A 5.6 kilometre day trek leads you through fir groves, sprawling grasslands, dense forests, small ponds, a mysterious cave and panoramic views. The beauty of "Karol ka Tibba" trek is that it fits this immense natural bounty in a short day trek. "Karol ka Tibba" is the highest hill around Solan town in Himachal Pradesh. In this trek we visit Karol temple; a temple dedicated to goddess Kali situated at the top of Karol Ka Tibba. The panoramic view from the temple is beautiful and panoramic. The trekking route also passes through the famous Pandava Gufa or Pandava cave, believed to be the oldest and longest cave in the Himalayas.
The ancient Pandava cave near Solan has fascinated us for quite some time now. Myths and legends abound for this cave. Locals believe it to be the oldest and longest (around 28km) cave in the Himalayan region. They also believe that the Pandavas from Mahabharata lived and meditated in this cave during their exile. Owing to this religious connection, a temple is constructed beside the cave. The other end of the cave is believed to be at Pinjore (Haryana). The cave itself is dark, damp and foreboding. A few bats have taken up residence in the first cavern and their flutter adds to the spooky atmosphere. Exploring the cave can be a challenge because it narrows to a fissure after the second cavern. The fissure opens up in a small cavern followed by a low tunnel that is just big enough to allow one person to fit through. We had to crawl and scrape the walls to squeeze in but after a few feet we found our route blocked by some fallen stones. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise because we were woefully unprepared for a long round of spelunking.
However, our disappointment at being unable to explore the cave was partially mitigated by the priest and his family, who in their kindness offered us some fresh home made "aate ka halwa". The sweet halwa coupled with the refreshing mountain air bolstered us for a quick 1.6 kilometre ascent to Karol temple. 
To visit Karol temple from Pandava Gufa make your way back to the water tank and find a well marked paved stone path that leads uphill. This 1600 metre paved stone path is a meter wide in most places and it is covered with fallen leaves and pine needles. Climb the trail as it winds uphill through a thick glade of firs and rhododendrons. There are no bifurcations and an easy thirty minute walk brings you to the Kali Mata temple at "Karol Ka Tibba".
The ancient Pandava cave near Solan has fascinated us for quite some time now. Myths and legends abound for this cave. Locals believe it to be the oldest and longest (around 28km) cave in the Himalayan region. They also believe that the Pandavas from Mahabharata lived and meditated in this cave during their exile. Owing to this religious connection, a temple is constructed beside the cave. The other end of the cave is believed to be at Pinjore (Haryana). The cave itself is dark, damp and foreboding. A few bats have taken up residence in the first cavern and their flutter adds to the spooky atmosphere. Exploring the cave can be a challenge because it narrows to a fissure after the second cavern. The fissure opens up in a small cavern followed by a low tunnel that is just big enough to allow one person to fit through. We had to crawl and scrape the walls to squeeze in but after a few feet we found our route blocked by some fallen stones. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise because we were woefully unprepared for a long round of spelunking.
However, our disappointment at being unable to explore the cave was partially mitigated by the priest and his family, who in their kindness offered us some fresh home made "aate ka halwa". The sweet halwa coupled with the refreshing mountain air bolstered us for a quick 1.6 kilometre ascent to Karol temple. 
To visit Karol temple from Pandava Gufa make your way back to the water tank and find a well marked paved stone path that leads uphill. This 1600 metre paved stone path is a meter wide in most places and it is covered with fallen leaves and pine needles. Climb the trail as it winds uphill through a thick glade of firs and rhododendrons. There are no bifurcations and an easy thirty minute walk brings you to the Kali Mata temple at "Karol Ka Tibba".
It is believed that this cave was built by Pandavs during there exile. It starts from Karol Ka Tibba & ends at Pinjore in Haryana. Locals believe it to be the oldest and longest (around 28km) cave in the Himalayan region. They also believe that the Pandavas from Mahabharata lived and meditated in this cave during their exile. The cave is dark & damp, bats flutter and scare you sometimes... Exploring the cave is a challenge as it narrows into a fissure after the second cavern. The fissure opens up in a small cavern followed by a low tunnel that is just big enough to allow one person to fit through. You have to crawl and scrape the walls to squeeze in but after moving ahead a few feet, it is better to turn back.
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