HABBAN A haven in the hills
Santosh Utsuk

Habban offers interesting options to trekkers — Photo by the writer

If you are looking for a quiet retreat in the hills then Habban is the place you should be heading to this summer. Located in the picturesque hills of Sirmaur, this lush green village (6770 ft high) is 70 km from Solan. Direct buses are available from Shimla, Solan and Rajgarh but taking your own vehicle will add to your pleasure as you can stop wherever you want to enjoy the captivating greenery and refreshing breeze.

On the way, you can try your hand at fishing (with permit) the mahaseer except in July and August. Scented pines line the roadside, and in the last leg of the journey, from Rajgarh to Habban, peach, plum and pear trees can be seen in plenty. There are apple trees as well but they are less in number. Rajgarh, incidentally, is known for its peaches in Asia. We could sight small waterfalls, beautiful ferns, wild flowers and many medicinal plants, as we travelled under a clear blue sky. The road to Habban is narrow and in places a bit challenging with sharp turns. The weather is usually pleasant round the year. Staying at Habban will convince you that real pleasure lies in solitude and you need few facilities to relish nature.

You can stay at the Habban forest loghut, which was built in 1969, or the new forest resthouse. These can be booked through the DFO, Rajgarh. You can go for walks amid the densely populated deodars.

Habban is a treat for wildlife lovers too: they can, if they are lucky, come across peacocks, deer, tigers, bears, kakkar, kastura and ghol. Trekkers can try out the 7-km trek to Banalidhar or take a longer trek (28 km) to Churdhar. There is also a resthouse at the scenic Chandol, on the Sainj Chailla road, 12 km from Habban. Chowkidars at these rest houses provide simple food made with local vegetables.

While returning from Habban, you can visit the shrine of the widely revered Shirgul Devta. Situated in Shiya village, 10 km from Habban, the temple showcases traditional wooden-cum-stone architecture. The trip to the scenic village can be made more interesting by staying in tents at Hanoli Pul or Kotghat on the Rajgarh-Habban road or in Sani o deedag, 13 km from Rajgarh on the Nohra road.

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