Scenic Beauty blended with Adrenaline RUSH Nature’s calling…? NOTHING can be better than planning an excursion to Solan!… Yes, SOLAN! JUST 46 KM from the capital town of Himachal (Shimla)!!! Solan is a favorite among tourists who wish to escape from the crowds for a couple of days but seek the pleasures of home comfort and luxury. Also known as “Mushroom Capital of India, the town derives its name from Mata Shoolini the main deity of the place Popularly known as “Mushroom Capital of India for its mushroom center, there are many mushroom farms here. Solan is also known as the “City of Red Gold,” in reference to the bulk production of tomatoes.

A lone student wandering nearby spotted us and walked up to inform us that tourists didn’t come here any more; mushroom farms and breweries of Solan had become more exotic destinations. With its beautiful scenery, fascinating tourist places, luxurious resort & spa, a variety of wildlife, and thrilling things to do, Solan is becoming a hot favorite holiday destination amongst various genres of people. Read about Solan Tourism in Banao Yatra Easy articles.

Tourist Spot In Solan

Solan is home to many kinds of tourist destinations, including natural walking paths to a heritage park complex. Get the information on various tourist spots in Solan here.

1 – Kiarighat

Kiarighat is situated just a distance of 19 KM from Solan and is one of the most visited destinations. Kiarighat is much known for its scenic beauty among tourists. There is a wonderful accommodation spot at Kiarighat called the Apple Cart Inn, which was a Dak Bungalow turned guest house.

2 – Karol Tibba

Known for its natural beauty, Karol Tibba receives large numbers of picnickers and adventure travelers. Karol Tibba is also known for its religious significance. It is believed that Pandavas stayed here incognito. One such cave or Goofa is Sidh Goofa or a Karol Goofa. This is the lengthiest cave in the Himalayas. Very few temples, such as Hanuman Temple, Kali Temple, and Thakur Temple, are situated on this hill.

3 – Khetrapal Marg

It’s a trek where you should be able to see some of the most beautiful nature. There, a few interesting folklore are also related to it. So while in Solan, go for a long drive with your loved ones on this beautiful road accompanied by the majestic Deodar, Oak, and Pine Trees.

4 – Nalagarh Palace

Nalagarh Palace: Perched on a hilltop, Nalagarh Palace is one of the famous places to visit in Solan. This Palace has a heritage Fort Resort now. Travellers visiting this place are fascinated with the exceptional ornaments of the entrance of the Palace and the well attended and manicured gardens and laws of this Palace. The Palace is an example of a combination of the confluence of Mughal and Indian architecture. The right side of this Palace is known as Hans Mahal, where the rulers’ descendants are living.

Mohan Meakin Brewery Solan, one of the oldest breweries in the Indian subcontinent Which, is Nurtured some of the iconic brands of products that are known internationally. This brewery is very popular amongst the tourists, and most of them make it a point to visit this brewery in their visit to Solan.

Parks and Gardens in Solan

Solan boasts about patches of scintillatingly beautiful parks and gardens that have turned to the choice of parents and kids for their hangouts on weekends.

1 – Mohan Shakti Heritage Park

Even though the name says it is a park Mohan Shakti Heritage Park is a lovely temple complex. There’s a temple, vast plantation area, Ayurvedic healing programs and so forth. This heritage park is known as Mohan Shaktisthal and situated along the NH 22 beside river Aswini. The park boasts some of the best views and has become a place to visit not only for its beautifully carved marble statues, wooden doors and sandstone sculptures.

The sculptures are of gods of the Vedas and animals. The temple also houses statues of Lord Shiva and Devi Parvati. The idol of Lord Surya shines with full glory at top of the main tower, riding on his chariot of 7 horses. On the walls, there are copper and brass images of various Hindu Gods and Goddesses. You can then enjoy some leisure with tea and snacks at the dhaba or shops here after taking a gaze at the fine works of art at this heritage park.

2 – Jawahar Park

About Jawahar Park Jawahar Park, which is named after the first Prime Minister Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, is one of the prominent tourist attractions in Solan. Kids love to visit the mini zoo where one can find rabbits, cats, deer, and birds. The lush green lawns are left open for children to play , which includes children’s rides and a toy train. There are seating and walking trails for the adults.

3 – Children Park

Children Park- Solan: Children Park in Solan is the most visited place on the weekends and holidays. This park is situated on Mall Road. Children see it in throngs for its all sorts of fun rides. There is also a musical fountain and a café in which people sit and have some leisure time. The park is known for a children’s ride resembling an elephant (Haathi Gaadi).

