Solan

Solan is located in Himachal Pradesh near the Punjab border. It falls on the Chandigarh-Shimla Highway and has an elevation of 1550 m. It is a small city of the region which is known as the ‘City of Red Gold’ because of its significant contribution to the global supply of tomatoes. It is easily accessible by road, air, and train services from all major parts of India.

You can reach Solan by road, train, and air.

1) By Air- The nearest international airport to Solan in Himachal Pradesh is the Shimla Airport, also known as Jubbarhatti Airport. It is located around 50 km away from Solan, and takes around 1.5 hours to reach. Upon reaching the Shimla airport, you can easily catch trains, buses and even hire cars to reach your destination in Solan.

2) By Train- The nearest major railway station to Solan is Kalka Railway Station. It is located 40 km away from the destination, and takes around 1 hour 15 minutes to reach. From Kalka, you can either board another train or hire a cab to reach Solan. Shimla NG Express and Kalka Shimla Express are the trains running frequently from Kalka to Solan.

3) By Road- Solan is accessible by NH 5, which is connected with Shimla and Nalagarh. You can board a bus or hire a car from Shimla (45 km), Delhi (340 km), and Chandigarh (70 km) to reach this destination. Government bus services such as UTC and HRTC apart from private buses operate along this route.

Yes, Solan district in Himachal Pradesh is worth visiting because of its soft charm and significant attractions. The city houses some of the renowned temples, like the Shoolini Mata Temple and the Jatoli Shiv Temple. There is a famous monastery located here as well, known as the Yundung Monastery. You can also find the Solan brewery here, which is considered to be the first one of its kind as well as the oldest in the country.

Yes, it does snow in Solan during the winters. During the months of December and January, this place experiences snowfall because of its high altitude (1550 m). This is generally considered to be the waning tourist season in the area as the adventure sports are closed off. However, if you wish to spend a few days relaxing in the comfort of your room, the experience can be magical!

The Shoolini Mata Temple, the Yungdung Monastery and the Jatoli Temple in Solan are famous places to visit here. A typical local dish known as Solan Chana is quite famous here as well. The Dagshai Jail Museum of Solan is popular amongst tourists for gaining a knowledgeable insight about early prison systems of India, and the fact that Mahatma Gandhi was also held captive here by the British for sometime.

On your visit to Solan, you can indulge in the interesting sightseeing tour of the attractions here, like the Menri Monastery, Kali Tibba Temple, and Jakholi Temple. Apart from these, you can visit the Dagshai Jail Museum and get to see the prison cell where Mahatma Gandhi was held captive. You can also take a serene walk down the Gilbert trail, through the lush forests of pine and deodar trees.

Jatoli Mandir in Solan is a famous tourist and spiritual centre. It is known to be the highest temple in Asia, and is one of the oldest ones in the country. The architectural brilliance of this attraction offers a stunning sight to behold. It also conducts an annual fair on Mahashivratri, where thousands of tourists flock together to worship God Shiva.

There are multiple places to visit in Solan in Himachal Pradesh which can make your trip memorable. You can start with the Jatoli Shiv Temple and Shoolini Mata Temple. Then you can visit the Kali Tibba Temple and the Yundung Monastery. After that you can explore the spine chilling ambience of the Dagshai Jail Museum, and finally top off your journey by paying a visit to the Menri Monastery. Apart from these, you can consider visiting the sunset point and the Gilbert Trail as well.