Sirmaur is a district of Himachal Pradesh with its headquarters at Nahan. It is largely mountainous and rural, with 90% of its population living in villages. Some of its popular towns include Nahan, Paonta Sahib, Shillai, and Suketi. Suketi which is famous for Shivalik Fossil Park, where fossils more than 85 million years old have been found. We have explained in detail the history of Sirmour on this website. So if you want to read Sirmaur history then click on Sirmour history.
Geography and Climate:
There are seven tehsils in this district: Nahan, Renuka, Kamrau, Shillai, Rajgarh, Pachhad, and Paonta Sahib. The Giri River divides the district into two equal parts: Giripar and Giriar. The major cities are Nahan, Paonta Sahib, Rajgarh, Kalaamb, Sarahan, and Shillai. The central government has just declared the Giripar area as a tribal area on December 2023. The temperature rises up to 38 °C in some parts of the district, such as Kala Amb and Paonta Sahib. The temperature in winter ranges from 8 to 15 °C. And in some parts, the temperature goes to minus. There is a lot of snowfall in some hilly areas like Chanpurdhar, Churdhar, Naya Village, and Shillai.
Area: 2,825 km2 (1,091 sq mi)
District HQ: Nahan
Population (2011): 529855
Tehsils: Nahan, Paonta Sahib, Pachhad, Shillai, Sangrah, Rajgarh
Languages: Hindi, Pahari, Punjabi
Rivers: Yamuna, Giri
People, Lifestyle, and Culture:
People of different religions live together in Sirmaur, but the Hindu community is in large numbers. There is a good number of Muslims here along with Sikhs. The people of Sirmauri worship Lord Shiva and Lord Mahasu. Bishu Hariyali Fair is the most famous fair here. Thoda Nritya, Nati, Rasa, and Budhechu are some of the famous dances of the Sirmaur district. Agriculture is the main occupation of Sirmaur. The farmer produces Mango, Apple, and Peach, Tomato, Garlic, Ginger, Potato, Peas, Wheat, Maize, and Paddy.
Demographics:
As of the 2011 India census, Sirmaur district had a population of 529,855, and a literacy rate of 79.98%. The spoken languages in the district are Hindi, Pahari, Sirmauri, Punjabi, Nepali, Haryanvi, and Tibetan languages.
Travel Destination:
Churdhar Peak, Haripur Dhar Temple, Jaitak Fort, Ranital Bagh, Temple of Shrigul, Jaitak Hills, Renuka Wildlife Sanctuary, Renukaji Mini Zoo, Renuka Ji Lake, Suketi Fossil Park, Trilokpur Temple, Chanpurdhar Peak at Shillai, and Gurdwara Patna Sahib.
Fairs and Festivals:
Beas Fair: It takes place five days before the festival of Holi in the month of Chaitra. Sage Vyasa is said to have performed penance at the site of the fair where there is now a temple dedicated to the famous sage. Gandhi Mela: Gandhi Mela is held every year on 30 January in Amboa. Nag Nauna Fair: This fair is held during the festival of Dussehra at an ancient and flood-damaged Nag-Nauna temple near Purowala village of Paonta Sahib Tehsil.
In Shillai, Vishu, Hariyali Lohri, or Maghi Mahotsav are celebrated. Maghi Mahotsav begins on the 28th day of Pausa. Almost the entire month of Magh is spent in feasts and revelry. The preparations for this festival start at least a month in advance.
How to reach Sirmaur:
By Air: Chandigarh and Dehradun airport is the nearest airport.
By Rail: The nearest railway station to Sirmaur is Chandigarh and Ambala, Kalka Shimla Railway Station.
By Road: The whole of Sirmaur is well connected by road and regular private and public transport services are available to Chandigarh, Dehradun, Delhi, Shimla, Solan, and other places in the district.
