Temperate Fruit Gardens for Tourism

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1 Temperate Fruit Gardens for Tourism M. K. Verma, A. K. Singh, O.P. Awasthi and A. Nagaraja Division of Fruits & Horticultural Technology Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi Tourist Places in India such as Kashmir valley, Kullu Valley, Kumaon, Garhwal, Bomdila, has over the years developed a brand name for themselves. While Switzerland is known for its European Splendor, an Indian temperate area reflects natural beauty. Therefore, Kashmir valley is known as Heaven on Earth, Kullu Valley/ Kinnour as fruit bowl of Himachal, Kumaon and Garhwal as Dev Bhumi and Bomdila as Apple bowl of East. In fact, these areas are known as Switzerland of India. However, it requires to be marketed smartly, when orchard tourism is gaining momentum in some of the leading countries like China, New Zealand, Russia, Canada, America etc. Similarly, we should explore the tourist destinations of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and North eastern states such as Shillong (Scotland of the East) and Arunachal Pradesh by creating a Brand Name. North Western Himalayas is endowed with better climatic conditions as in Europe compared to metropolitan cities like Delhi, Bombay, Chennai and Kolkata. Consequently, a large number of tourists visit these areas for recreation and adventure which is significant in terms of income generation through tourism. Large number of tourists from abroad and India visit every year. The domestic and foreign visitors in Uttarakhand comprises of ( domestic & foreigner), Himachal Pradesh ( domestic & foreigner), Jammu and Kashmir ( domestic & foreigner) and Arunachal Pradesh ( domestic & 3395-foreigner). This contributes significantly in the economy of north western Himalayan states. Snow is main attraction in winter; orchards are in dormancy, and tourist highly fascinated to see A large number of beautiful and delicious fruits are grown in orchards located in these Himalayan states like apple, pear, peach, plum, apricot, cherry, olive, strawberry, kiwi fruit, rubus and ribes. These fruit trees bear very attractive and nutritious fruits which attract the tourist while travelling along these areas.

2 Apple garden laden with fruits Buying apricot fruits from trees Visitors picking kiwifruits Visiting orchards for recreation has become an important tourist activity in some of these areas. However it could not be developed as tourist spots due to lack of infrastructure. The tourist orchard, as the name suggests, is a combination of tourism and orchard culture. This comprehensive concept integrates sightseeing, recreation, ecology, the local ecology, and science popularization. The development of orchards combines improvement of the fruit industry, expansion of leisure time activities in rural areas for urban citizens, and the promotion of the local tourist industry. With its tremendous multiplier effect, it can boost the prosperity of the local economies. Currently, only few orchards are offering these opportunities to the tourists in India, which generally lacks systematic approach. A large number of such fruit gardens are available in this entire North western Himalayan range including Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh. Jammu Kashmir In the state, fruit crop based sites are highly developed and offers potential to harness as tourist spots. Beautiful gardens are located in the areas given in table Sl. No. Type of Fruit Garden Sites location 1 Apple gardens Sopore, Pattan, Bandipora, Shopian, Rajpora, Pinjora, Drabgam, Shadimarg, Yusmarg, Khansahib, Ganderbal and Sonamarg, Bhadarwah 2 Pear gardens Kulgam, Kokernag, Yusmarg, Shopian, Pinjora, Sonamarg, Sopore and pattan. 3 Peach gardens Handwara, Kulgam, Kokernag, Ganderbal, Shopian, Sopore 4 Apricot gardens Ladakh (Damkhar, Achinathang, Bhima, Dhaa, Garkhaon, Shilkchey, Hardas, Skuru, Chammar, Bogdand, Chelonga Post, Grani Turtuk, Thang, Hunder, Sumer, Nobra) 5 Plum gardens Ganderbal, Sonamarg, Harwan, Chattargam, Kulgam, Shopian, Sopore, Pattan and Bandipora 6 Cherry gardens Harwan, New Theed, Lar, Ganderbal, Gutlibagh, Shopian, Pinjora, Handwara, Kulgam, Pattan, Tangmarg, Shopian. 7 Seabuckthorn gardens Dha, Garkoon, Shilakchey, Hardas, Nobra valley 8 Water chestnut Dal lake, Nigeen lake, Anchar Lake, Wullar lake

