HISTORY OF NAHAN
The quiet town of Nahan has not been a place that has been frequently visited by many travelers. The reason behind this being the fact that its heritage, beauty and culture have all been underestimated by most. The small town has a small population and is growing to become one of the most wanted destinations. The landscapes, the temples and the natural parks there are a growing attraction for a lot of tourists. Even though Nahan itself is situated on a lower height, there are many excellent places to visit which can offer breathtaking views, cooler breeze and never-ending greenery that can pleasure the eyes till they shut.
Nahan is the headquarters of Sirmaur district and the town itself is only 245 kms from Delhi. Based in the heart of Shiwalik hills and overlooking pine forests, it is a picturesque town with some great history. Favorite areas to visit among the tourists are Renuka Lake, Paonta Sahib, Churdhar, Haripurdhar etc. With so much of untapped potential as far as history, heritage, snow capped mountains, peace & greenery are concerned, there is no denying the fact that its beauty had not been appreciated the way it is being appreciated now.
Nahan, however, is an underdog that has created for itself a unique position in Himachal’s tourist destinations. The city has been the home of princes & saints dating, some dating as early as 1621. Founded by Raja Karan Prakash, the city’s name originated from a very unusual & interesting incidence when a king was trying to kill a lion and saint “Baba Banwari Das” said “Nahar” – single word for “Don’t kill it!” Nahan Palace also derived its name from Nahar, a companion who lived with the saint. The city stepped into the industrialization phase a little later in 1875 and has advanced into being the base ground for many industrial areas surrounding it like Baddi, Kala-Amb etc.
DEMOGRAPHICS
According to the National Census as conducted in 2005, Nahan has a resident population of 34,632 (Male-54% , Female 46%). The average literacy rate goes up to 80% which is even higher than the national literacy rate.
WHAT TO DO?
The small & peaceful town plays host to various local, cultural festivals throughout the year and is famous for its places of religious importance like Rani Tal Shiv Temple, Miyan Madar, Shiv Ji Temple Saltveni, Kalisthan Temple & others. Renuka Lake & Shri Shring Caves are also a popular picnic spots for the local residents. These places are a must visit during your trip to Nahan. Renuka Lake is the largest man-made lake in Himachal.
FESTIVALS & FAIRS
Nahan enjoys its share of local fests & melas, some even of historical might like Bawan Dwadshi (celebrated towards the end of monsoon), Guuga Peer Mela (celebrated to honor the warrior-hero of the region, GogaJi), Jamta Fair (organized by the Gram Panchayat 2 days before Dusshehra).
EDUCATION
Schooling is a serious matter in the town of Nahan and has many good public as well as private schools. Some reputed ones are:
1. Carmel Convent School
2. Army Public School
3. DAV Public School
4. Holy Heart Public School
5. Silver Bells School
CAMPING OPTIONS NEAR NAHAN
Nahan has a decent climate all throughout the year. But 30 kms from Nahan, lies a quiet little offbeat destination called Kangojodi where Camp Roxx is situated. Those looking for camps in Nahan should try this option out as it is in the middle of a 7 kms long Pine forest with highly exclusive facilities & cottages for comfortable accommodation. Other camps in Nahan cannot be compared to the excellent food, service & adventure activities that this one has to offer.
