People often get confused between Mana in Uttarakhand and Chitkul in Himachal Pradesh, as to which one of these holds the title of being ‘the last Indian village’? Well, to clear things out, Chitkul is basically the last inhabited village located on the Indo-Tibet border, but Mana in Uttarakhand is officially recognised as the ‘last village of India’.Situated in Chamoli district at an elevation of 3200 m in Uttarakhand, Mana village lies on the banks of Saraswati river, and is around 5 km from the famous Hindu pilgrimage centre Badrinath . This beautiful hamlet is 24 km from the Indo-China border, making it the last village of India. If you ever visit the place, you’ll notice the shopkeeper’s in the region selling their products, using the title ‘last village’ like ‘India’s Last Tea and Coffee Corner’, which is quite interesting and amusing at the same time.Mana village holds a huge religious significance for the Hindus, as the place is related to the time of Mahabharata. It is believed that the Pandavas (the five mythological characters from the epic Mahabharata) passed through Mana Village when they made their final journey to heaven. The place also has a stone bridge near the Saraswati River, called the ‘Bheema Pul’, which is believed to be created by Bheema, one of the five Pandava brothers.In addition to these records, there are several exciting places to visit in Mana Village. While there, this is what you should check out.: Set at an altitude of 6597 ft above sea level, Neelkanth Peak is one of the prime attractions in the region. Also known as ‘Queen of Garhwal’, this snow-clad peak beautifully towers the Badrinath Temple and makes for a must-visit attraction for every adventure and trekking enthusiast.: As per Hindu mythology, Tapt Kund is the holy abode of Lord of Fire or Agni. This natural spring is believed to have medicinal properties, and people say that taking a dip in the kund water cures skin diseases.: This one is a picturesque waterfall, at some 9 km away from Badrinath Temple. Legend has it that Pandavas stayed here for some time when they were in exile.: As the name says, Ved Vyas, the renowned scholar and the writer of the epic, the Mahabharata, lived inside this cave while composing the famous four vedas. What makes this cave interesting is a small shrine, which is dedicated to him and is believed to be more than 5000 years old.: One of the prime attractions of Mana Village is Bheema Pul. It is said that Bheem created this stone bridge so that his wife Draupadi could cross Saraswati river during their journey to heaven.The village is gorgeous beyond words and offers a number of interesting activities to adventure junkies. It is considered as one of the best places for trekking in India, with hikes that include Mana to Vasundhara, Mana to Mana Pass, and Mana to Charanpaduka, among others.Mana in Uttarakhand can be easily reached from Rishikesh/Haridwar and is only 5 km from Badrinath Temple. The nearest railhead is at Haridwar, around 275 km away and one can take a bus/taxi to reach the village from outside this station. From Dehradun, Mana is only 315 km and regular buses are available from outside the railway station.