Churdhar Sanctuary

Churdhar Sanctuary is named after the Churdhar peak, which has an elevation of 3647 metres above sea level and is located in Sirmour, Shimla district of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Churdhar peak is the highest peak in Sirmour district and is also the highest peak in the outer Himalayas. The Churdhar peak has its very religious significance for the devotees of eastern Himachal Pradesh which include the districts Shimla, Sirmour and Solan of the Himachal Pradesh and Dehradun of the Uttrakhand. Churdhar is a Holy Place of Lord Shirgul Maharaj (Chureshwar Maharaj). The place can be approached by lots of routes but the main routes are from Nohradhar, Sirmour of 14 km and Sarahan, Chaupal of 8 km.

Situated in Sirmour district of Himachal Pradesh is Chooddhar, once known as Chood-chandni, which holds attraction for its picturesque locales as well as its association with mythology. Legend has it that BhimaÔÇÖs grandson Barbareek witnessed the Mahabharata war from this summit which rests at 12,000 feet above the sea level. Being a difficult track to tread, the scenery en route turns out to be a paradise for trekkers. After a two-hour drive from Solan, one reaches Rajgarh, midpoint of the journey, famous for its terraced fields and orchards. The next stop is Nauharadhar, the base camp for the summit of Churdhar. Small villages, terraced fields and thin streams dot the route. If luck has it that the sky is clear, the peaks of Churdhar can be sighted from here. Nauharadhar is a small hamlet with nearly 60 shops catering to the requirements of tourists. It is here that the trekking tracks begin. After the steep climb during the first one-km stretch, the trek eases out into a track amid the hills. Wading through the greenery in the terraced fields, one reaches Jau ka baag, which is the last village en route to Churdhar. Ascending the trek, one enters green forests--