Spent my birthday in a fascinating small village in Himachal, Malana. You might have heard about it for its Malana cream (considered one of the best hashish in the world), but there is much more to this village than its hash produce.

Interesting facts:

1. The Malani believe that they are the superior, Aryan race: descendents to Alexander. People will refuse to let you touch any houses or temples & also, physical contact is not allowed. If you buy something from them, you will have to keep the money on the ground.

2. The police is not allowed in the village. They have their own legal system in place, influenced by the Greek. Any person who calls the police will have to pay a fine.

3. Malani people's main source of income is from the hash they produce. Malana has reported links to world-famous, notorious drug cartels.

Photo: A woman carries a bundle of the weed plant.

4. Men take most credit by being end suppliers. I witnessed women carrying the weed plant on their backs, walking several KM's to get it to the village. Women's contribution to the economy is overlooked and unpaid as anywhere else in the world.

Photo: women clean the weed plant.

5. The Malani are filled with a sense of pride for their customs. They know very well to protect their culture and region. They also know that the hash that they grow is very rich in THC. Their product is home made and mostly home sold, and hard to bargain.

6. Before starting the trek to Malana, people will tell you that it will take one hour. But what they don't tell you is that their one hour = our 2 hours. It will take you at least four hours to complete the trek, considering the amount of uphill trekking required to reach there.

7. Colourful houses painted in bright yellow, purple & pink. Cute, harmless doggos. Smiling old men & enthusiastic elderly women. None of which/whom you can touch. Yes, there is a fine for touching the villagers or village property. You will also risk upsetting the whole village.

8. Many foreigners who visited Malana have been missing for many years, and some visitors have also reportedly turned up dead in the river next to the village.