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Voykit pocket guide · India
Solan
सोलन
Spend a half‑day in Solan for a quick temple and park visit; add a morning trek if you have extra time.
Solan sits on the Punjab‑Himachal border in the Shivalik hills. Its main attractions – Shoolini Mata Temple, three city parks and short treks – fit into a half‑day, with optional longer hikes for active travellers.
- Country
- India
- Local name
- सोलन
- Best months
- Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (monsoon)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹800–₹1,200 excl. bed · Mid ₹1,200–₹2,500 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- Police 100 · Medical 108
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Roasted corn (street stall) | ₹30–₹50 |
| Tea or coffee at Himalayan Coffee House | ₹40–₹80 |
| Local bus fare (within town) | ₹20–₹30 |
| Entry to Mohan Shakti National Heritage Park | ₹100–₹150 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- SLH · Shimla Airport
- nearest airport, 45 km (28 mi) northnearest airport, 28 mi (45 km) north
Typical fares
- Chandigarh → Solan (taxi)
- ≈ ₹1,000, 2 h (check)
- Solan → Shimla (bus)
- ≈ ₹250, 1 h 30 min
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Local buses and shared taxis run along NH‑22; auto‑rickshaws are common in town. Walkable between Mall Road, temples and parks.
See and do
Known for
- Shoolini Mata Temple
- Mohan Shakti National Heritage Park
- Mushroom farming
- Old brewery (Mohan Meakin)
- Karol Ka Tibba trek
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Karol Ka Tibba | Auto‑rickshaw from Mall Road to Chambaghat, then 5.6 km (3.5 mi) trekAuto‑rickshaw from Mall Road to Chambaghat, then 3.5 mi (5.6 km) trek | ≈2 h round trip |
| Mohan Shakti National Heritage Park | Bus or taxi 6 km (3.7 mi) south via NH‑22Bus or taxi 3.7 mi (6 km) south via NH‑22 | ≈1 h |
| Chail | State bus 30 km (19 mi) north via NH‑22State bus 19 mi (30 km) north via NH‑22 | ≈1 h 30 min |
Sleep
- Budget hotels on Mall Road
- close to temples, parks and bus stand
- Mid‑range hotels in Kasauli (30 km away)
- heritage options, good for longer stays
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| How much is this? | यह कितना है?yeh kitna hai? |
| Where is the bus stand? | बस स्टैंड कहाँ है?bas stand kahan hai? |
| I would like water, please | पानी चाहिए, कृपयाpani chahiye, kripya |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Road traffic can be heavy on NH‑22, especially during the June fair.
- Temperatures rise in summer; carry water and sun protection.
- Check train schedules; not all Kalka‑Shimla trains stop at Solan.
Generally safe; watch for traffic on mountain roads and keep valuables secure in crowded markets.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Solan yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Shoolini Mata Temple
- Mohan Shakti National Heritage Park
- Mushroom farming
- Old brewery (Mohan Meakin)
- Karol Ka Tibba trek
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Himachal Pradesh Tourism – Solan: himachaltourism.gov.in/solan
- Wikivoyage: Solan, revision 5257697 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5257697
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Solanसोलन
कृपया मुझे इस पते पर ले जाएँ
Please take me to this address
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
Indian nationals: 112 (all services). US citizens: contact the US Embassy in New Delhi (check address).
All fares are approximate; verify before travel.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/solan). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.