Apple blossom package for tourists launched

Tribune News Service

Shimla April 25

Apple orchard tourism got a new push in the apple belt today after Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) launched “apple blossom package” for tourists today. Eleven tourists today got a real feel of the blooming apple orchards in Kotgarh during its inaugural launch.

“As many as 11 tourists, including two foreigners, took the package that costs Rs 1,000 per person, including transportation, breakfast, lunch and evening tea from Shimla to Kotgarh and back covering 160-km distance”, said Harish Janartha, vice-chairman, HTDC.

Janartha said the apple orchards tourism promised a huge potential for young farmers in the apple belt to diversify into tourism. “Road connectivity to Rohru, Jubbal and Kotkhai has been improved as the Thoeg-Hatkoti highway is almost ready. The HPTD initiative will encourage rural tourism”, he added.

Away from Shimla town, tourists prefer to spend their holidays in green, clean and cool fragrant secluded apple orchards home stay spots like at Thanedar, Kotgarh, Ratnari, Narkanda, Fagu in the apple belt of the district. The apple orchard tourism is becoming popular in the apple belt.

“We are getting nature-loving tourists here every year as they prefer silence, greenery and peace”, said Prakash Thakur, who runs a home stay unit in his apple orchard at Thanedar. The area provides splendid view of the Kotgarh apple belt and the towering Hattu Peak. “There is provision of online booking and we get walk-in tourists as well. Farmers can make extra earning in case the apple season fails”, he added.

The apple orchards home stay concept has picked up over the years both among domestic and foreign tourists, said Gian Thakur, an orchardist who runs a apple orchard home stay unit in Ratnari in Kotkhai tehsil. Smooth road connectivity is a problem here. Still genuine nature lovers who want to enjoy hill rural life in orchards came here during summer, he added.

The tourists informed that they visited cherry orchards at Kandyali and Netaji Subhash Chander Bose Hockey Stadium at Shilaru. “It gives a tremendous feel of fragrant orchards at Thanadhar–Kotgarh, Tani Jubbarh areas where flowing is at peak stage”, they added.

Managing Director, HPTDC Dinesh Malhotra said the corporation would not only publicise Himachal apple among tourists but also introduce a new tourist season in the state.