Usually one’s travel start from the day they propose for it. The imagination of travel starts from packing everything and making the itineraries. With the same thought our journey started. Parvathy valley is one of the most serene place to visit if not long weekend or in Off season.
Malana is 23km from Jari. About 7 km from Jari is the Malana powerhouse and visitors have to register their names before entering the valley. From the powerhouse to the dam is a trek or drive and thereafter it is an uneven road of 7 km to Malana.
The mountains were different on the route like we have seen in avatar movie, enormous and green. The last 4 km stretch to Malana is treacherously uphill. But the greenery all around with interceptions of waterfalls and streams make the drive bearable.
There were hardly any other vehicles on the way. It was so pristine and quiet that We didn’t even wanted to hurt the tranquility of it by playing music or even chatting. Some of us were devouring the enchanting nature and others were holding breaths due to vertigo in the nerve racking turns.
The sunset view at the starting point had of Malana kept us awestruck. The part of the village was visible from the other end and the sunrays were engulfing the village. We were savoring the view from roadside chaiwala. We were still deciding whether all of us would be going for trek to Malana village, Abhi wanted to lit the spliff so I went to get the light in the shabby setting of the shop which was dark n little Smokey inside.
A guy (the biker) offered the light. I observed they were making chillam and the process was quite remarkable. He cleaned the stone chillam with cloth on the stick dedicatedly and other person was rolling the Cannabis called RED EYE and he tossed that in the cigarette tobacco and crushed it firmly. They filled the chillam with the mixture and lit it. There were other two townies with the biker and took the fag as Shiva Prasad and chorused “Shiva Boom” before taking the drag. He offered me too which I earnestly resigned. I am sure they were high instantly, so did not had possibility to chat or ask the name. Too much smoke made me dizzy so I came out . The hashish is main source of income for the people and it’s common for locals to offer it to the visitors.
I tried the small conversation with some natives who came back from a marriage function. They wore pretty traditional cloths. I so wanted to wear their titfer for a click but they denied, as we are untouchable for them. According to the localities, Jamlu rishi (sage) inhabited this place and made rules and regulations. It’s been said that after demonetization, lots of cash came out of this village (It might be hoax or real). They informed that to prevent the sanctity of the village from being way too commercialized they might minimize the touristy amenities.
As it was getting darker and it was impossible for novice like us to trek, We retreated ourselves in despair. My journey is still half, I will be planning soon enough to the mysterious land of Malana Village and would share my experience.
At the end:
'Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.' Ralph Waldo Emerson
PS: Avoid long weekends,its over crowded. Some of the Tosh and Kasol images are attached.
