The picturesque hill town of Nahan is located in the state of Himachal Pradesh and is the headquarters of the ancient Sirmaur district. Nahan sits amidst the Shiwalik mountain range at an average elevation of 932 meters above sea level. Founded in 1621, Nahan is known for its picturesque surroundings and marvelous views of the Himalayan Mountains.
It is also the capital of the erstwhile princely state of Sirmaur under the British and was a largely agricultural town till 1857 when a foundry for manufacturing agricultural tools was setup here. The foundry was then taken over by the British East India Company following the Anglo-Gurkha war and the town played a key role in the Anglo-Sikh and Anglo-Afghan war.
Climatic Conditions
Due to its moderate elevation in the Shiwalik hills of the Himalayas, Nahan enjoys a pleasant climate throughout the year, with sunny summers and chilly winters. The months from April till June are the hottest with temperatures upto 38 degrees, but the cool mountain winds make it habitable. The months from July till late September experience the maximum rainfalls and a mild drop in the temperature. Winter comes early in Nahan in mid-October and lasts till late-February. The winters are mild and pleasant but due to chill waves the temperatures can drop to freezing point.
Best Time to Visit
While Nahan is a picturesque hill town and can be visited throughout the year, the best time to visit is during the months from late-September till mid-November when the climate is the most pleasant with occasional showers throughout October.
Attractions/Places to Visit
Being a historic town and the capital of the erstwhile princely state of Sirmaur, Nahan is rich in culture and houses several manmade and natural tourist attractions. Nahan provides a good base for tourists who trek to the upper reaches of Himachal Pradesh. Being a largely agricultural town, Nahan houses several potato and ginger farms and peach plantations. The underground sewerage system in Nahan is also one of the best in India which keeps the town neat and clean with well planned streets that are great to walk around.
Villa Round, Renuka Lake, Mall Road, Hospital Round, Kaisthan Temple, Jagannath Temple, Shudh Dhar Shiv Mandir, Shiwalik Fossil Park, Trilokpur Temple and Dhaula Kuan etc. are the various attractions in and around Nahan.
How to Reach
Nahan is located at a short distance from the national capital Delhi and is well connected via road and railways. The nearest domestic air ports are located in Chandigarh, Dehradun and Shimla which are all well connected with Nahan. The nearest railway stations are located in the towns of Chandigarh, Kalka and Yamunanagar. One can get a bus from Delhi, Ambala, Chandigarh, Shimla and the surrounding towns and hill stations for Nahan.
Distance from Major Cities
1. Ambala – 68 Kilometers
2. Chandigarh – 84 Kilometers
3. Dehradun – 91 Kilometers
4. Shimla – 136 Kilometers
5. Ludhiana – 172 Kilometers
6. Delhi – 262 Kilometers
7. Jaipur – 504 Kilometers
8. Lucknow – 638 Kilometers
9. Indore – 1,145 Kilometers
10. Mumbai – 1,641 Kilometers
11. Ahmedabad – 1,170 Kilometers
12. Kolkata – 1,715 Kilometers
13. Hyderabad – 1,796 Kilometers
14. Bangalore – 2,387 Kilometers
15. Chennai – 2,421 Kilometers
Accommodation and Accessibility
Being a popular tourist town and the capital of Sirmaur district, Nahan houses several accommodation facilities from budget lounges to luxury hotels. Tourists often prefer Nahan as a base for several trekking expeditions into the Himalayas and the state capital Shimla. Getting around Nahan is majorly done on foot. The streets in Nahan are clean and well maintained making them great for casual walks.
Image Credits @ Anil Sharma
