Solan Weekend Guide: 5 Famous Places Near Solan (Barog, Chail, Kasauli & More)
If you have one free weekend and you’re driving up from Chandigarh or Delhi, Solan is the smartest base in the lower Himalayas. It sits on the Kalka–Shimla highway, Shimla is about 46 km further on, and Barog, Kasauli, Chail and some of Himachal’s best-known temples are each under an hour or two away. This guide is the plan I’d give a friend: what’s worth your time, in what order, and what to skip.
Quick plan: 2 days around Solan
- Day 1: Barog (toy train station and Tunnel 33) in the morning, then Shoolini Mata and Jatoli Shiv Temple in the afternoon.
- Day 2: Pick one: Chail (palace and the cricket ground) or Kasauli (old cantonment walks). Doing both in one day means more time in the car than on your feet.
1. Barog – the toy train and Tunnel No. 33
Barog is only about 7 km from Solan and roughly 60 km from Chandigarh. It’s a station on the Kalka–Shimla Railway, which UNESCO added to its “Mountain Railways of India” World Heritage listing in 2008. Just below the station is Tunnel No. 33, the longest tunnel on the line at about 1,143.61 m, completed in 1903.
The tunnel carries the well-known local story of Colonel Barog, the British engineer it’s named after. Treat it as legend rather than history, but it’s the reason most people stop here. Come early, watch a toy train pull in, and have tea at the station.
2. Shoolini Mata Temple – the goddess Solan is named after
Solan takes its name from Shoolini Mata, and her temple in town is the heart of the Shoolini Fair held every June. It’s a short visit, but it’s the best way to understand the town you’re staying in.
3. Jatoli Shiv Temple
On the Rajgarh road outside Solan, Jatoli is billed as one of Asia’s tallest Shiva temples. Its stone spire was built over several decades with community donations. Go late afternoon when the light hits the carvings, and leave your shoes and camera rules to the temple staff.
4. Chail – a Maharaja’s summer palace
About 45 km from Solan, Chail was built as a summer retreat by the Maharaja of Patiala. The palace is now run by Himachal Tourism (HPTDC), so you can walk in for a meal or stay the night. Chail’s cricket ground, laid out in 1893 at about 2,444 m, is widely called the highest cricket ground in the world, and it’s ringed by deodar forest.
Tip: the road via Kandaghat is narrow and winding. Leave Solan by 9 am so you’re back before dark.
5. Kasauli – old cantonment calm
Kasauli, about 27 km from Solan at roughly 1,951 m, feels like the 19th century never quite left. Walk the Mall and the old church lanes, and skip it on long weekends if you dislike crowds; weekday mornings are a different town.
Worth adding if you have time
- Dolanji Bon Monastery (about 18 km from Solan) – a quiet, lesser-visited Tibetan Bon monastery.
- Shimla (about 46 km) – if you’ve never been, the Ridge and Mall Road deserve a separate half-day.
When to go
March to June and September to November are the easiest months. December to February is cold, with occasional snow and very clear mountain views. The monsoon (July–August) brings landslide risk on hill roads, so check road conditions before you drive.
Getting there
- By road: Chandigarh to Solan is a straightforward drive on the Kalka–Shimla highway.
- By toy train: from Kalka, the Kalka–Shimla train stops at Barog and Solan. It’s slow, and that’s the point.
- Nearest airport: Chandigarh.
Distances are approximate road figures from Himachal Tourism and the Solan district administration. Timings and rules at temples and heritage sites change, so check locally before you go. Spotted something out of date? Tell me on the Contact page and I’ll fix it.