Badrinath · Places to Visit

Mana Village: India's first village

A short trip from Badrinath into the legends of the Mahabharata and the Saraswati river.

3–4 km from Badrinath

India's first village

Mana was long called "India's last village" before the Tibet border — officially renamed "India's first village" in 2022. A short drive or walk from Badrinath, it packs several legends into one easy visit.

3,219 mVillage elevation
May–OctOnly open season
~2 hrsFull walking circuit
Vyas Gufa cave entrance
Vyas Gufa

Where the Mahabharata was composed

Tradition holds that sage Vyasa dictated the entire Mahabharata to Lord Ganesha inside this cave — one of Mana's most visited stops.

The Sights

Four stops, one walk

Vyas Gufa

  • Cave where sage Vyasa is said to have composed the Mahabharata
  • Dictated to Lord Ganesha

Bheem Pul

  • Natural rock bridge over the Saraswati river
  • Legend: Bhima placed it for Draupadi to cross

Saraswati's Source

  • The only place the Saraswati river is visible
  • It then disappears underground
Bheem Pul rock bridge
Bheem Pul

A bridge placed by Bhima

Legend holds that the mighty Pandava Bhima laid this natural rock slab across the Saraswati so that Draupadi could cross safely.