Jari Village is the first sizeable village in Parvati Valley as you take the road from Bhuntar. Although the Malana hydro project has taken away some of its charm, Jari is still a pretty village with some shops and guest houses and is the diverging point for the road to Malana. There is also an ATM machine in Jari village and the path to the peaceful village of Mateura Jari starts from Jari.

The hillside hamlet of Mateura Jari (also called Mateura) is only a km away from Jari, but the climb is steep and can take almost 30 minutes. It can be said to be a fairytale village, where there are no road but pomegranate, apricot and lime trees grow right in home gardens and orchards. There are spectacular views of the mountains from Mateura Jari and the kids and local families are very friendly. It is a traditional village and is a wonderful place to see Himachali rural life at close quarters.

There is also a small but beautifully carved wooden temple in Mateura Jari. The village has a few simple guest houses and most are made of wood in Himachal’s traditional style. Food is available at the guesthouses in Mateura Jari. A lovely idea for a picnic is going to a waterfall close to the village of Mateura and chilling in the beauty of nature.