Vasudhara Falls, Mana, Uttarakhand

Vasudhara Falls, Mana, Uttarakhand

Vasudhara Falls is a waterfall located near Mana Village in Chamoli district in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is situated near Badrinath, one of the Char Dham (four sacred shrines).

Legends

The water of the falls does not touch the body of sinners:

As per belief, the water of this falls does not touch the body of sinners. It is said that if the holy water of this falls touches the person, then the person will attain salvation.

Vasudhara:

Vasu refers to Lord Krishna and Dhara refers to the water fall or flow of a stream. Thus, Vasudhara means waterfall of Lord Krishna.

Vasus performed penances here:

It is said that eight Vasus, sons of Ganga, performed penances at this place.

The Falls

The falls is situated at an elevation of 12,000 feet above the sea level on the banks of river Alaknanda. It falls from a height of 400 feet (120 m). The falls flow into the river Alaknanda. It is surrounded by Chaukhamba, Nilkantha and Balakun mountains. The water of the falls appears like milk flowing down the hill when it is viewed from a distance. This water of this falls is considered to have a flavor like nectar because its water has been enriched by the herbs.

There is a small cave located at about 100 metres before the falls. Two Sadhus live in this cave. Satopanth glacier can be viewed from the falls. It is best to visit this falls during March to June. Mana is accessible only when Char Dham pilgrimage begins in Apr/May, so it is advisable to visit this place during May and June.

Connectivity

Mana is located at about 5 Kms from Badrinath, 50 Kms from Joshimath, 126 Kms from Karnaprayag, 294 Kms from Rishikesh Railway Station, 304 kms from Rishikesh, 310 Kms from Dehradun Airport and 333 Kms from Dehradun. Mana is located on the northern terminus of National Highway 7. Mana is the last village before the Mana Pass. Tourists need to trek 6 Kms from Mana village to reach the falls. The trekking takes about four hours for both ways. The first 2 Kms of the trekking is easier. But after crossing the Saraswathi Temple, the trek becomes difficult as the path becomes very treacherous. The views of Vasudhara river valley during this trek are very scenic.

Location