Where we can see the apple garden in Shimla?

The beautiful apple orchards in Himachal Pradesh are mainly a popular travel attraction of the state. So, while in HP a visit to these beautiful apple gardens is a must as here you can get to know more about the cultivation process along with enjoying the panoramic view of the Himalayan ranges at the backdrop. Also, you can buy lots on apples from these orchards on your way back.

Shimla is basically as illustrious for apple orchards as it is for being the capital of Himachal Pradesh and the favored summer capital of British. Take an excursion from Shimla to enjoy the apple and apricot orchards that are becoming one of the most famous attractions of Himachal Pradesh. So, take orchards tours of Himachal Pradesh to enjoy the most surprising package of Shimla tourism. Horticulture is one of the most flourishing industries in Himachal Pradesh.

Apple story of Thanedhar

Thanedhar is merely a 3-4 hour drive away from Shimla via Narkanda. So, throughout this drive, you can see apple trees and if you are driving in the right season you would see a lot of apples on these trees, which may also be green or red depending on their stage. Thanedhar is famous for being the birthplace of these apples. So, about a century ago a young American by the name Samuel Evans Stokes arrived in India to serve the leprosy patients. He mainly landed in Kotgarh to rest and got so enchanted by the beauty of Himalayan villages that he decided to stay here. He even got married to a local girl and got converted into a Hindu, changing his name to Satyanand Stokes.

So, a temple, on the hill behind his home, called Paramjyoti Temple stands witness to his life. He mainly brought the saplings of a delicious red apple from America and planted them here. Apples took to Thanedhar just like Stokes and both became a part of this town forever. Few more saplings and few more varieties arrived and became a hit with the local population. So, over a period of time, the Stokes family bought a lot of lands and grew apple orchards. So, today, this region is a big supplier of apples to state, country and abroad. Apples are mainly a prime reason for the prosperity of this apple country.

Kotagarh – Where the Apples Grow

Enjoy vacations in Shimla and do not forget to take an 82 km long excursion from Shimla via Naldehra will take you to Kotagrah where you will be welcomed with mainly a host of apple trees, that is more like a country where an apple revolution took place. Exporting several lacs tones of apples in every location, this trend was started by Samuel Evans Stokes. He was basically an American who made Barobag Hill his resident and called it Harmony Hall. So, at the age of 22 in 1904, he inspired by Indian rituals became a Hindu and started living as a sage. In the year 1919, he started planting trees in his 200 acres land. It was this initiative that resulted in giant cultivation of apples in Himachal Pradesh.

Some Other Apple Growers

So, a considerable amount of apple productions also takes place in Mandi as well as Kullu. So, take an exclusive tour of the apple country of Himachal Pradesh to enjoy the orchards that will act as a filling aroma for those who love fruits. So, besides apples, other fruits that too are produced in Himachal Pradesh are pear, peach, plum, apricot nut fruit, citrus fruits mango, litchi, guava, and strawberry.

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