The Orchards of Himachal Pradesh
For a traveller to Himachal Pradesh, an Indian state located on the slopes of the majestic Himalayas, the orchards laden with plums, cherries, apples and apricots and other fruits will be a real visual treat. The state is blessed with a unique aqua-climatic condition which enables the farmers to cultivate a wide range of fruits from temperate to sub-tropical.
Nut fruit, citrus fruits, mango, litchi, strawberry and guava are also cultivated here. It is estimated that about 2 lakh hectares of land has been used for fruit cultivation. The income generated from fruit cultivation is the mainstay of the village economy as well. No wonder, Himachal Pradesh is known as the ‘fruit bowl of India’.