Nidhivan, the mystical forest

Day 14 of the "virtual (digital) tour" of places known for unusual customs, practices, mysterious phenomena. This post is part of the A to Z Challenge and Blogchatter A2Z 2026

In the holy town of Vrindavan in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura district, is Nidhivan a forest dedicated to Radha and Krishna. There is an aura of mytery associated with this sacred grove.

The short Tulasi or Holy Basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum) trees of Nidhivan grow in pairs, their trunks entwined as though locked in eternal embrace. Despite the dry land, these trees remain lush and green throughout the year. Curiously, their trunks are hollow, and they all bend towards the ground.

Nidhivan - Image courtesy: Vrindavan

RASLILA BELIEF

It is believed that Radha and Krishna perform the Raslila, the celestial dance, here every night. According to legend, the paired Tulasi trees transform into Gopis (milkmaids who are devotees of Lord Krishna) at dusk, joining the divine dance, only to return to their tree form at dawn.

Within Nidhivan are revered shrines, including the Rang Mahal, said to be the resting place of Radha and Krishna, and the Sri Bansichori Radharani Temple. 

SACRED RULE OF NIGHTFALL

No human or animal is permitted to remain inside Nidhivan after sunset. Even monkeys and peacocks that roam the forest during the day leave as evening falls. 

Local belief warns that anyone who dares to stay overnight risks blindness, madness, misfortune, or even death. Such is the sanctity of this rule that nearby residents have sealed their windows with bricks to avoid accidentally glimpsing the forest at night.

In 2021, a YouTuber who broke the rule and trespassed into Nidhivan at night to film was arrested and sent to judicial custody, on charges of violating local rules.

BEYOND EXPLANATION

Science hasn't been able to fully and conclusively prove the unusual phenomena there. But for the millions of devotees it's not about any reason or evidence. It's more about emotion, what is felt in their hearts.

(Information sources: The Times of India, The Hindustan Times, News18, Wikipedia)

Previous posts in the series

Asur	Bhangarh	Channapatna dog temple
Dhinga Gavar	Edakkal caves	Floating stones
Ghost lights	Hakki Pikki	Idu Mishmi
Jatinga	Kodinhi	Living root bridges
Malana

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Malana: Don't touch the villagers

Day 13 of the "virtual (digital) tour" of places known for unusual customs, practices, mysterious phenomena. This post is part of the A to Z Challenge and Blogchatter A2Z 2026

Malana is a village situated at an altitude of 2,652 metres in the Parvati Valley of Himachal Pradesh, in northern India.

While the place is geographically part of India, the villagers, numbering around 4,500 follow their own ancient system of governance and justice. 

The village is administered by a bicameral parliament, consisting of an upper house called the Jayeshthang and a lower house known as the Kanishthang.

However, the ultimate authority is not human; the village is ruled by its deity, Jamlu Devta. All major administrative decisions are believed to be direct decrees from Jamlu, communicated through a spiritual spokesperson known as the Gur.

Image courtesy: BBC / © Sauriêl Creative |
Samantha Leigh Scholl/Alamy

'NO TOUCHING' RULE

Perhaps the most unique custom is the village's strict taboo on physical contact. To preserve the "purity" of their community, residents prohibit outsiders from touching them, their belongings, or their sacred temples.

Touching a temple or a designated holy place can result in an immediate fine ranging from ₹2,500 to ₹3,500.

When buying items from a local shop, visitors are expected to leave their money on the counter or the ground rather than handing it directly to the shopkeeper.

Villagers have even been known to bathe immediately if they are accidentally touched by an outsider, in order to wash away the perceived misfortune.

MALANA CREAM

Beyond its customs, Malana is renowned for "Malana Cream", a strain of hashish. It is produced using a specific hand-rubbing technique that extracts resin from live cannabis plants. The possession of cannabis is illegal under Indian law. 

While all these unusual customs and practices have drawn significant number of tourists, the villagers themselves remain very protective of their culture.

(Information sources: BBC, The Times of India, The Hindustan Times)

Previous posts in the series

Asur	Bhangarh	Channapatna dog temple
Dhinga Gavar	Edakkal caves	Floating stones
Ghost lights	Hakki Pikki	Idu Mishmi
Jatinga	Kodinhi	Living root bridges

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Living root bridges

Day 12 of the "virtual (digital) tour" of places known for unusual customs, practices, mysterious phenomena. This post is part of the A to Z Challenge and Blogchatter A2Z 2026

This is indigenous ingenuity at its best. These "living root bridges" are commonly found in the north-eastern Indian state of Meghalaya, specifically within the Khasi and Jaintia Hills. They are locally known as Jingkieng Jri.

Unlike traditional bridges made of dead wood, steel, or concrete, these are biological systems that continue to grow and evolve while in use.

HOW THEY ARE MADE

It takes anywhere from 15 to 30 years for such a bridge to be made and become functional. Villagers take the young, pliable aerial roots of the rubber fig tree (Ficus elastica) and guide them across a river. 

To direct the growth, builders often use bamboo or wooden scaffolds, or even hollowed-out areca palm trunks. These trunks not only guide the roots but also protect them and provide nutrients as the palm wood decays.

Through a process called "inosculation", the roots intertwine and fuse together over time, forming a dense, stable frame. Villagers continue to prune and manipulate new roots to strengthen the structure.

A doubledecker living root bridge in
Nongriat, Meghalaya. -- The Guardian/David Talukdar/Alamy

ARE THEY STRONG?

Yes, they are. One of their most remarkable features is that, unlike man-made materials that weaken with age, these bridges grow stronger and self-repair as the trees mature. They are specifically designed to withstand the violent flash floods and storm surges of Meghalaya, which often wash away modern steel or concrete alternatives.

It can typically carry 30 or more people at once. For example, the mature bridge in Riwai, Meghalaya, has been witnessed carrying up to 35 people simultaneously, demonstrating the immense load-bearing capacity of these living fibrous networks.

IN OTHER PLACES

Such bridges are not exclusive to Meghalaya. Similar living root structures have been documented in the state of Nagaland and on the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Java, where they are crafted by the Baduy people. The concept has inspired modern researchers in Europe to explore living architecture using different species to create greener urban environments.

Some notable bridges, such as the famous Double Decker bridge in Nongriat, Meghalaya, are estimated to be at least 200 years old, while others may be even older. The earliest known written record by an outsider was by Henry Yule in 1844.

(Information sources: BBC, United Nations Development Programme, Meghalaya Biodiversity Board, Outlook Traveller)

Previous posts in the series:

Asur	Bhangarh	Channapatna dog temple
Dhinga Gavar	Edakkal caves	Floating stones
Ghost lights	Hakki Pikki	Idu Mishmi
Jatinga	Kodinhi

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