Another popular park in Solan is the Subhas Chandra Bose Park on the hospital Road. There are also various open grounds in Solan where functions and sports are held in and around the town.

Historical Monuments in Solan

The story of Solan can be traced to the period of Mahabharata. Solan was one of the many princely states in the region, which were more or less under the suzerainty of the British. This is where the revolt against the British Army in 1920 occurred. Details of a few historical monuments in Solan are as follows:

1 – Gurkha Fort

Arki Fort or Gurkha Fort It has witnessed the struggle between the Gurkhas and the British in the early 19th century. Gurkha Fort was captured by the Gurkhas and it stayed under the Gurkha rule for sometime 1815 – 1816 as part of the territory of the Baghal Rulers. The Fort was subsequently renovated by the Baghal Rulers with the help of the British Army. In the year 1850, the entire Fort was renovated by Raja Kishen Chand of the Mughal Dynasty. The Fort is visited by art lovers as it has beautiful Pahari-style murals.

2 – Nauni Fort

The magnificent Nauni Fort crowns the top of a hill at Solan. You can even perceive the walls of this Fort from a distance. It served as a watch tower to watch the enemy’s’ activities. It can be reached within an hour’s trek from the nearest road, which is also motorable, situated on the Solan-Rajgarh road.

Museums in Solan

Solan has the pride of having its only museum named Dagshai Museum, which was actually a jail during British Rule.

1 – Dagshai Jail Museum

The only museum Solan has is the Dagshai Jail Museum. This Central Jail, which was constructed in the year 1849, has now been transformed into a museum showcasing some of the important exhibits of the Colonial Rule in India. The jail has 54 cells with 16 of them having no windows. These cells were used to keep the prisoners in solitary confinement. This jail-turned-museum had witnessed the execution of many important rebels and prisoners here. The Gorkha Rebels of the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny were brought to this jail. Sikh soldiers who tried to escape from this jail and the leader of the Irish mutineers were also executed there.

Religious Places in Solan

Associated with Hinduism and Buddhism for ages, Solan uses some famous temples and monasteries. The information about some of the religious places in Solan is given below:

1 – Shoolini Mata Temple

The famous temple of Shoolini Mata, located in Solan, gets flocked with visitors from all over the world, especially during the Shoolini Fair held in June. Local traders and merchants put up stalls of different items at this fair.

The temple of Shoolini Mata is located in the Solan Gaon, a nearby village, and traditional dances, songs, and wrestling competitions are held during the fair.

2 – Jatoli Shiv Temple

Situated at a distance of 6 KM from Solan, Jatoli Shiv Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is considered one of the sacred places of the Hindus. During the festival of Mahashivaratri, a special fair is organized here every year. The temple remains open from 7 AM to 6 PM.

3 – Drona Shiva Temple

Located amidst dense woods on the top of a hill, Drona Shiva Temple is situated in Ambota Village in Solan. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva who is worshiped as a Shiva Linga here. It is believed that Sage Dronacharya, the teacher of the Pandavas and the Kauravas, built this temple.  The samadhis of many sages, namely Tameshwargiri, Gangagiri, Somagiri, Ichchagiri, and Harigiri, can be seen beside this temple.

4 – Bonpo Monastery

Bonpo Monastery is also known as Yung Drung Ling or YungDrung Tibetan Monastery. This ancient Monastery has a statue of Lord Shenrab Mibo. This Monastery is the oldest Tibetan Monastery in India and the second oldest Monastery in the world. Located at Nauni, a place that is 12 KM away from Solan City, Bonpo Monastery attracts Buddhists and people from other religions on the occasion of New Year. Every year, Buddhist Lamas perform Cham Dance on the eve of New Year at this age-old Monastery.

Wildlife in Solan

Due to its rich flora and fauna, Solan has wildlife sanctuary that has emerged as the home of many endangered and common species of plants and animals.

1 – Shilli Wildlife Sanctuary

EXISTING WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES The Shilli Sanctuary was established in 1974, and the town of Solan is a few kilometers away from it. This sanctuary covers 2.14 square KM of area in all and some unique types of fauna and flora can be found over here. Indian Porcupine, Goral, Barking Deer, Common Langur, etc are the animals to be seen here. Dry Deciduous trees are found in the area and Ban Oak Trees are seen in abundance in the forest tract. Mohan Shakti Peeth, Yung Drung Monastery, and Kuthar Fort are other attractions near this wildlife sanctuary.

