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A view of the adjacent Solah Singhi Fort along the same
Solah Singhi Dhar ridge. |
Hope you’re doing well!
In my last travel post, I took you to the historical
Sujanpur Tira Fort of the Katoch dynasty. This time, I’m sharing my experience
from 18th October, when I visited another lesser-known but historically
significant fort — the Solah Singhi Fort, perched on the mighty Solah
Singhi Dhar near Bangana, in District Una, Himachal Pradesh.
Where is Solah Singhi Fort?
 |
My travel route from Hamirpur to Solah Singhi Dhar Fort,
Piplu, Una (H.P.) — marked on Google Maps with a little help from MS Paint! |
Like most ancient forts, this one was built at a strategic
location — right on top of the Solah Singhi Dhar, a mountain ridge that
stretches from Talwara through Una and Hamirpur, extending all the way to the
Sutlej River.
The fort is located about 2 km by road from Piplu,
which itself is around 4 km from Dhaneta, accessible via a diversion at Rangas
along NH-88 (Hamirpur to Una road).
For fort lovers, here’s a useful list of Forts in Himachal
Pradesh.
Reaching the Fort
Interestingly, there are two main forts visible along
this ridge, roughly 2 km apart. I visited the one visible towards the left-hand
side when facing the hill from Jhateharh village.
Note: Jhateharh doesn’t have food or lodging
facilities, so it’s wise to carry your own food and water. Reaching the fort
requires a steep 1 km trek through rough terrain and shrubbery.
Of the three available paths, I chose to start from
Jhatehar, as it’s the shortest, though the steep incline and overgrown bushes
made it quite challenging.
My Journey from Hamirpur to Solah Singhi Dhar Fort
The journey from Hamirpur to Piplu, via Dhaneta
(about 32 km), took me nearly an hour due to the winding single-lane roads.
From Piplu, I caught a glimpse of the fort, standing tall on the hilltop.
After getting directions from Monu, a friendly local
shopkeeper, I began the uphill trek along a faint trail partially hidden by
grass and shrubs. The trail is tricky to spot, but you can use the fort itself
as your visual guide.
 |
The shrub-covered trail towards Solah Singhi Fort — the
steep green hill waiting to be conquered |
If you're planning a solo visit — make sure you're
comfortable with heights and isolated trails, otherwise, it's better to go in a
group.
First Stop: Baba Solah Singhi Temple
Partway up the mountain slope, I came across the Baba
Solah Singhi Temple, a small, concrete-structured temple dedicated to the
local deity. From this spot, I could clearly see the final stretch of the
climb, leading to the fort's entrance.
Exploring the Solah Singhi Fort
 |
| The interior remains of Solah Singhi Fort — weathered by
time, as captured in October 2014. Finally, I made it to the top. Sadly, there were no signboards or historical information panels, but the location itself speaks volumes. The hilltop fort forms a natural barrier, separating two plains — one on either side of the ridge. |
Though the exact geographical landmarks were hard to
identify, the fort's architecture gave away its historical significance.
Constructed mainly of stone and mud, the fort also
shows signs of more recent repairs, with traces of concrete and mortar visible
on the walls. Historical references suggest the fort was built by the Katoch
Kings between the 11th and 13th centuries AD.
It's a two-storey structure, with 1-metre-thick
walls in places, and arched entrances offering panoramic views of the
valleys below.
 |
Perched by a sturdy opening in the thick stone walls of
Solah Singhi Dhar Fort — a glimpse into the fort's strategic construction.
Location: Near Bangana, Una (H.P.). |
Other Forts on the Ridge
From this vantage point, I spotted another fort along the
ridge, though I didn’t visit it. Locals say it's in worse condition than the
one I explored, adding to the sense of forgotten grandeur that surrounds this
area.
Unique Features & Challenges
One particularly impressive feature was the underground
water tank, built right on top of the hill — a testament to the engineering
foresight of those times.
The second storey of the main chamber looked risky to climb,
so I explored the adjacent chambers along the fort's length instead. With steep
slopes all around and no open space to roam freely, I decided not to linger too
long — especially being alone.
Final Thoughts & Tips
The fort, though worn by time, holds immense historical
value. It's unfortunate that with proper care and promotion, it hasn’t become a
more prominent tourist attraction.
If you plan to visit, I highly recommend going with
friends, carrying your own food, water, and maybe a good dose of
adventurous spirit!
Reference:
Research Paper on Solah Singhi Fort
Thanks for reading — stay curious, stay exploring!
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