Found at the edge of famous Renuka Lake, Renuka Temple is a popular Hindu religious site in Nahan. The temple was built in 1814 in the memory of Goddess Renuka, the wife of Rishi Jamadagni and mother of Parshuram.

Renuka lake is in the Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh in India and it is 672 m above the sea level. It is the largest lake in Himachal Pradesh, with a circumference of about 3214 m. This lake was named after the goddess Renuka.

Renukaji Mini Zoo is the oldest Zoo in Himachal Pradesh, Which was initially started during 1957 with rescued, stray and deserted wild animals from the forests. The first animal brought to the Zoo was a male spotted deer named Moti. The visit of Lt. Governor Hon’ble Raja Rajram Bahadur of Bhadari during this time saw the arranging of female chital for Moti. This laid the real foundation of Renuka Zoo. By and by more wild animals like Sambhar, Chinkara, Hogdeer, Black Buck etc. were introduced in the Zoo. All these animals started breeding and multiplying. To accommodate the increasing number of animals, idea of an open park was conceived and the open park was setup in 1983.Black Buck and Nilgai were brought from Pipli Zoo. A pair of Mithun, gifted to the Chief Minister by Sh. Rajiv Gandhi, the then Prime Minister, in 1985, was brought from Arunachal Pradesh and another was brought from Nagaland during 1986.A pair of Lions was brought to Renuka Zoo from Zunagarh during 1975.The Lion was named Raja and the Lioness named Rani. Simultaneously an aviary was also setup during 1998-99.The area does not have any recorded rights except the right to worship in the Renuka Temple. To curb the incidence of illicit lopping and grazing, the staff has been strengthened from two Forest Guards for the entire Sanctuary to two beat guards under the charge of one Range Officer who is assisted by one Dy. Ranger. The periphery of the sanctuary is fenced by inter-linked chain fence to restrict the illegal entry of villagers from surrounding villages to the Sanctuary area. At present the Lion Safari, Zoo, Aviary and Sanctuary is being managed as Renukaji Wildlife Range Renuka under the administrative control of Shimla Wildlife Division.

At the base of the Renuka lake, this large pool is considered to embrace Lord Parshurama, who wished to spend all eternity at his mother’s feet. Reportedly built overnight by an invading force of Gurkhas in early 19th Century, the original temple of Renukaji is here. Both mother and son are reunited every year at a celebratory fair held in November.

Above the lake is the peak where Rishi Jamadagini is said to have meditated. A footpath leads to the peak. There is a small temple and it offers an excellent view of the lake and surrounding area.

Giri River (2km)
By far the greater portion of the district is drained by the Giir or its tributaries. It takes its rise in the hills of Jubbal and courses through the hills of Kot-Khai and Tatesh, parts of Shimla district, and enters in the district on its south-west side. It continues its course for about forty kilometers forming the boundary with the Keonthal area of the Shimla district. At village Mandoplasa, this district and debouches in the Yamuna at Rampur Ghat. The Rampur Giri canal has been constructed which takes off this river near Mohkampur Nawada. There is a ferry on this river at Shayampur. A variety of fish is found, more particularly, Mahseer. Timber, in considerable quantities, is floated down this river into the Yamuna and at some places irrigation is also done. None of its tributaries are important, except, on its right bank, the Jalal, which joins it at Dadahu below Sati Bagh at the south-eastern extremity of the Sain Dhar. On its left bank the principal streams are the Nait and Palar, which rise on the Kawal, a stream which first flows westward, till it falls into the Giri. Lesser tributaries are the Bajhethy, the Pervi, the Khal and the Joggar streams.

Jalal River (2 km)
This small, shallow and narrow river rises near village Bani below Nehi in tehsil Pachhad and forms a dividing line between the Sain and the Dharthi. At Dadahu in SubTehsil, it falls into the Giri river losing its name. It is generally fordable and rarely up-passable except when it flood which passes away soon.

The dam of the Giri Hydel Project is here and angling for Mahaseer (river carp) may be done.