Solan Town
Distance : 45km from Shimla
¤ Attractions of The Town
Solan is one of those 20 pretty stations which lie on the
Kalka-Shimla track. The town is a quiet one with some great picnic
spots like Karol Tibba and Meteol Tibba. Numerous temples are
scattered in and around the place, and the must-see ones are the old
Jatoli Temple and that of Shilooni Devi.
Solan
also boasts of the Mohan Meakan brewery built in 1835, and is equally
known for the variety of vegetables and mushrooms it grows.
If you go visiting, dont even contemplate coming back without
the fabulous pickles the town has to offer. You'll also find some some
interesting pieces of colonial architecture in here. But that's not
all that the small Solan has to offer; there're some mineral water
springs in the region as well. and if youre interested in
picking up some local handicrafts, drop in at the Himachal Emporium.
¤ Festival Celebrations
Makar Sankranti
Though quite a small looking place, Solan is not without its
cultural splendour. Makar Sankranti is an important Hindu festival
here which occurs sometime in mid-January.
It is celebrated throughout the country, but in Solan, it is slightly
different all the local deities are brought together for the
celebrations. In fact, this gathering of devtas (gods) is a common
feature of all festivals in HP. Makar Sankranti is also the day when
people take dips in ponds and rivers in the belief that it will
cleanse them of their sins.
Solan Fair
Another important socio-cultural event here is the Solan Fair. It is
held on the second Sunday of June every year to honour the goddess
Shilooni, the presiding deity of the region. It used to be quite a big
event in the past but is now confined to some trading and selling,
wrestling matches and cultural programmes.
¤ Facilities
Transport
National Highway Number 22 runs between Kalka and Shimla, and
continues up to Rampur and beyond. The Shimla to Kalka stretch is
windy but rather good otherwise. It is lined with cafes and
restaurants. Buses ply regularly but its best to take the Shimla-Kalka
toy train.
¤ Accommodation
If at all youre planning to stay here, you could put up at
Himachal Tourisms Tourist Bungalow .
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