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India's 'Untouchable' Village: Malana Forbids Touching Temples, People!
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News18•01-10-2026, 12:32
India's 'Untouchable' Village: Malana Forbids Touching Temples, People!
- •Malana village in Himachal Pradesh's Parvati Valley is known as an 'untouchable village'.
- •Outsiders are strictly forbidden from touching villagers, houses, or temples; violations can incur fines of –1,500 to –3,500.
- •Cash and goods are not exchanged hand-to-hand but are placed on the ground for transactions.
- •Malana follows its local deity, Jamlu Devta, and claims to be one of the world's oldest independent democracies.
- •Tourists are allowed but must adhere to strict no-touching rules and seek permission before photographing anything in the village.
Key Questions Answered
Malana village, located in the Parvati Valley of Himachal Pradesh's Kullu district, is famous as an untouchable village where outsiders are strictly forbidden from touching villagers, houses, temples, or any local items.
If an outsider touches a villager, wall, temple, house, or any local item in Malana, they may face a fine ranging from ₹1,000 to ₹3,500.
Because touching goods or handing items directly is forbidden, customers place their cash on the ground, and the shopkeeper places the requested goods on the ground for the customer to pick up.
