A village in Uttarakhand that leads straight to heaven and a waterfall that does not touch a sinner

In Hinduism, going to heaven or ‘Swarga’ is thought to be the ultimate liberation. Going to Swarga implies that the person has severed their ties with the worldly desires and that they are now achieving Moksha. Swarga is thought to be a place of beauty, peace, and happiness. It is free from sorrows and struggles and away from all desires.For Hindus, heaven is where the souls enjoy the fruits of their good karma.

It is said that after the battle of Kurukshetra, when Pandavas renounced their princely status and went off to seek penance, not all of them could make it to heaven. When they treaded towards the forests, their journey was called the ‘Mahaprasthana’ and it led them to the Swargarohini, which translates to ‘Ascent to Heaven’.
According to legends, when the Pandavas set on their final journey from the village of Mana, one by one, they died because of their sins. Draupadi died because of her love for Arjuna, Bhima died for his gluttony, and so on. The last Pandav standing was Yudhishthir, the eldest one.

Mana village is known to be the last Indian village before the Tibetan border. This village is also the starting point for many beautiful, and mystical treks and one of them is towards Swargarohini. According to tales and legends, this is the village from where Pandavas started their journey to Swarga, and went uphill.
The village is also home to the Vyas Gufa and Ganesh Gufa (caves), where sage Vyasa is believed to have composed the Mahabharata with the assistance of Lord Ganesha.

The Swargarohini glacier and the trek towards it is now one of the most famous and sought-after treks in Uttarakhand. The trek to Swargarohini is considered sacred, drawing pilgrims and adventurers who want spiritual fulfillment and the thrill of the Himalayas.
It is believed that the Swargarohini’s peaks are the symbolic ‘steps to heaven’, and the journey to these peaks represents the soul's journey towards the divine path.

Another tale about the Swargarohini trek and the waterfall on the way, Vasudhara, is very famous across the region and beyond. It is said that the Vasudhara falls are so pure and pious, they never fall on a sinner’s body. It is also said that Sehdev, one of the Pandava brothers, died near the Vasudhara falls, and if the water touches a human, they get rid of many health problems as the water has ‘Asht Vasus’.

For Hindus, the concept of heaven comes in the form of 'Swarga'. The beautiful, peaceful realm where the virtous souls can rest before going further. And unlike the eternal heaven in some religions, Swarga is a transitory phase before the soul undergoes rebirth.

And in the current age, in Kalyug, one of the biggest fears in people is the possibility of attaining Moksha and Swarga. As Kaliyug is considered the last of the four Yugas, and is marked by moral decline, strife, and ignorance, people are fearful if they would ever be able to reach heaven. But even today, Hindus believe that living virtuously during Kaliyug will help them attain Moksha. And the treks of Swargarohini are just a small part of Swarga's beauty.