Nahan

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 was often viewed as a compulsory pilgrimage by many due to variety of temples in the town. Perched at an altitude of 950m, Nahan presents an all weather option of visit and enjoyment because of it being closer to the plains than the higher peaks. Apart from a host of beautiful picnic and nature lover spots and attraction Nahan town and its picturesque surroundings are sure to mesmerize any human being with its uncharted forest routes and soothing greenery. 

Sightseeing in Nahan-

Ranzor Palace: Ranzor Palace is one of the prime attractions of Nahan. Also known as Royal Palace of Nahan, the palace has only recently been opened for public visit.

Rani Tal: The royal family that ruled the region of Nahan had made special arrangements for tehir family entertainment and leisure. The Rani Tal (Queen’s Lake) is one such spot where the entire Lake was earmarked for the royal family. However, with passage of time, the lake has been developed as a picnic spot and attracts hundreds of nature lovers everyday. The lake has been beautifully decorated and lush green lawns and palm fringed walks border the crystal clear waters of the Rani Tal. Apart from the eating joints and boating facility the high dome Shiva temple is also an added attraction which galvanizes the visitors to the lake.

Suketi Fossil Park: Welcome to the Jurassic era of ancient Indian plateau. The Suketi Fossil Park is world famous for its display of Fossils and life size fiber models of some of the extinct species that roamed these lands. This is the site of largest Fossil find in India and is frequently visited by students and scholars undertaking research on the fossil find. The mammalian fossils are particularly famous and include the fossils and the models of the extinct giant land tortoise, gharial, four-horned giraffe, saber-toothed tiger, large-tusked elephant, hippopotamus etc. The park is approx. 25 km from Nahan is open from 9.30 am - 5 pm daily except Tuesdays. The Park created by Geological Survey of India and Himachal Pradesh Government has been carefully maintained and nourished. It is also possible to visit various other fossil excavation sites around the park.

Renuka Wildlife Park: A small yet significant wildlife sanctuary in the Sirmour district, the Renuka Wildlife park is visited by the tourists all the year round. Here tourists can take up various jungle tours and sight wide varieties of animals in their natural habitat. Sprawling on an area of 4.028 sqkm, the wildlife sanctuary also has a temple and a lake, which attracts tourists all the year round.

Renuka Lake: Riding upon the legends in the lands of Himachal, the picturesque Renuka lake presents a story of obedience and rage of the Sage Jamdagni and his son Parsurama. The Sage in a fit of anger ordered his son to kill his own mother. The obedient son that he was, parsuram did exactly as told and killed his mother Renuka. However, upon realizing their folly, they carved out a lake which was shaped in the form of sleeping Renuka and named it Renuka Lake. The Lake is about 40 km from Nahan and with its crystal clear water and beautiful sloping surroundings, is considered the most beautiful lakes in Himachal.

Simbalwara Wildlife Sanctuary: The ardent woodlands of Sal forests and the lush green grassy pastures of the Simbalwara Wildlife Sanctuary, situated near Nahan play host to a variety of avian guests. The bird life at the Sanctuary is a picturesque spectrum of colorful and many a migratory birds. Arguably the most scenic and picturesque natural zone of Shiwaliks the entire region is blessed with abundance of greenery and steady water streams criss-crossing each other. The Simbalwara Forest Rest House affords a magnificent view of colorful valleys and natural greenery at its very best. Various wild animals like Sambhar, Goral, and Chittal are frequently spotted along the walking trails in the forests.

Jaggannath Temple: One of the rare occurrence of mostly Eastern God’s temple is that of the Jaggannath temple which has been constructed in 1681 by the then King, Raja Budh Prakash. Quite similar to the original Puri temple legend, the Lord himself is believed to have visited the King in his dreams and conveyed the desire to be removed from the Peepal tree base and installed in a proper temple. Promptly the temple was ordered by the King and the same still stands tall with its serene and calm atmosphere and typical Himachal architecture. Lord Neel Madhav resides in the sanctum and the temple with its beautiful surroundings is a must visit in Nahan.

Jaitak Fort: The Jaitak hills near Nahan and Sirmour present a royal Jaitak Fort perched atop its plain. The fort is believed to have been constructed out of the material which was recovered from the destroyed and devastated Nahan Fort in 1810. The Gorkhs leader Ranjor Singh Thapa and his brave men hade attacked and ransacked Nahan fort and Palace and constructed this majestic Jaitak fort atop the Jaitak hill. Situated around 25 Km from the town of Nahan the fort Jaitak is magnificent due to its location and affords a breathtaking view of the surrounding beauty due to its strategic setting.

How to reach-

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. 

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.

By Bus: There are different kinds of bus services available, connecting Nahan with other cities, including Chandigarh. State owned buses are cheap and private deluxe buses are a little expensive.