3 gardens 9 Hazelnut gardens Lehanwan, Khansahib, Bandipora 10 Almond gardens Koil, Nawa, Tral, Chadoora belt. 11 Walnut gardens Saller, Kokernag, Qazugund, Shopian, Badipora, Uri, Sopore, Pattan, Tangmarg. 12 Olive gardens Ramban, Chanderkote, Uri, Karnah, Poonchh, Udhampur and Rajouri 13 Kiwifruit gardens Ramban 14 Saffron fields Pulwama Spring bloom of almond gives a sweet feeling, picking quince and selling pears in orchard Himachal Pradesh Apples were first grown in India in Thanedar in Himachal Pradesh. This is the place to go if you want to enjoy the beauty of apple blossoms in spring, or try hand picking of apples sometimes in August September or you could just bask in the mild summers, or celebrate a white winter here. Set amidst fruit orchards, one can go on the apple trail to understand the history and economy of apples. The apple bowl of Himachal surrounds Narkanda, a smallish town near Shimla. The Apple Orchard Farm and Camping (Sangla), Treetops Cottage (Naggar) and Nancy Orchards & Homestays (Solan) are the major tourist spot due to its existing beautiful orchards. Experiences like these are equivalent of experiences such as wine tourism of Europe such as a stay in apple season at a vacation rental such as Dwarka Residency at Shelapani in Baral region of Shimla district (stated to be the source of best apples produced in the country) in India, could be much like a stay in the area around Pouilly-sur-Loire in Burgogne region of France (famous for its quality wine puilly Fumee) in the grape crushing season.

4 Orchard cottages are the real tourist attraction for leisure and live with fruit gardends Uttarakhand The world renowned apple Orchards, Chaubatia Orchards is located very close to Ranikhet and is very famous for their extensive orchards of tasty apples, peaches, plums and apricots. This place is rich in vegetation and naturally very rich in the view for a holiday celebration. This place has grown to a very popular picnic spot from where one can get the awesome view of picturesque Himalayan region, view the distant snow capped Himalayan Mountains and also the peaks of Nanda Devi, Nilkanth, Nandaghunti and Trishul on a clear calm morning, to have the mind blogging enchanting experience provided abundantly by the nature. Other attractive places nearby Chaubatia are the Government Apple Garden and the Fruit Research Center. Several other places like Muteshwar, Ramgarh, and Gagar in Nainital are having a large number of fruit gardens including apple, peach, plum and apricot. Peach bloom fascinates every tourist in spring, near orchard high way venders and Choubattia Fruit Garden Arunachal Pradesh It is said that visit to Arunachal is incomplete if one has not visited the Apple Orchids of Bomdila. Dirang is situated in between Bomdila and Tawang which is also famous for its Apple orchards. Dirang is well known for its hot water springs and apple orchards. To visit Dirang the nearest airport is at Tezpur and railhead is located at Rangapara.

5 Staying in gardens gives complete relaxation to body and mind and tracking adds the thrilling experience in search of wild fruits along these orchards. Thus, it is well understood that we like to live with nature which is not only harmless but also provides opportunity for better livelihood. Orchardists are the real lover of nature, lookingafter fruit trees to raise them to a level which can serve in many ways like enchanting beautiful fruits, flowers, trees, income and so on. Therefore, in changing scenario tourism department is encouraging the orchardist to develop Fruit Gardens as tourist spots. So now it is the era of orchardist to harness the economic benefits expected from this new sector. This requires developement of infrastructure at fruit gardens which will able to provide a satisfactory leisure to the tourist. Time is changing at a very faster pace, so quick dicision in this directions is required.