Solan is a town located in the Solan district of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It is also known as the “Mushroom City of India” due to its vast mushroom cultivation. Solan is situated on the Kalka-Shimla Highway and is about 50 kilometers from Shimla, the capital city of Himachal Pradesh. It is surrounded by beautiful hills and has a pleasant climate throughout the year. The town is also famous for its educational institutions, including the Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, which is one of the leading agricultural universities in the country. Additionally, Solan is home to several temples, including the Shoolini Mata Temple, which is a popular pilgrimage site in the region.
The town is famous for growing different varieties of mushrooms, including button mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, and shiitake mushrooms. Solan’s cool and damp climate, along with its favorable soil conditions, makes it an ideal location for mushroom cultivation. The town has several mushroom farms and research centers that provide training and technical assistance to farmers interested in mushroom cultivation. The mushrooms grown in Solan are supplied to various parts of the country and also exported to other countries, making it a significant contributor to the local economy.