Malana village gutted in fire

The historical Malana village in Kullu District was gutted in fire that started in the late Saturday. The fire has reportedely destroyed four temples including Jamlu Devata, the presiding deity of Malana village. Priceless artfects and heirlooms that go back to several centuries were also lost in fire. No loss of life has been reported but the villagers numbering about 1000 are homeless in the peak of the winter season.

For details read http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/I...ow/2679499.cms

Sadanand

thats a loss. I had been there recently enough and it was an interesting place, reeking of culture and traditions.

Sad.

Even though in recent years Malana became more famous for other stuff than its heritage... a prime reason for my stopping going there more than a decade ago... it is a beautiful area.


I am sure you didn't mean it the way it came out.

Or maybe you did

Captain,
I had been to Malana for a couple of days as part of YHAI trek to Chandtakani Pass in June 1986. After a somewhat boring trek from Kasol to Rasol Jot which was devoid of any forest cover, river or streams, Malana was beautiful, full of greenary, streams and wooden carved houses. At that time, it had one or two street lights powered from solar panels on the way to Jamlu Devata temple.

Sadanand

Things look quite bad.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20080106/main1.htm
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/200...himachal.htm#4

Tragic, indeed

What an interesting history and social structure these people have, btw. Had heard of it, then forgotten again.

Yes. People tracing their ancestory back to Alexander's armies are found in a few other places too, including Kashmir.

Very sad.

I know nothing of the place except what I have heard on IndiaMike --- but, anyway, it is terrible to hear of now homeless people.

As per TOI the village oracle said they were cursed for violating the age-old code of ethics, a road having reached the village being considered one such violation. Oh, brother!

On which note, I'm confused as to how far the road goes? In Oct '05 I drove a km or 2 on the dirt-road from Naggar. Someone told me it was still a 10-12 km walk to Malana from the end of that road, so I don't understand what TOI meant about a road having reached the village.
Also cudn't figure out why the CM was trying to reach the village by foot (had to give up 5 km short becos of snow) - becos the road actually doesn't touch the village, or it does and was snowed over?

I'm shocked... Look these pictures and the video...

http://himachal.us/2008/01/06/malana...eople/ravinder
http://himachal.us/2008/01/07/first-...eople/yashrazz

AndreasW

When I did the trek to Chandrakhani Pass in June '86, the nearest road head was Jari from where one had to trek about 18 kms to reach Malana village. I remember to have read somewhere ( perhaps in one of IM posts) that Malana Hydro-electric power project has made the road from Jari to Chowki. From Chowki, it is about 5 kms walk to Malana village. May be CM could not walk on this 5 kms stretch becasue of snow.

Sadanand

In 2005 I saw a short docu on TV where the DM of Kullu was explaining that previously it was a 9-hour walk from the nearest road, and "now" there is a road closer by, from where it's only a 2-hour walk. That wud be consistent with the Jari-Chowki road u describe - considering the uphill factor, 5 km shud take about 2 hours or so.
I also thought that the CM started walking from the end of the road, which then makes the oracle's curse-definition a bit meaningless - how can a road 5 km away be described as having "reached the village?"

In fact I get an impression that the road construction may have been deliberately ended 5 kms before the Malana village in difference to the wishes of the people of Malana. As far as I remember the topography of the area, the road could have been easily extended up to the lower part of Malana village.

Sadanand

I have attached below a few pictures taken in Malana village in June'86. The quality of pictures are not good as I had a simple 'aim and shoot' camera at that time. Nonetheless, these pictures do depict something to remember.

Picture-1 : A typical village house.
Picture-2 : A villager ourside a house.
Picture-3 : Our trekking group outside Jamlu Devata temple. Note the solar powered street light.
Picture-4 : Malana village.

Sadanand

Sadanand, nice. Kind of how I remember it, too.