sirmour
Location: Himachal Pradesh
Altitude: 932m
Places of Interest: Nahan, Paonta Sahib, Bhangani, and Sirmuri Tal
Best Time To Visit: Mid-May to mid-October.
Himachal Pradesh is not only the land of snow and high mountains but also has lower hills known as Shivalik, where too the tourists can spend their vacations, see the wonders of nature like the big lakes, wild life parks/ sanctuaries and the fossil parks etc. One such area is district Sirmaur, where a triangle of 3 important tourist places namely Nahan, Renuka and Paonta Sahib, have attracted many tourists all round the year. The district headquarter of Sirmour is Nahan and has a pleasant climate throughout the year.
The Sirmaur district has the Shivalik hills in the south and the northern parts are made up of the forests and ravines of the first and second belt of the Himalayan ranges. The places here have man made lakes as well as natural ones, temples, tea gardens and ruins of ancient and not so ancient forts. This district connects the hills of Uttar Pradesh to the hills of Himachal.
Trilokpur is a place nearby that holds a fair, twice in a year, dedicated to the Goddess 'Bala Sundari'. The highest peak of the area is the 'Churdhan peak', which one can visit by passing through the villages of Dadahu, Sangrah, Bhawai, Gandhuri and Nahura. The Renuka Lake is a place of interest for the pilgrims as well as the general tourists and is the most beautiful lake of Himachal. Its shape is said to be that of a sleeping woman. In November, the Renuka Fair is held in honour of the mother of Parshu Ram i.e. Renuka Devi.
PRIME ATTRACTION
Nahan: Nahan a historic town pleasantly located on a ridge of Shivalik hills, has an outlook over green forests and valleys with the Churdhar Peak 3,647 meters dominating the scene. It is good base for short or long treks as well as to visit the other nearby places including Suketi Fossil Park. Nahan has three popular waking circuits, the Villa round, Hospital round and Military round, which are worth doing before starting any trek. The Chaugan a green ground is at the heart of the town, which has princely affiliations cherished remains of the old royal capital, Sirmouri Tal in the form of sculpture are displayed at Circuit House. Nahan is also famous for its Bawan Dwadashi Festival, held every year in month of September.
Paonta Sahib: It is a sacred city dedicated to the memory of Guru Gobind Singh the tenth Guru of Sikhs is situated on the right bank of river Yamuna and 45-km from Nahan on Nahan-Dehradun road. It is religious place for Sikhs with a Gurudwara. Paonta means, "foot" and the particular name has been derived after this because either the Guru set foot here or according to alternative story he lost his paonta or ring while taking bath in river Yamuna. It also said that the Yamuna flows without a ripple here because Guru calms down its turbulent water. Thousands of devotees throng here at the spring festivals of Holi and Baisakhi. Two Hindu temples are also situated over here, dedicated to Lord Rama and Lord Krishna.
Paonta Sahib, a city sacred to the memory of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs, is also a bustling township with growing industries. It retains tangibly memorials to the martial Guru in the form of his weapons and a majestic Gurudwara and recalls his presence even in the name of the city which is derived from "paon" meaning "foot" either because he set foot in this place or according to an alternative story, because he lost an ornament which he wore on his foot called a "paonta" while bathing in the river Yamuna which flows here.
Overlooking the river is the Gurudwara where Guru Gobind Singh held court and wrote the major portion of the "Dassam Granth". The Guru also built the Paonta Fort in over hundred acres of land, which housed not only his followers, but as many as 46 famous poets. Regular poetry reading sessions and symposiums were organized to encourage the sort form. The guru left Paonta Sahib after the battle of Bhangani with Raja Fateh Shah, in which he defeated the errant ruler's army after thirty days of battle.
Paonta Sahib is distinguished by its association with the Sikhs and attracts them by the thousands at the spring festivals of 'Baisakhi' and ' Holi'. There are also two Hindu temples, one dedicated to Lord Rama called Devi Ka Mandir and built by a princess, and the other is sacred to Lord Krishna.
