Solan has been declared the Mushroom district of Himachal Pradesh.
Solan has five milk chilling plants namely Khandagaht, Nalagarh, Kunihar, Darlaghat, and Maryog.
The first industrial estate was set up in the year 1961-62 at Solan.
The second Industrial estate was set up at Barotiwala in 1964-65.
Among all the districts of Himachal Pradesh, Solan district has the largest number of large, medium and small scale industries units.
The maximum concentration of electronic units is in “Chambaghat” and “Jubbar Hatti”.
Parwanoo:
- It was declared an industrial area in the year 1975.
- It is also an Industrial town where 80% of the local population engaged with the industries in one way or other.
- It is home to the largest processing unit of HPMC and the HP Agro Industries have a cattle feed unit.
- It also has a large Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Hospital.
Baddi:
- The town lies on the border of Himachal Pradesh and Haryana states in the Shivalik Hills, around 35 kilometers west of Solan.
- Chandigarh, a union territory and the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana, is around 40 kilometers west of Baddi.
- Many Indian companies are now seeking to relocate operations to Baddi because of tax concessions being offered by the Central and State governments.
- Companies such as Colgate Palmolive, Cadilla Healthcare, Nectar Lifesciences, Torrent Pharmaceuticals etc. have recently set up large plants in Baddi.
- Baddi is also fast emerging into one of the best educational centres in Himachal Pradesh.
- There is a dental college in the Bhud area.
- Many new schools such as Vivek International Public School have opened. This school has brought a revolution in Baddi.
Nalagarh:
- Nalagarh is a city and a municipal committee in Solan district in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh.
- It was the seat of the eponymous princely state during the British Raj and known in the medieval period as the state of Hindur.
- It was founded by the Chandella Rajputs in 1100 AD.
- At present Nalagarh is an emerging Town for Industries as it hosts Production units for leather, steel, chemicals, thread mills, and breweries.
- Air Pollution hence is quiet a concern here.
- Yet it belongs to Himachal Pradesh, the spoken Lingua-Franca is Punjabi.
Mohan Meakin:
- Mohan Meakin is a large group of companies which started with Asia’s first brewery incorporated in 1855 (but established much earlier) by Edward Dyer at Kasauli in the Himalayan Mountains in India under the name Dyer Breweries.
- The brewery was soon shifted to Solan as there was an abundant supply of fresh spring water there.
- This brewery launched Asia’s first beer “Lion”.
Temples in District Solan:
- Goddess Shoolini Temple
- Lord Krishna Temple
- Jatoli Temple at Rajgarh road
Anees Villa:
- Built in 1927, Anees Villa was purchased by Salman Rushdie’s grandfather Mohammad Uldin.
- According to the revenue records of 1953-69, this building was declared an evacuee property by the state government after the records inadvertently showed Rushdie’s father having migrated to Pakistan.
- Rushdie staked claim on the property in 1992 and moved the court.
- Finally, he won the case after five years and the property was restored back to him in 1997.
- As Rushdie was in possession of a gift deed, the property was transferred in his name.
Dolanji Bon Monastery is in Solan District.
Mohan Shakti Heritage Park is also in Solan district.
Moreover, Central Research Institute is working for the production of anti-rabies medicines and injections at Kasauli.
A reputed T.B. Sanatorium of its kind was functioning at Mandhodhar which was later shifted to Dharmpur.
Being virtual industrial hub of the state, Solan district has been ranked number one both in terms of district wise per capita income as well as the contribution to the gross state domestic product (GSDP).
The Department of Economic and Statistics compiled the District Domestic Product (district Income) of Himachal Pradesh from 2011-12 to 2015-16.
The contribution of four districts to the GSDP is more than 62 per cent during 2015-16. Solan, which has a strong industrial base, has the highest domestic product and contributes about 24.67 per cent, followed by Kangra district at 13.76 per cent, Shimla 13.74 per cent and Mandi 10.15 per cent. The area of these districts put together is 30 per cent of the total area of the state.
Per capita income is another major indicator of economic well being of an area or its people. As far as the district wise per capita income for the year 2015-16 is concerned, Solan again tops the list as it has the highest per capita income of Rs 3,94,102, followed by Kinnaur at Rs 2,17,993 and Rs 1,19,231 for Lahaul Spiti.