Shoolini Mata Temple

Shoolini Mata, a form of Durga, is the presiding deity of Solan; the town's name is derived from hers. Her temple is in the town, an easy stop off the Kalka–Shimla highway. Every June the Shoolini fair fills Solan's Thodo ground for three days, with a procession that carries the goddess to the Sheetla Mata temple by the Ashwani stream and back. Solan itself is known as the 'Mushroom City of India' and has one of the country's oldest breweries, from 1855, so the temple is often combined with a short look around the town.

1. Solan is on NH-5 and the Kalka–Shimla railway, about 46 km below Shimla and 40 km above Kalka.
2. The temple is within the town, a short auto or taxi ride from the bus stand or railway station.
3. Frequent buses run Kalka / Chandigarh – Solan – Shimla.

Year-round; June for the Shoolini fair, when the procession and the Thodo ground events are on. Solan is mild in summer and sees light snow in winter.

• Remove footwear before the shrine; the temple is busiest on the fair days and during Navratri.
• The fair includes a symbolic wrestling tradition on the Thodo ground.
• Pair it with Jatoli Shiv temple or the old Solan brewery if you have extra time.

Individual pages for these are added as they are reviewed.