by For those who frequent Himachal Pradesh, Manali no longer generates those vibes. The town has become crowded to the extent that it now snows only in inches! To make the most of your trip, consider an offbeat location near Manali. Yes, this is Jana village Manali, near Naggar, which will provide you with a true insight into Himachali culture and traditions.
So, the next question that would come to your mind shall be, “Why should we visit the Jana village Manali?”
Well, to be honest, if you are happy watching snow-clad peaks from far away and clicking photos for Instagram, perhaps Manali would suffice. However, for those who have an interest in understanding the culture of rural Himachal or understanding the art and architecture of Kullu Valley in general and Kathkuni-style homes in particular, Jana village Kullu would provide worthy insights.
Different colors of nature would be evident in Jana village, and you shall get a true reflection of what Devbhoomi Himachal Pradesh is.
Image courtesy: Shreyasee Shinde
Geography & Accessibility
Jana village Manali, is around 36 km from Kullu and 33 km from Manali. Naggar is the nearest place from which you can make a diversion to Jana. The distance of Jana village Manali, from Naggar is 14 km. So, next time you are in Naggar, after making a trip to the famed Naggar Castle, you can head to Jana Village Himachal Pradesh.
In case you are a backpacker like me and are dependent on public modes of transport, the first bus from Naggar to Jana leaves at 9:00 AM in the morning, the second one is around 2:30 PM, and the last one is at 4:00 PM.
Jana Village Manali
As you reach the bus stop of Jana Village Manali, you will be greeted by a chicken shop that also offers momos and other traditional delicacies to locals and visitors alike. Well, you can also call it the restaurant of Jana village.
Gulping the Maggi down your throat, you will have an exclusive first view of Jana village from the wooden window of this shop. It is not an exaggeration to say that you shall be left bewildered by the first view of Jana Village, which has around 250 houses. Over 80 percent of these have been built in traditional Kathkuni architecture and are 150-200 years old.
On the way to the Jana village Manali, you will come across hordes of villagers who are taking their cows for grazing to the nearby Jana waterfall. What surprised me more was the fact that the villagers came back home after leaving the animals to graze. It is only during evening hours that they go back to bring them. What an exciting way of leading life, isn’t it!
On the way to Jana Village Himachal Pradesh, I saw agricultural fields having maize and cabbage growing. In addition, this region is also known for rajmah cultivation, and while coming back, you can get a bagful of the same too from the ever-welcoming villagers.
During interaction with locals in Jana village Manali, I found that the temple in the middle of the village, which has been artistically designed in Kathkuni style, is dedicated to Jivnarayan Devta, who is the deity of Jana village. Just a few steps away from the main temple is a separate enclosure that has temple belongings kept in safe confines.
The new temple was built on the remains of the old one in 2019, though the traditional temple is said to be more than 2000 years old.
While passing through the Jana village Manali, I found that the entire village is connected through small bylanes. You will find a similar design in all the villages since this region has two to three feet of snow in the winters.
In all houses that have been traditionally designed, you will find that the ground floor is kept for animals while people stay on the upper floors. Again, a fact common in all villages of upper Himachal.
Some of the houses also have a small window inside, where honeycombs are established. Twice a year, honey is extracted from the same. Most of the houses in Jana village have slate roofs, which are known as kod in the local language.
Standing atop one such old house, I saw fields of garlic, cabbage, and potatoes all around, which are cash crops for villagers apart from apples, which grow abundantly here.
The traditional fair is also held in Jana village during January and February, and if you wish to explore the cultural aspect of Jana village, a visit during these months is highly recommended. In addition, while wandering through the village, you will also find some people engaged in shawl weaving, which is done in a truly traditional style.
Cultural Heritage of Jana Village Manali
Lord Jivnarayan advised residents of Jana and neighboring village Barha Gaon to collectively fight a demon serpent who had made the lives miserable for residents in earlier days. They did so and thus lived happily.
As a mark of respect to Lord Jivnarayan, who is the presiding deity in this village, a fair is held in January every year. This would be perhaps the best time to visit Jana village Himachal Pradesh, as you will get a unique insight into the cultural richness of this village.
Jana Waterfall and Red Rice
Besides the village, you should also visit the Jana waterfall, which has gained popularity among visitors. This waterfall can be reached through a short trek from the village. Besides enjoying nature, you can also relish the traditional cuisine here, all thanks to the local Mani Ram, who took to cultivating apples and red rice, which gave visitors the option to relish this delicacy, and that too in the natural ambiance of the Jana Waterfall.
The small eatery began in 2002 when Mani Ram had to invite foreigners to taste red rice! Owing to his efforts, today, 15 eateries have come up at the Jana Waterfall. A traditional thali at Mani Ram’s eatery will have red rice, makki ki roti, bichoo chatni, lingri achar, and local pulses.
What more is life about if not good food and aesthetic views? Jana village Manali has all of these. Plan your next vacation to Himachal Pradesh, and do include offbeat locations like Jana village in it. Take my word, you will go back contented for life and come back looking for more offbeat locations like the Jana village Manali.
Featured image: The McHarg Centre
