Nahan

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Coordinates: 30.55° N 77.3° E

Nahan

Nahan
State
 - District(s)		 Himachal Pradesh
 - Sirmaur
Coordinates 30.55° N 77.3° E
Area
 - Elevation
 - 559 m
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
Population (2001)
 - Density		 25,972
 - 

Nahan is a town in Himachal Pradesh in India and is the capital of the Sirmaur District.

Contents

[edit] Geography

Nahan is located at 30.55° N 77.3° E[1]. It has an average elevation of 559 metres (1833 feet).

[edit] Demographics

As of 2001 India censusGRIndia, Nahan had a population of 25,972. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. Nahan has an average literacy rate of 80%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 83%, and female literacy is 77%. In Nahan, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

[edit] Nahan Town

A well-laid out picturesque town, Nahan is situated on an isolated ridge in the Shiwalik Hills, overlooking green fields. Traditionally, saints and princes are linked with the origin of Nahan. The city was founded as a capital by Raja Karan Prakash in 1621. Another version recalls a saint who lived with a companion named Nahar on the site where the Nahan palace now stands. "Nahar" means lion and the town probably takes its name from this saint.

At an altitude of 932 m, Nahan is a good base for visits to the surrounding areas such as Renuka, Paonta Sahib, Trilokpur temple and the Suketi Fossil Park. It has a pleasant climate throughout the year and is watered by a man-made lake and decorated with temples and gardens.

The gentle level walks of Villa Round, Military Round and Hospital Round are evocative of the city's past. The hub of Nahan's activities is Chaugan, Bikram Bagh and Khadar-Ka-Bagh. Gift shops, Rosin & Turpine factory and local temples are among the other major attractions. In the heart of Nahan town is Rani Tal, where a large temple and a tank from the days of ex-rulers of Sirmaur state can be seen. Ducks and cranes are seen playing in the Ranital Tank, and Ranital Garden further adds to the charm.

[edit] Suketi Fossil Park

Suketi Fossil Park, at a distance of 21 km from Nahan, displays lifesize fiberglass models of pre-historic animals whose fossil skeletons were unearthed here. The park is the first of its kind in Asia to be developed at the actual discovery site of fossils. The Park is located on the bank of the Markanda river and is approachable by a link road 4 km from Kalka-Ambala highway from Haryana. Located on upper and middle Shiwaliks, consisting mainly of soft sandstone and clay rocks, the park at present has six sets of life-size models, of Stegodonganesa, Sivatherium, Hexaprotodon sivalensis, Colosschelys atlas, Paramachaerdus and Crocodilia, Mesozoic animals which once thrived in the region.

[edit] Trilokpur Temple

Raja Dip Prakash built Trilokpur Temple in 1573 and is situated at a distance of 23 km from Nahan and 6 km from Kalka-Ambala highway, the gateway to Nahan from Haryana. Trilokpur is a place of great religious importance. The temple of the goddess Mahamaya Bala Sundri is very famous and attracts lakhs of pilgrims from all over northern India, especially from Haryana and Himachal. A fair is held twice a year during the Navratras in April and October when a large number of devotees visit this temple and pay their respects to the goddess.

[edit] Dhaula Kuan

On the road to Paonta Sahib 20 km from Nahan, it is worth while to stop and see a sprawling orchard consisting of citrus plants and mangoes and a fruit canning factory of various kinds of juices, jams, pickles and canned fruits. A little away from Dhaula Kuan is Kastasan Devi temple where Raja Jagat Singh defeated the advancing army of Rustam Qadir Rohilla in a great battle. Their victory is commemorated in the Devi Temple, built in gratitude by the Raja. Dhaula Kuan also has a research station of H.P., KVV where useful research on tropical fruits is carried out.

[edit] Giri Nagar

Situated at a distance of 7 km from Dhaula Kuan, this town has a power house of 60 MW capacity, constructed after diverting the Giri river through a 6 km long tunnel.

[edit] Transport infrastructure

[edit] Air

The nearest airport is Chandigarh, with Delhi as an alternative

[edit] Rail

The nearest railway stations are Ambala, Chandigarh and Kalka, which are connected by a regular bus service.

[edit] Road

Nahan is approachable from many directions by road: via Dehra Dun through Paonta Sahib; via Kalka-Ambala from Haryana and via Solan from Shimla. There are regular bus services linking it to the other towns like Manali, Delhi and Haridwar.

[edit] Fairs and Festivals

[edit] Bawan Dwadshi

Nahan celebrates Bawan Dwadshi towards the end of the monsoon, when fifty-two cult images of local gods are carried in procession to Jagannath temple, where they are floated ceremoniously in a pool and are restored at midnight to their niches.

[edit] Bala Sundari fair

The Bala Sundari fair is held at Trilokpur near Nahan, this coincides with the sacred days of the Navratras.

[edit] Shravan Sankranti

Shravan Sankranti is celebrated at Nahan, in the month of July, at Arki. Buffalo fights mark the Sair Fair that is cunducted in the honour of Banar devta of Shari. The Rampur Jatar is held near Jubbal in district Shimla.

[edit] Nearby Places

[edit] Education facilities

Recently, quite a few schools have sprung up in this small hilly town. However the more reputed ones are D.A.V. School and Government Shamsher Senior Secondary School for boys. There is also one government girls school. Also many coaching institutes have started offering guidance to students preparing for entrance examinations.

[edit] References

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