2 – Majathal Wildlife Sanctuary

Geography Majathal Wildlife Sanctuary is spread over an area of 556.7 KM but is home to a diverse range of Fauna and flora. Gorals, goats, and cheer pheasants abound in the protected area of Majathal Sanctuary. There are Jungle Houses within this sanctuary where tourists can be accommodated. From Kashlog on the shimla/Bilaspur road.On foot down to this sanctuary.

3 – Darlaghat Wildlife Sanctuary

Covering six sq km, Darlaghat Wildlife Sanctuary in Solan is the home to a variety of animals and plants. The forest is temperate, subtropical vegetables. The animals then found are the Barking Deer, Wild Boar, Black Bear and the Sambar. The possible birds you see are Red Jungle Fowl, Chukor, and Khaleej. During the winter season, many birds of passage frequent the spot.

There is an arrangement for Eco-Trekking in this wildlife sanctuary, which the HPTDC conducts. Darlaghat Sanctuary has a distance of 115 km on NH 88 on Shimla Bilaspur Road. This forest had been declared a sanctuary in the year 1974. The best season to visit here is the Spring season (March to May).

Things to Do in Solan

Solan has everything for all. Whether you are a kid and looking for some of the best adventure sports or you are in Solan with your family, in Solan, you will come across ample opportunities to enjoy to the fullest. From Camping to trekking, hiking to skiing, horse riding to river rafting, you can indulge in all this in Solan. Some of the famous campsites at Solan are Pine Hills Eco Camp and Sanawar Eco Site.

Apart from numerous sightseeing spots, Solan also has shopping malls and markets that offer the best shopping to the tourists on their tour of this place. These shops sell clothes, caps, woolen material, wooden items, and many more crafts. You can also find fresh fruits, dry fruits, and fruit products in plenty in these marketplaces.

Tibetan products, including Thangkas, clothes, Tibetan shoes, and jewelry, are also available in various places of Solan, especially the Tibetan Market. Some of the renowned markets in Solan are Chowk Bazaar, Mall Road, Ganj Bazar, Lower Bazaar, Upper Bazaar, Dang Mall, City Center Plaza, Kapoor Complex, Kali Ghata Shopping Complex, Anand Cineplex Mall, Platinum Mall and Tibetan Market within Anand Complex.

Solan in One Day

If you are planning to visit a day in Solan and do not want to miss the major sightseeing in town, it really needs a smart plan. After early breakfast at any restaurant or Café in Solan, like Café 7, Republic of Chicken, Himani, or Chanakya Restaurant, you can proceed to Shoolini Devi Temple, the most visited temple of Solan. I spent some time there praying to the Goddess and seeking her blessings. The other two places that could be visited for about an hour are the Jatoli Shiv Temple and Drona Shiva Temple. If you are interested to know what’s Buddhism and its rituals then don’t forget to not have Bonpo Monastery out of your visiting list.

If you are here with kids or older adults, you may want to go to a children’s park as well for refreshing, and visiting Jawahar Park or Mohan Park is ideal. #MohanHeritagePark # CourseForSpirituality, #courses on wildlife, #UnvillageofIndia You will indeed be visiting a new world in Mohan Heritage Park where spirituality, wellness, and wonders of nature and its tranquility will be equally shared. In between, again, overeat the local delicacies in the dhabas spread all over Solan.

If you are an adventure buff and regular tourist places are not your type then you can opt for the wildlife sanctuary or trekking or camping in Solan. You’ll find a lot of other wildlife watching and outdoor adventures back around the mid part of Kansas, and you’d have to spend considerable time exploring there, but you’d have some great hours here.

A visit to the local shops of Solan is a must for the shopping freaks. Shops across marketplaces from Mall, the Chowk Bazaar, and Upper and Lower Bazaar will have a variety of locally made goods available from this region. You can purchase them to decorate your house or as gifts for friends. After shopping you can have Lip Smacking delicacies at the nearby stalls accompanied with a cup of hot tea/coffee. You will end your busy daily routine after having a wonderful dinner and preparing yourself to sleep.

Places Near Solan

Such places , which are not very far from Solan Town, keep pulling visitors of every kind. These places near Solan are:

Barog

Ontime – Barog was a small village, which has now become famous due to the Britisher who got the tunnel made here. Barog is situated on the Kalka-Shimla Highway and Choor Chandni Peak is its other attraction. It is the longest tunnel in the Kalka-Shimla railway. Barog is situated at a distance between 4 to 3 KM from Solan .

