Solan Tourism, Solan Hotels, Tourism in Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India

Solan is situated midway between Kalka and Shimla. the fine climate of this place round the year makes it an ideal destination for all seasons. There is famous ‘Mohan Meakin's Brewery’ in Solan, set up in 1855 A.D. The mountains near Solan offer interesting trekking possibilities and its streams are well stocked with a variety of game fish. Solan district is covered by catchment areas of three important rivers, namely Satluj, Yamuna and Ghagar. It is the third largest municipal corporation of Himachal Pradesh, after Shimla and Dharamshala.

Solan is easily accessible from Delhi, Punjab and Chandigarh and has some beautiful and famous places to explore around i.e. Chail, Arki, Kasauli, Barog, Nalagarh, Timber Trail etc. Chail and Kasauli are the prime attractions of Solan as far as the tourism in Solan is concerned. The view of suurounding hills is highly charming from Chail. At night the twinkling nights of Shimla look like the part of the starlit sky.

Some fairs and festivals are celebrated in Solan i.e. Solan fair, Sari fair, Lossar festival etc. among which the Solan fair is very famous and attracts a lot of visitors from near and far. There are some beautiful temples in Solan i.e. Shoolini Mata temple, Hanuman temple, Jaloti Shiv temple. Hanuman temple is situated at the highest point in Solan and greets the visitors with refreshing winds and provides a panoramic view of the surrounding areas.

There is no big lake in Solan area but Solan shares its boundary with Bilaspur and there is a very famous lake in Bilaspur named Gobind Sagar Lake and provides visitors with a number of water sports activities. This large and beautiful lake is not much far from Solan. There is another lake near Solan named Karali lake which falls in Shimla. Tourism in Solan offers some great wildlife sanctuaries i.e. Shilli sanctuary, Chail sanctuary, Majathal sanctuary, Darlaghat sanctuary, which can be of great interest to visitors who are interested in wild life in Solan.

Solan is a very fine place for various kind of tourism activities. Solan also acts as a gateway to Shimla and so can be visited easily. Also the overall weather of Solan is much smoother than Shimla and so can be visited in almost all seasons. Solan is a fine tourist destination of Himachal.

Chail :
An ideal resort surrounded by scented Pine and Deodar forests. It was once the summer resort of the Maharaja of Patiala. It is located on a wooded spur and it overlooks the Satluj Valley. Shimla and Kasauli are also visible and at night the scene of twinkling lights of Shimla looks charming and seems like the part of the starlit sky.

Arki :
It is the sub-division headquarter and is situated at 39 km. from Shimla and 7 km. from Shalaghat on Shimla-Bilaspur road. It was the capital of Parmar Dynasty in ancient time. The King's palace is an example of the ancient art. The peaceful surrounding and the beautiful King's palace makes this place worth a visit. Suitable for those looking to spend some offbeat time.

Kasauli :
77 km. from Kalka, at an altitude of 2,107 metres. Kasauli is a charming and quiet place for relaxation. It is a little town with dainty English Cottages set in gardens spilling with flowers, easy and beautiful paths and old fashioned shops. This town seems frozen in time. This pretty hill resort is a prefect picture of tranquil surroundings, soaked in the charm of chir pines, firs, rhododendrons, oaks and willows. It is a famous hill resort and attracts a lot of tourists. It is also called lesser Shimla.

Barog :
It is a bautiful place, just 37 km. from Kalka and 5 km. from Solan. It 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 travelers indulged in a lavish lunch. Today, this little town with refreshing air and fine views, is a little holiday destination in itself. It is well surrounded by Pine forests.

Nalagarh :
It is 45 km. from Pinjore in Haryana and the half-way point on the road to Swarghar. Nalagarh was the capital of princey with the same.

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.

Hamunam Temple :
A small Hanuman temple is situated on the top of the Monkey point which is situated in Kasauli. As name suggests, this temple is dedicated to Lord Hanuman. The top of the hill is in foot shape and it is believed that Hanuman touched the hill by his foot when he was returning from Himalaya with Sanjivani Booti, a medical herb to help cure Lord Rama and Lakshman. Monkey point provides a marvelous night view of Chandigarh area in on a creal night. Monkey point is the highest point in Kasauli area and it is located 4 km. from the Kasauli bus stand. It provides a panoramic view of the plains of the Chandigarh area and Satluj river. The climate of this place is soul refreshing and is worth a visit for tourists exploring Solan.

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.

Gobind Sagar Lake :
The nearest famous lake is Gobind Sagar Lake which lies in district Bilaspur and extends well into district Una. Solan has a direct route to Bilaspur and also shares the boundary with it, so this gorgeous lake can be of great attraction for tourists visiting Solan. It is an artificial lake formed as a result of the world famous Bhakra Dam on the river Sutlej in district Bilaspur. It is one of the world's highest gravity dams, the Bhakra rises 225.5 m above its lowest foundations. Water sports are available - as are speed-boat and ferry rides. In october and November, when the water and water level of the reservoir is at its peak, a series of regattas are also organised by the Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation. Water-skiing, sailing, kayaking and water-scooter racing become available at this time.

Karali Lake :
This lake having beautiful surroundings lies in Shimla. It is located on the Chhota Shali hillock just on the other side of Shali peak. The size of the lake is almost equal to the size of the Annadale ground of Shimla. The water os the lake is not very clean but from a great way up the hill, its first sight between the trees is unforgettable, because of, it is shining like a big emerald in the Sun. The location of the lake is beautiful and worth a visit.

