The aroma hits you instantly as you enter the valley: woody, citrusy pine colliding with sweet, spicy, and fruity undertones of Malana Cream hashish. Located at an altitude of 9,938 feet above sea level, the area has been known as the “Forbidden Kingdom.” Nestled in the valley is the picturesque village of Malana, purportedly the outpost that the descendants of Alex - ander the Great settled after their war with India. The remote hamlet has its own moniker: “The Village of Taboos,” due to its strict rules and customs that foreigners are not allowed to interfere with. They have their own customs, language, laws, and religion. They worship a god named Jamlu Devta. They don’t allow visitors to touch them; they believe it infects their purity. Even with all the rules, the hashish trekkers come in micro-droves to this deliciously diverse and serene landscape to smoke the finest hashish on Earth.

As you enter, the sign says: WELCOME TO MALANA—THE OLDEST DEMOCRACY IN THE WORLD.

While the exact region where hash originated is disputed, it is believed to have been birthed in the ancient civilizations of Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent. However, the use of hashish can be traced back to the Scythians, an ancient nomadic people who inhabited the region around the 5th century BCE. From there, its usage spread to neighboring regions and cultures, including the Persian Empire and the Arabian Peninsula.

In ancient cultures, hash was highly regarded for its therapeutic properties. It was used for pain relief, relaxation, and to induce a state of euphoria. Additionally, hash was used in religious ceremonies. Moreover, its psychoactive effects were seen as a means of connecting with the divine.

Many hash-lovers have pondered: “What makes the hash of Parvati Valley so mesmerizing?” Well, for one, they take their craft very seriously. And the soil and weather are ideal. Its most exotic and sought-after strain is Malana Cream. The primary source of income for the people is hashish. Cream pays the bills.

Renowned for its dreamy high-potency oils and clouds of intoxicating aromas, Cream was made a mythic star in the trendy cafés of Amsterdam throughout the 70s and 80s. Cream is infamous for its joyful effects, juicy fruit taste, and creamy texture. What makes this hash so pure is how the villagers hand-rub the buds and manually filter them. All this is done in the undulating mountain fields looming above the village.

During the Islamic Golden Age, which spanned from the 8th to the 14th centuries, hash played a significant role in the intellectual and cultural development of Islam. During the Renaissance, advancements in chemistry and botany led to the discovery of new techniques for hash production. Hash also had a profound influence on art and literature during the 19th-century Romantic movement. The heightened states of consciousness induced by hash consumption inspired artists, writers, and poets to explore new realms of creativity. Hash was often depicted in paintings and referenced in literature, providing a glimpse into its cultural significance during this period.

Malana hides behind a panoply of pine trees and gargantuan, snowcaked mountains that seem to touch the moon, a natural fortress to limit exposure to too many curious hashish pilgrims. The wind always gusts here and the sun shines on most days, warming the charming lived-in houses and forts with slate roofs. The locals aren’t too friendly and pretty much ignore the tourists—if you behave. You will not be welcomed with open arms. And you aren’t permitted to enter the ornate temples that seem to be on every corner.

However, if you are a hash lover, hash maker, or hash connoisseur, the arduous trek to this unique and mystical valley should be on your bucket list. The breathtaking beauty and the intoxicating aromas, mixed with the exquisite Himalayan hashish, will draw you in like no other place on Earth. There is no other place where you will find the legendary hand-rubbed Malana Cream growing, towering stalks shooting up into the heavens and tended by 1,500 light-eyed descendants of Alexander the Great.

But it is important to be careful and know the ins-and-outs. Before you go, learn the local laws, talk to guides about their experiences, don’t smoke too much when you first arrive, and, of course, avoid driving. There are no stop signs in Malana and the temperamental water buffalo own the roads. And, like the locals, they don’t like tourists too much either.

Anyone who has seen the movie Midnight Express, about a young American student in the 70s who is sent to a Turkish prison for trying to smuggle hashish out of the country, was haunted by the very mention of hash.

We didn’t want to languish in a dour prison like Brad Davis in the movie. No, no, no.

Today, dispensaries all over the city sell hash, in one form or another. Cold hash. Fire hash. Solventless hash. Water-soluble hash. Ice hash. There is no shortage of options in what fits best with you. One of the top brands is Raw Garden where solventless hash-infused prerolls are made with live hash, not kief. Live hash preserves flavors and aromas of the plant to provide a pure and potent experience, flavorful and rich. Bonus: they make products grown from their own seeds. Raw Garden’s unique harvesting process utilizes a state-of-the-art cryogenic freezing technique to capture and lock in the whole essence of the plant while it is still fresh and alive, before it can dry out and lose any of its natural flavor and aroma. Then they extract the oil from the frozen plants to create their patented Raw Garden Live Resin and Refined Live Resin products. RawGarden.Farm

At Nasha Hash, they start by submerging the cannabis plant in ice-cold water, causing the union between the trichome head and stalk to become brittle. Through gentle agitation, the trichome head separates from the cannabis plant and is carried by the water through a series of filters. The separated resin glands are then removed from the filters and placed in state-of-the-art equipment for drying. They dry at low temperatures to ensure minimal terpene loss and low water activity levels to deliver a smooth and memorable smoke. NashaHash.com

Not to be outdone, Fidels came to market with the Hash Hole, one of the most exotic pre-rolls available in California. The peeps at Fidels first encountered the hash hole in Barcelona years ago at Spannabis. The locals would roll up an eighth with some rosin in it to celebrate. Each Fidels Hash Hole is a hash masterpiece, featuring a blend of premium, hand-selected strains. The high-quality hash adds a touch of sophistication to every puff, with a symphony of earthy undertones, spice, and a faint sweetness that lingers delicately. FidelsHashHole.com

Malana is around 350 mountainous miles from Delhi and is situated along the Beas River in the Parvati Valley.

Bus From Delhi

You can take a 14-hour Volvo night bus from Delhi. Overnight buses usually depart in the evening and arrive late the next morning. Buses do not have an onboard toilet, however, they make frequent stops. Plan on a very bumpy, winding ride!

Bus From Dharamshala

Tourist buses from McLeod Ganj and Dharamshala leave nightly. The journey takes around nine hours.

Nearest Airport

Bhuntar Airport is the closest airport. Usually, there are only a handful of domestic flights that operate out of this airport. Apart from that, the prices are going to be ridiculously high due to a limited fleet of aircraft in operation.

Lodging

With 53 meticulously crafted rooms and postcard-perfect mountain views, The Coral Resort and Spa Manali is more than just a place to stay—it’s an experience to savor, just like the Malana Cream. From pampering spa treatments to gourmet dining experiences, they ensure that your stay is nothing short of extraordinary.