Ramesh Pathania
The devastating rains, flash floods, and cloudbursts have left Himachal Pradesh in a dire state. Most parts of the region have been severely affected by the monsoon. Many villages were washed away, roads caved in, and landslides caused roadblocks. Small bridges over furious streams were swept away by the uncontrollable flow of water. Connecting roads to many villages were damaged.
The people of Himachal take the task of maintaining these roads seriously, and the Malanis in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh in Parvati Valley have set an example by rebuilding a narrow wooden bridge using ancient historical bridge-making techniques, all without any engineering support—relying solely on the experience of the village elders.
Malana is an ancient village of significant historical importance, known for maintaining one of the oldest democratic setups in the world and for its unique religious beliefs, which prohibit outsiders from touching anything within the village. The village is home to an old temple dedicated to the deity Jamlu.
The bridge, which serves approximately 200 commuters daily traveling to Jari and other nearby places, was swept away by the Malana Nallah due to sudden floods. Instead of waiting for government assistance, over 200 villagers came together, working tirelessly for seven days to create this beautiful bridge—once again without any engineering support.
Joginder Singh, a member of the temple committee, is very upbeat about the villagers’ efforts. He emphasizes that the resourcefulness of the villagers has set an example that many others will follow. Malana is the most picturesque village with a rich ancient history, situated at an altitude of 9,000 feet and home to around 2,400 inhabitants.
According to Colin Rosser, an explorer and scholar who visited Malana in 1950, “High pastures, dense forests, jagged rock outcrops forming sheer cliff faces, numerous small streams plunging over high waterfalls down to the main Malana torrent, and precipitous slopes leading to an eight-mile-long gorge—all characterize the terrain inhabited by the Malanis.”
Joginder Singh adds, “This has become an annual event now. Last year’s floods were equally bad. We could not wait endlessly, so we took action and constructed a new bridge.” Their initiative is being appreciated by everyone in the community.
