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 Situated in the Shimla Hills, a part of the Mahasu district of Himachal Pradesh, Solan, now recently district headquarters by the same name, another small town developed by the British, is named after the Goddess, Soloni Devi, whose temple is located in the southern end of the town. The district of Mahasu, the most developed of all in Himachal, thanks to the British, has a number of small towns to each of which practically, a cantonment is attached. Solan is well known for its brewery 4.8 km [3 miles] from town started in 1835 with Anglo-German co-operation, and known as Dyer-Meakin Brewery, producing excellent larger beer and quality whisky. In 1950, it was taken over by the late Major Mohan, renamed Mohan-Meakin Breweries in 1966. With an improved quality, the enterprise gives employment to thousands, both in Himachal and the plains. Chir pine clothes the Shimla Hills, which yields resin and timber while apricots and walnuts grow all over the hills, maize and paddy are the two leading grains.
Vegetables and Shimla variety of green chillies are extensively grown in the Shimla Hills to be sold to tourists and others. The area surrounding Solan in very rich in peas, tomatoes, ginger and beans. Connected to Kalka, broad-gauge railway terminus by a hill-railway, using diesel engines, and also by road, the holiday begins at Kalka. Situated midway between Shimla and Kalka, in the outer ranges of the Himalayas, Solan is at a height of 1,350 metres [4,432ft] and popular with those desire to spend more time in the hills. Coming from the parched planis, the first stop traditionally, is Barog, 37 km from Kalka, and 5 km from Solan, Barog, refreshingly cool spot in idyllic surroundings is a wonderful prelude to the holiday ahead. Along with the elegant Hotel Pinewood & Cafe, the Himachal Tourism Development Corporation has constructed a glass house for residential purpose.
Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry.
First of its kind in Asia; spread over 550 hectares in village Nauni on the Solan-Rajgarh Road in district Solan of Himahcal Pradesh, 15 km from Solan town, the University was established on December 1, 1985. Considering the signal contribution made by Dr. Y.S.Parmar, the founder and first Chief Minister of H.P, the present Govt, rightly named the new University after him. It has a College of Horticulture and College of Forestry, which are sub-divided into 14 departments and are looked after by a faculty of over 200 scientists and teachers. It offers under-graduate, post-graduate and doctoral courses in horticulture, forestry and allied disciplines. It will act as the national research centre for all the hill regions of the country. This University inaugurated by Hon'ble Shri Rajiv Gandhi, Prime Minister of India on 30th April, 1988. The State Govt. is already wedded to the
preservation of the gragile eco-system of the Himalayas. The University will produce specialists in forestry, conduct research in conservation technology, train forest officials in social forestry and impartpractical training to farmers in nursery production for agro-forestry. The University will train specialists in fruit culture, floriculture, herbiculture and vegetable cultivation. It will conduct research and train farmers to use improved technology in the fields, in order to optimise their income from fruits, vegetables, flowers, medicinal and aromatic plants, bee-keeping, mushrooms, etc.
PICNIC AND RAMBLES
Solan is the ideal spot for picnics and long rambles into the woods, where, more often than not, is a cool and refreshing spring. For picnickers and ideal places are Karol Tibba and Meteol Tibba. Just a kilometre away is the Kotla Nullah providing lovely shady spots with running water while Saproon spring and the Happy Valley are delightful places for a ramble through fragrant pines. Solan has not forgotten the avid angler, within a radius of 20 km [12.4 miles] on motorable road are Mareog, Gaura and Karkanu where the river Giri flows. It is well stocked with fish. The Himachal Agriculture College and the Research Institute are also located in Solan. With a view to developing Solan into a popular tourist resort the Himachal Tourism Development Corporation has constructed well equipped Tourist Bungalow.
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