Salogra

Salogra is located 6 KM from Solan Town. Some pretty tourist places,especially villages with beautiful landscapes, lie very near to Salogra. These are Mashiwar, Mahi, Top-ki-Berh and Basal. Trekking is one of the popular activities that gets arranged very frequently in Salogra. Deodar and Pine thick forest are this place is one of the eye-catching places near Solan.

One-Day Trip from Solan

You can even plan short trips to places near Solan. One can visit to these places within an hour journey and can return back to Solan after enjoying one full days’ stay over there. Here are the details of the different places where you can take one day trips from Solan.

Nahan

Nahan is a beautiful town where greenery and mountains covered with snow are a common sight. Situated on the Shivalik Hills, Nahan is just 90 km from Solan. It takes approximately 2 hours to reach Nahan from Solan. Nahan provides a beautiful experience for tourists through the following places of interest: Suketi Fossil Park, Renuka Lake, Simbalbara Wildlife Sanctuary, Rani Tal, Jaitak Fort, Bikram Bagh, Khadar-ka-Bagh. Nahan is also blessed with several religious sites, including Trilokpur Temple, Renuka Temple, and Jagannath Temple. Trekkers frequent Nahan for many trekking and other activities of Churdhar Peak and Jamu Peak.

Naldehra

The natural beauty of Naldehra is known worldwide. It is about 2044 meters in height and is a remote religious place of Hindu significance. One well known temple is that of Mahunag temple in Naldehra. Naldehra, being situated at a distance of approximately 68 KM from Solan, the overall travel time to reach here is 2 hours. Naldehra Golf Course is a world-famous golf course and is visited by golf lovers from across the globe. The best time to come here is between March to June and then from August to December. Trekkers and trekkers are adventure enthusiasts who mostly look to Shailey Park. Rafting in White Water is done through Shabbat village in Naldehra.

Nashoba

Nashoba is the splendid hill station of Himachal Pradesh. It is just 55 KM distant from Solan. Mashorba is just 1 hour drive away from Solan. Mashorba is a perfect place for a day tour from Solan. Mashobra is famous for its panoramic views and variety of flora and fauna. Tourists can do some local fresh fruit shopping in Mashobra, which is a major producer of fruits in the state and beyond. A fair is held in Mashobra, Mahasu Fair dedicated to Mahasu Devta. It’s held in May near the Durga Mata Temple of Mashobra.

Kurfi

Kurfi is situated 59 KM away from Solan, and the overall travel time is approximately 1 hour. Places of InterestFagu and The Great Himalayan Nature Park in Kufri are major tourist attractions throughout the world. Wooden carved beautiful temples have attracted people from across the globe – both pilgrims as well as art aficionados. Kurfi is a famous adventure place that brings activities like trekking, hiking, skiing, camping, horse riding, etc. This place is also renowned for adventurous activities as well. The right time to visit Kufri is between March and November.

Best Time to Visit Solan

Solan Best Time to Visit February to November months are also considered appropriate times to travel to Solan as the weather remains pleasant, and you can visit the place for sightseeing and other activities. The maximum temperature of Solan may range between 30 0C to 35 0C during the months of April, May and June but a lot of tourists prefer visiting during these months wherein the summer festival is celebrated here and around Solan.

How to Reach Solan

Solan is easily accessible from among other states in Himachal Pradesh and the adjoining states. Solan India can be easily reached by rail, road and air. The closest airport is Shimla Airport to Solan. Solan is nearly 45 KM far from Shimla. Taxis, private buses and state buses can be availed by travellers to reach Solan from Shimla Airport. The closest international airport to Solan is the Chandigarh Airport.

Solan is on broad gauge and narrow gauge track connected with Kalka, located 40 km to the south, and is a popular tourist destination for the Kali temple in Solan. Network Kalka is a major railway station of Indian Railway on the Delhi to Shimla broad gauge railway line. Kalka is linked by road with other places, including Delhi, Ambala, Chandigarh, Shimla, Ludhiana, Dehradun, Amritsar, and north India. Adequate communication services are available on Kalka to reach Solan.

Solan is on the National Highway 22, which has been widened to accommodate more traffic. Solan boasts two bus stands. One such is the main bus stand, which is seasonal and, although at the bottom of the Judicial Complex, lies slightly towards the downside of the ITI Solan. Solan has one more bus stand on Mall Road, which is known as the City Bus Stand. Solan is well connected to other places in the state and out of the state by the deluxe and luxury private and the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus services. Mudrika Bus Service also links local places in Solan City.