Synonyms: Atuding
Genetics: Western Himalayas Landrace
Type: Point of Origin, Open Pollinated
Style: Charas, Hashplant
Farmer: Various, Feral
Sourcing: Eloise (2022, 2023)
Village(s): Atolang
District: Bhuntar
Province: Himachal Pradesh
Area: Parvati Valley
Region: Western Himalayas
Appellation: Malana Valley
Country: India
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Cultivation Details:
Regional Planting: Spring
Regional Harvest: October-November
Height: 1-4m
Classification: NLD type landrace population
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Description:
Atolang is a lesser-known but highly regarded landrace from the Malana Valley, cultivated at elevations of 2800-3200m. Its rugged isolation and high-altitude terrain foster a distinct expression of Himalayan cannabis, making it a valuable accession for preservation. The plants grow with a tall, open structure, well adapted to intense sunlight and fluctuating mountain temperatures.
Resin production is abundant, with flowers producing thick layers of sticky trichomes, ideal for charas-making. Aromas lean towards sharp, herbaceous tones, with underlying notes of earth, pine, and fermented fruit. While some expressions retain a floral sweetness, others take on a more pungent, acrid character, hinting at the diversity present within this landrace.
Its psychoactive effects are strongly euphoric with a meditative depth, a hallmark of high-altitude Himalayan cannabis.
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Context:
Atolang sits at the fringe of the traditional charas belt, positioned high above Malana and Parvati Valley positioned in between the busier areas of Nirang and Waichin, offering a more secluded growing environment. Historically, the region more broadly has seen little outside influence, with cultivation practices remaining consistent for generations. Its feral populations are of particular interest due to their ability to thrive unaided in some of the valley’s most extreme conditions.
Unlike Malana, which has become synonymous with high-value charas production, Atolang remains somewhat under the radar, producing smaller batches of local-use resin rather than mass-market supply. The village's location and terrain have kept it shielded from much of the modern hybrid influx seen elsewhere. However, accessibility has improved in recent years, increasing the risk of genetic dilution.
Those in the know- know that charas from Atolang is every bit as good if not better than anything else found in Malana Valley.
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Accession Details:
Atolang General Population (2022, 2023)
Notes: Collected from plants throughout the valley by locals making charas in Atolang
Type: General population domesticate landrace
Altitude: 2800-3200m
Atolang ‘Village’ Selection (2022, 2023)
Notes: Collected from selected plants in and around Atolang Village by Eloise
Type: General population domesticate landrace
Altitude: 2800-3000m
Atolang ‘Upper’ Selection (2022, 2023)
Notes: Collected from selected plants in the ‘Upper’ fields, high above the village by Eloise
Type: General population domesticate landrace
Altitude: 3000-3200m
Atolang ‘Kishan’s’ Selection (2024)
Notes: Collected from selected plants in his own fields by Kishanji
Type: General population domesticate landrace
Altitude: 3000-3200m
Atolang Feral General Population (2022, 2023)
Notes: Collected from feral plants throughout the valley by Eloise
Type: General population domesticate landrace
Altitude: 2800-3200m
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Current Status:
Atolang remains relatively isolated compared to more well-known charas-producing villages, but with increasing accessibility, changes may come quickly. The future of this landrace is uncertain, with excessive culling of males, overuse of chemical inputs to the farms degrading the soil as well as modern hybrids and foreign genetics creeping into other parts of Himachal Pradesh and Malana Valley.
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