chitkul (3,450 m) is the last permanently inhabited village on the old Indo-Tibet road in Kinnaur, near the Hindustan-Tibet Highway.

Both claims are valid in their own geographic context. Mana is the last settlement before the border in the Chamoli sector; Chitkul is the last in the Kinnaur sector. India has a long northern border and multiple "last villages" depending on which valley you are in.

Bhim Pul (Bhima's Bridge)

A massive natural rock slab spanning the Saraswati gorge, roughly 200 m into the village from the main lane. According to the Mahabharata, Bhima — the strongest of the five Pandava brothers — placed this boulder so that Draupadi could cross the river on their final journey toward heaven (the Swargarohini route). The roar of the Saraswati below is genuinely powerful. This is the single most visited spot in Mana.

Vyas Gufa (Vyasa's Cave)

A small cave temple about 150 m from Bhim Pul where the sage Veda Vyasa is believed to have composed the Mahabharata. According to tradition, Vyasa dictated the epic to Lord Ganesha, who wrote it down in the adjacent cave. The cave's layered rock ceiling resembles stacked palm-leaf manuscripts — locals call this formation "Vyas Pothi" (Vyasa's book). The cave is modest in size but the mythological weight makes it one of the more affecting stops in the region.

Ganesh Gufa

About 200 m from Vyas Gufa, this natural rock formation is where Ganesha is said to have served as Vyasa's scribe. A Ganesh idol sits inside. It is quieter and less crowded than Vyas Gufa, and worth the short walk.

Saraswati River origin point

The Saraswati — the river that Vedic texts say flows mostly underground before joining the Ganga and Yamuna at Prayagraj — emerges visibly from a rocky crevice near Bhim Pul. Mana is one of the very few places where you can see this mythologically significant river in its physical form. A small Saraswati temple marks the spot.

Vasudhara Falls (6 km trek from Mana)

A 120-metre (400 ft) waterfall fed by snowmelt, considered sacred. The trek starts from Mana village and covers roughly 6 km one way. See the dedicated section below.

Distance: 6 km from Mana village (approximately 9 km from Badrinath)

Duration: 2 to 3 hours one way, depending on fitness and weather

Elevation: From roughly 3,219 m at Mana to around 3,600 m at the falls

Difficulty: Moderate — the first 2-3 km along the Alaknanda meadows are flat and easy; the trail steepens and becomes rocky after the Saraswati temple

Season: Mid-May to October (same as Badrinath temple opening)

What to expect

The first half of the trail passes through alpine meadows with views of snow-capped peaks on either side. After crossing a small bridge, the path narrows and climbs through boulders and scree. The final approach to the falls is across a rocky moraine.

Vasudhara Falls drops approximately 120 m in multiple thin streams. On windy days the water disperses into mist before it reaches the ground, creating an effect where the spray seems to "choose" whom it touches. Local belief holds that only the pure-hearted feel the water — a charming story, though the wind patterns are the more likely explanation.

Practical notes for the trek

There are no shops, tea stalls, or water sources along the trail. Carry at least 1.5 litres of water and some snacks.

Wear proper trekking shoes — the second half has loose rocks and can be slippery after rain.

Start early (before 8 am) to avoid afternoon clouds that obscure the falls.

The trail is not marked. It is straightforward in clear weather but can be confusing in fog. Consider hiring a local guide from Mana (around 500-800 rupees).

There is no mobile network on most of the trail.

Mana's permanent residents belong to the Bhotiya tribe, specifically the Marchha (also spelled Marcha) clan. The Bhotiyas of Uttarakhand are divided into seven major groups — Johari, Darmiya, Chaudansi, Byansi, Marchha, Tolchha, and Jadh. The Marchha Bhotiyas have inhabited the Mana valley for centuries.

Their ancestry traces back to Mongol and Tibetan roots, and they historically made their living through cross-border trade with Tibet via the Mana Pass. They would spend summers in the high villages trading wool, salt, and borax, then descend to the lower Chamoli region for winter — a semi-nomadic pattern called transhumance.

The 1962 Sino-Indian war closed the Indo-Tibet border and ended this centuries-old trade. Limited cross-border commerce resumed in the early 1990s under government regulation, but the trade is a fraction of what it was. Today the Marchha Bhotiyas earn through medicinal and aromatic plant collection, wool weaving, and increasingly, tourism.

The women of Mana run a wool cooperative, selling hand-knit socks, gloves, caps, and shawls from stalls along the main lane. Prices are fixed by the cooperative — a pair of thick woollen socks costs 150-250 rupees. These are warm, practical, and genuinely made in the village.

The entire village migrates to lower elevations (typically around Chamoli or Gopeshwar) from November through April, when Mana is buried under heavy snow and temperatures can drop to minus 17 degrees Celsius.

Mana is 3 km north of the Badrinath temple. You have three options:

Walk — 30-40 minutes on a mostly flat road along the Alaknanda. Pleasant in good weather and the most common way to get there.

Shared jeep — Small vehicles run from near the Badrinath temple when full. 20-30 rupees per seat. Service is informal and depends on demand.

Private taxi — If you are hiring a taxi from Joshimath to Badrinath, ask your driver to include Mana in the trip. A round-trip Joshimath to Badrinath plus Mana typically costs 2,500-3,200 rupees for a Bolero or Innova (2026 rates).

Plan two to three hours in Mana for a comfortable visit covering all the village sights. Add another four to five hours if you intend to trek to Vasudhara Falls and back.

Mana is accessible only when the Badrinath temple is open, typically early May through the first week of November. The exact dates are set each year by the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee based on the Hindu calendar.

The sweet spot is late May to mid-June or September. Avoid July-August if you can — the monsoon makes the Vasudhara trek risky and the road from Joshimath to Badrinath is prone to landslides.

Food: Several small dhabas and tea stalls operate in Mana during the season, serving dal-rice, sabzi, parathas, Maggi, and chai. Expect to spend 150-300 rupees per meal. The tea stall past Bhim Pul calls itself India's last chai shop — it genuinely might be.

Accommodation: There are no hotels in Mana. A few informal homestays operate during peak season (roughly 500-800 rupees per night for a basic room with shared facilities). Most visitors stay in Badrinath and day-trip to Mana. The GMVN Tourist Rest House in Badrinath is the most reliable option — book ahead during peak season.

Mobile network: BSNL has patchy coverage in Mana. Jio and Airtel work in Badrinath but signal drops in Mana and disappears entirely on the Vasudhara trail.

ATM and cash: There is no ATM in Mana. The nearest ATMs are in Badrinath (one SBI ATM, often out of cash) and Joshimath. Carry sufficient cash.

Medical facilities: None in Mana. The nearest medical help is at the GMVN complex in Badrinath or the district hospital in Joshimath (45 km south).

Permits: Indian citizens need no permit to visit Mana or trek to Vasudhara Falls. Foreign nationals should check current Inner Line Permit requirements with the District Magistrate's office in Chamoli, as rules are revised periodically. Areas beyond Mana toward the Mana Pass are restricted military zones requiring NOC from the Army and ITBP.

Is Mana village safe to visit?

Is Mana the last village of India or the first?

How long does a visit to Mana take?

Can I stay overnight in Mana village?

What is the altitude of Mana village?

How difficult is the Vasudhara Falls trek?

Do I need a permit to visit Mana?

How to reach Badrinath from Rishikesh

Badrinath temple — complete visitor guide

Rishikesh to Badrinath by taxi