Gurudwara Paonta Sahib (200m): This site was Guru Gobind Singh's home for over four years and it was here that he wrote the 'Dasam Granth'. Within its precincts are the 'Sri Talab Asthan', where he disbursed salaries and the 'Sri Dastar Asthan', where he judged the turban-tying competitions. At the Kavi Darbar Asthan, poetic symposia were held. There is also a memorial of 'Kalpi Rishi' and a museum that displays pens of the Guru and weapons of the time.
Yamuna Temple (200m): This ancient shrine is immediately below the Gurudwara and is dedicated to the Goddess Yamuna.
Gurudwara Bhangani Sahib (23-km): This commemorates Guru Gobind Singh's first battle when he defeated Raja Fateh Shah and his allies.
Gurudwara Tirgarh Sahib (22-km): This Gurudwara is built on the hillock from where Guru Gobind Singh shot arrows at the enemy.
Nagnauna Temple (16-km): Built in a hollow near the village of Puruwalla, this temple is closely allied with the legend of Sirmour's erstwhile ruling house.
Gurudwara Shergarh Sahib (12-km): At this spot Guru Gobind Singh beheaded a dangerous man-eating tiger with a single swipe of his sword.
Shiva Temple, Patlian: 5-km from Paonta Sahib, surrounded by fields and sal trees, the 'linga' in this temple is supposed to be steadily increasing in size.
Katasan Devi Temple: 30-km from Paonta Sahib, also known as Uttam Wala Bara Ban, this is on the Paonta Sahib-Nahan road. Local people revere the shrine. At this spot, the forces of Sirmour defeated the marauding armies of Ghulam Qadir Khan Rohiolla.
Balasundari Temple, Trilokpur: Legend has it that the Devi's 'pindi' appeared in the bag of salt brought by a local trader, Raja Deep Parkash of Sirmour in 1573. Close by is a recently built Shiva temple.
Ram Temple: Within Paonta Sahib and also known as the ‘Mandir Shri Dei Ji Sahiba’, this is located near the Yamuna Bridge. With exquisite marble work, his wife, who originally belonged to Sirmour, built this in 1889 in the memory of Raja Partap Chand of Kangra. The Kirpal Dass Gurudwara is just past the temple.
Bhangani: The exploits of Guru Gobind Singh are recalled again at the battlefield of Bhangani, 23-km from Paonta Sahib, where the Guru defeated the combined forces of twenty-two hill rulers, three of whom died fighting. Their wives, in grief, immolated themselves and monuments in Bhangani were raised to the dead rulers and their wives. Meanwhile, the victorious Sikhs found, they had further cause of jubilation in the timely birth of the Guru's first son. He was called, appropriately 'Ajit' meaning the 'invincible.'
Sirmuri Tal: Situated about 16-km northwest of Paonta Sahib on the river Giri, it is the site of ancient town of Sirmour. A legend surrounds the ruins of the old capital of the Rajas of Sirmuri Tal. It is said to have been destroyed by the curse of a court dancer when the king reneged on an oath to giver her half of his kingdom if she crossed the rivers gorge on a rope. This she did but the wily Raja offered her the entire kingdom if she could dance her way back. As she was half way across, he cut the rope hurling the helpless girl into the river. Floods followed which swept away the city, the raja and the royal house in fulfillment of the dancer's curse. So complete was her revenge that the kingdom was left without an heir until the king of Jaisalmer was invited to occupy the throne. The place has a haunting charm.
HOW TO GET THERE
Air: Chandigarh is nearest airport, which is 87-km from Nahan.
Rail: Ambala is the nearest Railhead 63-km from Nahan.
Road: Nahan is well connected by road. Regular buses and taxis available from Ambala and Chandigarh. Regular bus services linking it to the other towns like Manali, Delhi and Haridwar are also available.
NEARBY CITIES
Nahan: 90-km
Paonta Sahib:135-km
Renuka:112-km
Simuri Tal:128-km
Ambala:153-km
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