Solan 591477 223274662 2008-07-03T10:39:19Z Sardanaphalus 427947 updating link using [[Project:AutoWikiBrowser|AWB]] <!-- See [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Indian cities]] for details -->{{Infobox Indian Jurisdiction |native_name = Solan | type = city | latd = 30.92 | longd = 77.12 |locator_position = right | state_name = Himachal Pradesh |district = [[Solan district|Solan]] |leader_title = |leader_name = |altitude = 1467 |population_as_of = 2001 |population_total = 34,199| population_density = |area_magnitude= sq. km |area_total = |area_telephone = |postal_code = |vehicle_code_range = |sex_ratio = |unlocode = |website = |footnotes = }} '''Solan''' is a city and a [[municipal committee]] in [[Solan district]] in the [[India]]n [[States and territories of India|state]] of [[Himachal Pradesh]]. Named after goddess "Shoolini", it is known as the "mushroom city of [[India]]" because of the mushroom centre situated at Chambaghat. The district is better known for the [[Mohan Meakin]]'s brewery (reputed to be India's oldest brewery) and the famous [[Solan No. 1]] [[whisky]] and [[Golden Eagle Beer| Golden Eagle ]] beer. The town is situated mid way between Chandigarh (Joint capital of Punjab & Harayana)& Shimla (British summer Capital of India) ==Geography== [[Image:Hills of solan.jpg|thumb|210px|left|Foothills of the Solan area looking north]] Solan is located at {{coor d|30.92|N|77.12|E|}}<ref>[http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/11/Solan.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Solan]</ref>. It has an average elevation of 1467&nbsp;[[metre]]s (4812&nbsp;[[foot (unit of length)|feet]]). The highest point is atop Mt. Karol from where the transmission tower at [[Kasauli]] is visible. Solan gets light snowfall in the winters. ==Demographics== [[As of 2001]] India [[census]]<ref>{{GR|India}}</ref>, Solan had a population of 34,199. Males constitute 56% of the population and females 44%. Solan has an average literacy rate of 82%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 84%, and female literacy is 80%. In Solan, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age. ==Transport== Solan is easily accessible by road as well as train. It is 68 kilometers from [[Chandigarh]] (2 hours journey by bus)and 40 kilometers from [[Shimla]] (1 hours journey by bus).One can hire a taxi from there or take the train. However, be warned that you have to change to another train at Kalka (44 km away) as the narrow gauge tracks starts from there. The train is quite slow but you can get to see some beautiful scenery along the way. There are a total of 44 railway tunnels up to Solan. Kalka Simla railway has come under UNESCO heritage this year i.e 2007 ==Tourism== [[Image:Gugaghat.JPG|thumb|210px|right|Hill Rangesof the Solan area looking south]] Besides the [[Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry]] at [[Nauni]], other places of interest in Solan include the Shoolini Mata temple (Solan is named after the goddess Shoolini), the Jatoli Shiv temple and the Yungdrung [[Tibet]]an Monastery, also near Nauni. The picturesque town of [[Kasauli]] is a popular hill-station holiday destination with popular temple devoted to the [[Hindu]] god Shiva. It is also home to an Army and Airforce base. There is also a three hundred year old [[Ghurka]] fort at Nauni, which dates back to the time when the region was ruled by the Ghurka rulers [[Nepal]]. The fort is in ruins, but it is strategically located atop a mountain point providing a panaromic view of the entire area. ==Irish Soldiers' Mutiny, 1920== In [[1920]] Solan was the scene of a large-scale mutiny by [[Irish people|Irish]] soldiers in the British Army, in solidarity with the uprising in their homeland. Two mutineers were killed in the course of the confrontation, and their leader later shot by firing squad while dozens got long prison terms. (See [[The Connaught Rangers#Mutiny in India, 1920]]). ==Trivia== Solan was also the name of Xena's son on [[Xena]] Warrior Princess who was killed by Gabrielle's daughter Hope. The [[Bollywood]] movie [[Kya Kehna]], starring [[Preity Zinta]], was set in [[Solan]]. ==References== <references/> {{Himachal Pradesh topics}} ==External links== *{{wikitravel}} [[Category:Cities and towns in Himachal Pradesh]] [[Category:Solan]] [[bn:সোলান]] [[bpy:সোলান]] [[nl:Solan (stad)]] [[sv:Solan]] [[vi:Solan]]