Blessed with a pleasant climate all the year round. Solan has an old brewery and a sprawling horticulture and forestry university. HPTDC hotel and restaurant are available.

APPROACH

RAIL: The nearest broad gauge railway station is at Kalka and nearest narrow gauge railway station is at Solan, which are connected by regular bus services.

ROAD: Solan is approachable by road from Shimla and Chandigarh.

WHAT TO SEE

KASAULI: 77 k.m. from Shimla and 35 k.m. from Kalka, at 1927 metres is a quaint little town that seems to exists in a time wrap in an era that reminds one of the 19th century. Its colonial ambience is reinforced by cobbled paths, quaint shops, gabled houses with charming facades and scores of neat little gardens and orchards. Kasauli is surrounded by a mixed forest of chir-pine, Himalyan oak and huge horse-chestnuts. Its narrow roadslither up and down the hillsides and offer some magnificent vistas. You can get vantage views from Monkey Point, 4 k.m. from the bus stand. HPTDC hotel available.

BAROG: Barog once just a stop over on the Kalka-Shimla highway, this town has grown to be a destination in itself. Surrounded by pine forests, it presents a fascinating view of the Churdhar Peak, which poetically translates into 'Mountain of the Silver Bangle'. HPTDC runs hotel Pinewood here.

CHAIL: 43 k.m. from Shimla and with a lush green setting, this was the former 'summer capital' of the Patiala state. At 2250 metres it has the world's highest cricket pitch and a polo ground, the old palace, now a hotel, and the possibility of some angling are added attractions.

PARWANOO: This fast spreading town welcomes the traveler to Himachal as one enters the state from Kalka. There is an HPTDC tourist information office. Hotel Shivalik and restaurant is located here.

KIARIGHAT: A little short of Shimla, Kiarighat was once a Dak bunglow. Now HPTDC runs a Tourist inn here.

DARLAGHAT: Situated on the Shimla-Bilaspur-Manali state highway. HPTDC runs Hotel Bhagal here.