NahanThe district of Sirmour in the south eastern corner of the state, is noted for its places of pilgrimage and for the legends that surround them. Nahan (932 m), a historic town pleasantly located on a ridge of the Shivalik Hills, has an outlook over green forests and valleys with the Churdhar Peak (3,647m) dominating the scene.A little town with a salubrious climate, Nahan has gardens, temples and three popular walking circuits - the Villa Round, Military Round and the Hospital Round.

The Chaugan, a green maiden, is at the heart of the town. Nahan’s royal affiliations and the remains of its old capital, Sirmuri Tal, are to be seen in the sculpture that has been preserved at the Circuit House. Nahan is also famous for its Bawan Dwadashi Festival held every year in September.

Around Nahan

Saketi
The Shivalik Fossil Park is located at Saketi, at a site where fossils over 85 million years old have been found. Huge fiberglass models of various prehistoric animals, placed around the park , give it an added interest.(14Km)

Getting There & Away

Air: Nearest airport, Ambala.

Rail: Nearest railhead, Ambala.

Road: Accessible by road - 260 Km from Delhi and 142 Km from Shimla.

General Information

Altitude : 932 mtrs.
Temperature : Cold in winter, warm in summer.
Best Season : Throughout the year
Clothing : (Summer/Winter) Cotton/Light Woollens

RENUKA
A placid lake set among green hills, a temple dedicated to the immortal Renuka and her son Parasuram and a tiny wildlife sanctuary, make Renuka, 45 Km from Nahan, a popular destination.

According to the legend, the sage Jamadagni, incensed with his wife Renuka, ordered his son Parasuram to cut off his mother’s head.

Parasuram, the obedient son, did so and the sage pleased with his son’s compliance granted him a boon. Parasuram asked immediately for his mother’s life, thereby ensuring her immortality. An annual fair is held in November each year to celebrate the event.

Around the lake is a little wildlife sanctuary the home of a variety of waterbirds, deer,red jungle fowl, black pheasant and peacock. Facilities are available for boating at the lake.

Places to see

Renuka Sanctuary: The lake and temples make Renuka a popular place of pilgrimage. Near by is the little wildlife sanctuary with its Lion Safari and Open Nature parks. A tourist bungalow and cafeteria cater to visitors.

Paonta Sahib: Located in the foothills, on the banks of the River Yamuna, along the Nahan-DehraDun road, Paonta Sahib is a bustling town. A serene gurdwara on the banks of the river is where the Guru Govinda Singh wrote a major part of the Dassam Granth. The story goes, that the place acquired its name after the Guru had lost an ornament that he wore on his foot, known as the paonta. It is also said that the Yamuna flows without a ripple here because the Guru calmed its turbulent waters. Paonta Sahib is an important place of pilgrimage for the Sikhs. They congregate here for the colourful fairs held in spring on the occasion of Baisakhi and Holi. There are also two Hindu temples dedicated to Rama and Krishna.

Simbalbara Sanctuary: Easily accessible, this picturesque sanctuary located in the Paonta Valley of Sirmour District, has dense forests with grassy glades and a perennial stream. The Simbalbara forest rest house which is linked by a fair weather road to Puruwala, overlooks the valley, Ghoral, Sambhar and Chital are easily seen in the sanctuary with its fine walking trails. Winter is the best season for a visit.

Hidden Treasures of District Sirmour

Rajgarh (2,169m)
Just 30 Km from Solan, Rajgarh blessed with considerable natural beauty is an unspoilt retreat set amidst apple orchards. Its entry into the tourist circuit is relatively recent . A rest house and eating places make it convenient for a holiday.

Access: Accessible by road from Chail. The nearest railhead and airport are at Shimla.

Shillai: Appproachable from Sataun and surrounded by woods, Shillai lies close to the River Tons. It is closely allied with the worship of the local deities Shirgul and Gugga and is an important centre of folk culture. A trek to the 3647 m peak of Choor Chandni also called the Churdhar, which loosely translates as the ‘mountain of the silver bangle’, can be made from here via Haripur Dhar. A teak to Chakrarta in Uttar Pradesh is also possible from Shillai.

Access: Accessible by road from Paonta Sahib. The nearest airport and railhead are Dehra Dun.

About Solan

The district headquarters, Solan (1,350 m) is midway between Kalka and Shimla on the main road and rail route. Located in an agricultural area where a variety of vegetables and mushrooms are grown, Solan is also known for its famous brewery which was set up in 1835.

A quiet town, Solan has a number of picturesque spots ideal for walks and picnics. Karol Tibba and Meteol Tibba are pretty spots while the Kotla Nallah with its stream, the Saproon Spring and the Happy Valley are delightful locations for rambles. Mareog, Gaura and Karkanu on the River Giri, all within a 20 km radius are excellent for a spot of angling.

Getting There & Away

Air
Nearest airports are Shimla and Chandigarh.

Rail
On the Kalka - Shimla narrow gauge line.

Road
Well connected by road, as it is on the Kalka-Shimla route. 315 Km from Delhi, 68 Km from Chandigarh, 48 Km from Shimla and 42 Km from Kalka.

General Information

Altitude : 1,350 m above sea level
Temperature : Ranges between 39C in summer and 10C in winter.
Best Season : April-June/October-November.
Clothing : (Summer/Winter) Light Woollens/Heavy Woollens

Barog
Pretty Barog - just 37 km from Kalka and 5 km from Solan, was an important stop on the railway line in the early part of the century. The hill train halted for an hour here, while the travellers indulged in a lavish lunch. Today, the little town with its crisp air and fine views, is a little holiday destination in itself. Surrounded by forests of pine, Barog looks out at the fascinating Churdhar Peak (3,647 m).

Parwanoo
Located on the border with Punjab, Parwanoo is the gateway to Himachal Pradesh. On the main highway from Chandigarh to Shimla, it has hotels and petrol stations - convenient for a halt.

Hidden Treasures of Solan District

Arki
Just 52 Km from Shimla is Arki, once the capital of the princely state of Baghal. The elegant palace at Arki, picturesquely located against a wooded hillside, is famous for its Ast Nayika frescoes, executed in the Arki Kalam style. Refurbished now, the palace is a Heritage Hotel.

The Jakholi Temple, also at Arki, is a remarkable architectural specimen-a triple shrine of the ' Shikhara ' style. Other temples include those dedicated to Luturu Mahadeva, the Shakni Mahadeva, Bhairaon and Durga Mata.

Shoolini Mata Temple : Solan was named after Shoolini Mata and there is a very beautiful temple of Shoolini Mata in Solan. It is a very famous temples in Solan and attracts a lot of visitors from near and far. A state level Shoolini fair is held in the last week of June for three days. This fair is celebrated even before the present Solan town was founded in honour of the goddess 'Shoolini' whose temple is situated in the nearby village named Solan Gaon. It attracts traders, sweetsellers, general merchants and other shopkeepers to make brisk business. The highlight of this fair are dancing, singing and wrestling.

Jaloti Shiv Temple :
This is a very old temple and every year an annual fair is organised here on the occasion of Mahashivratri, which makes it a must see place, just 6-kms away from Solan.

Access
Nearest railhead and airport are at Shimla. Accessible by road from Solan and Shimla.