Nahan is a small town right in the middle of lush green mountains of Himachal Pradesh. The amazing beauty of Nahan conquers the hearts the very moment one steps into its realm. Verdant green woodlands, towering mountain ranges, perfectly carved river valleys and forceful blessings of mother nature at every step make Nahan a must visit for any nature and adventure lover. The town is situated right atop the stunning Shiwalik Hills.
Founded by the King Karan Prakash in 1621 the palace was named so after an incident in which it is believed that the king, trying to hunt a lion was stopped from doing so by a saint Baba Banwari Das, who said “Nahar (Don’t kill)?. The place continued to flourish under the king and thereafter and was often viewed as a compulsory pilgrimage by many due to variety of temples in the town.
Various festivals and a plethora of temples attract local populace from across the state to Nahan and it is an experience to be amongst these simpletons and enjoy their simple and uncomplicated lifestyle. The local markets and handicraft artisans are ever ready to dish out the best of souvenirs, Woolens items and Himachal caps for tourists.
Travel Attractions in Nahan
The gentle level walks of Villa Round, Military Round and Hospital Round are evocative of the city’s past. The hub of Nahan’s activities is Chaugan. The Mall Road is one of the favourite place of the youngsters after the college campus to walk along, specially in evening. Evening walk is one of the most common habit found in the citizens of Nahan. People regularly go for evening walk in the market and on The Mall. People like to meet in market and also visit the homes of friends on regular bases, mostly during this evening walk. Gift shops, Rosin & Turpentine factory and local temples are among the other major attractions. In the heart of Nahan town is Rani Tal, where a large temple and a tank from the days of ex-rulers of Sirmaur state can be seen. Ducks and cranes are seen playing in the Ranital Tank, and Ranital Garden further adds to the charm.
Pakka Talab is also being developed as a place to visit. A big fountain adds up to the beauty of the Pakka Tank, and the garden seats are being installed. Pakka Tank is also the place to celebrate two most important festivals of the town, that is Baman Dwadshi Fair and Gugga Peer Fair. Pakka tank is also well known for its whole sale vegetable market, which is under operation in all the mornings. The one and only Railway reservation centre of Nahan is also situated in the Panchayat Ghar, Pakka Tank.
Suketi Fossil Park
Suketi Fossil Park, at a distance of 21 km from Nahan, displays lifesize fiber reinforced plastic(FRP) models of pre-historic animals whose fossil skeletons were unearthed here. The park is the first of its kind in Asia to be developed at the actual discovery site of fossils. The Park is located on the left bank of the Markanda river and is approachable by a link road 4 km from highway from Haryana. Located on upper and middle Shiwaliks, consisting mainly of soft sandstone and clay rocks, the park at present has six sets of life-size models, of Stegodonganesa, Sivatherium, Hexaprotodon sivalensis, Colosschelys atlas, Paramachaerdus and Crocodilia, Mesozoic animals which once thrived in the region.
Trilokpur Temple
Raja Dip Prakash built Trilokpur Temple in 1573 and is situated at a distance of 23 km from Nahan and 6 km from Kalka-Ambala highway, the gateway to Nahan from Haryana. Trilokpur is a place of great religious importance. The temple of the goddess Mahamaya Bala Sundri is very famous and attracts lakhs of pilgrims from all over northern India, especially from Haryana and Himachal. A fair is held twice a year during the Navratras in April and October when a large number of devotees visit this temple and pay their respects to the goddess.
Dhaula Kuan
On the road to Paonta Sahib 20 km from Nahan, it is worth while to stop and see a sprawling orchard consisting of citrus plants and mangoes and a fruit canning factory of various kinds of juices, jams, pickles and canned fruits. A little away from Dhaula Kuan is Kastasan Devi temple where Raja Jagat Singh defeated the advancing army of Rustam Qadir Rohilla in a great battle. Their victory is commemorated in the Devi Temple, built in gratitude by the Raja. Dhaula Kuan also has a research station of H.P., KVV where useful research on tropical fruits is carried out.
Giri Nagar
Situated at a distance of 7 km from Dhaula Kuan, this town has a power house of 60 MW capacity, constructed after diverting the Giri river through a 6 km long tunnel.
Accommodation in Nahan
Budget rooms in Nahan are quite cheap and can be booked at around Rs 1,000 per night for a single room. If you are visiting during the latter half of the year, air conditioned rooms are not necessary as the weather is mostly cool.
Deluxe rooms are available in Nahan and they start at Rs 3,500 per night. Luxury suites are also available in Nahan for around Rs 7,500 per night.
These hotels offer a variety of facilities such as doctor on call, 24 hour room service, cable TV, swimming pool, laundry service, travel desk service, convention centre, health club, multi-cuisine restaurant, recreation rooms, meditation and yoga centers, and organize jungle trekking trips as well.
How To Get There
By Air : Nearest airports are Dehradun and Chandigarh. Chandigarh, which is about 100 km away from the city center, is well connected by air to Amritsar, Leh and Delhi. Dehradun is 65 km away from Nahan. From Delhi, one can reach anywhere in India and abroad. Taxis are available from the Chandigarh to Nahan and costs about Rs 2000.
By Train : Nearest railway station is Ambala, which is at a distance of 100 km from Nahan. Ambala is well connected to all major cities in India. There are regular train services from Delhi to Ambala. Taxis are available from railway station to Nahan and costs about Rs 2000.
By Bus : There are different kinds of bus services are available connecting Nahan with other cities, including Chandigarh. State owned buses are cheap and private deluxe buses charge generally Rs 4 per km.
Nahan Map
Himachal Pradesh, India