Shilli Sanctuary :

Altitude : varies from 1230 meters to 1845 meters.
Annual Rainfall : mean annual rainfall is 1150 mm.
Temperature : temprature varies from -4 to 30°C.
Area : 214 hectares ( 2.14 sq. km. ).
Location : nearest town is Solan.
Approaches : Solan town to inside sanctuary.

It was first notified as a sanctuary in 1963 and re-notified on 27th March 1974. Shilli sanctuary is the smallest sanctuary in Himachal Pradesh. Being located within a thickly populated area. It is disturbed, but has one of the last stretches of oak in the area. It was earlier a protected forest.

Flora
Forest types include northern tropical dry deciduous forest and Ban Oak forest.

Fauna ( Mammals )
Barking Deer, Goral, Indian Hare, Jackal, common Langur, Leopard, Marten and Indian Porcupine.

Chail Sanctuary :

Altitude : varies from 701 meters to 2180 meters.
Annual Rainfall : mean annual rainfall is 1602 mm.
Temperature : temprature varies from 4 to 28°C.
Area : 10,854.36 hectares ( 108.54 sq. km. ).
Location : nearest town is Chail. this sanctuary falls in district Solan and district Shimla
Approaches : Shimla to Chail or Solan to Chail.

It was notified a sanctuary on 21st March 1976. Formerly the game reserve of the erstwhile Maharaja of Patiala, it is now heavily degraded. Yet it contains one of the world's most significant population of the greatly threatened Cheer Pheasant as well as a herd of European Red Deer, introduced half a century ago by the former Maharaja of Patiala.

Flora
Forest Types include Himalayan sub-tropical pine forests, Banoak forest and Moru Oak forest. The dominant forest tree is the white or Silver Oak, mixed at lower altitude with Chil Pine. Tree Rhododendron forms pure stands in a few places and Deodar have been sown in some areas.

Fauna ( Mammals )
Himalayan Black Bear, Indian Wild Bear, Leopard Cat, Barking Deer, Red Deer, Goral, Indian Hare, common Langur, Leopard, Rhesus Macaque, Himalayan yellow throated Marten, Indian Porcupine, Sambar, common Giant and Kashmiri flying Squirrel, Locally threatened species are Leopard, Chir or Cheer Pheasant and Red Deer. A Cheer Pheasant breeding and rehabilitation program has been started in 1988.

Majathal Sanctuary :

Altitude : varies from 900 meters to 1966 meters.
Annual Rainfall : mean annual rainfall is 1040 mm.
Temperature : temprature varies from 1 to 29°C.
Area : 3,938.86 hectares ( 39.39 sq. km. ).
Location : nearest town is Shimla.
Approaches : Shimla to inside sanctuary or Solan to Shimla to inside sanctuary.

It was first notified as a sanctuary in 1962 and re-notified on 27th March 1974. This Oak forest area is located in the catchment of the Satluj River and contains typical low altitude western Himalayan flora and fauna. Studies have established this sanctuary to be possibly the single most important locality for chir or cheer pheasant in the world.

Flora
Only Ban Oak forest.

Fauna ( Mammals )
Himalayan Black Bear, Indian Wild Bear, jungle Cat, common Palm Civet, Himalayan Palm Civet, barking Deer, Goral, Jackal, common Langur, Leopard, Rhesus Macaque, Himalayan yellow throated Marten and Sambar. A species believed to be locally threatened is the Cheer Pheasant.

Darlaghat Sanctuary :

Altitude : varies from 1075 meters to 2070 meters.
Annual Rainfall : mean annual rainfall is 1040 mm.
Temperature : temprature varies from 1 to 30°C.
Area : 9,226.80 hectares ( 92.27 sq. km. ).
Location : nearest town is Shimla.
Approaches : Bilaspur to Shimla to Darlaghat to inside sanctuary.

It was first notified as a sanctuary in 1962 and re-notified on 27th March 1974. A heavily disturbed area with some small population of Kaleej pheasant and Chukor partridge. Much of the area is under cultivation. Majathal Sanctuary adjoins the North-East boudary.

Flora
Forest types include Tropical Euphorbia Scrub and Ban Oak forests.

Fauna ( Mammals )
Indian Wild Bear, Himalayan Palm Civet, barking Deer, red Indian Fox, Goral, Indian Hare, Jackal, Leopard, Marten and Indian Porcupine. Locally threatened species are Chukor Pertridge and barking Deer.

Fairs in Solan

Solan Fair :
Solan 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 'Shulini' 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.

Sari Fair :
It is held in district Solan at town 'Arki in the month of July. This fair is famous for bull fighting. It is a famous fair in Arki area and attracts a lot of visitors from near and far.

Festivals in Solan

Lossar :
This festival is celebrated in the entire tribal belt of Himachal Pradesh and in the Tibetan colonies at Manali, Shimla, Dharamshala, Solan and Baijnath. The old Buddhist shrine, celebrating Padamsambhava's marriage with a local Princess at Rewalser in Mandi district also emerges as a pivotal attraction for these religious celebrations. This festival means a beginning of a new year and is held in the last week of February.One can witness a Chham dance, various mask dances and dramas remniscent of the post Buddhist culture with traditional orchestra.