Apple blossom season is here and tourists visiting the Queen of Hills can now have a feel of apple orchards with special packages for longer stay in the state on anvil.

Tourists, both national and international, visits Shimla but they stay in the capital city for just two-three days and then return, officials say. Hence, the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) is planning to offer travel packages to tourists to visit the apple orchards surrounding the hill capital during apple blossom season from 15-30 April this year. But with this package, the Tourism Development Corporation is aiming to extend their stay and also to give them feel of horticulture economy of HP.

HPTDC Vice Chairman Harish Janartha said that the Corporation is planning to link apple economy with tourism activities in the state.

“Himachal endows immense natural wealth right from its delicacies to sprawling orchards and high hills, salubrious climate and offers number of adventure sports activities besides religious tourism to the visitors,” he said.

But now, the HPTDC is planning to exploit the vast tourism potential and offer special packages for giving a feel of the natural environment of orchards.

“A blooming apple orchard is always a soothing sight and it would freshen up the mood of tourists who visit the state to relieve stress during their sojourn in HP,” Janarthan said.

He said it would provide them knowledge about farming of apples and other fruit crops and give a chance to them to even pluck apples.

Under the package, the tourists would be facilitated two days tour of famous apple belt areas in Shimla district as Kotgarh, Theog, Kotkhai, Narkanda and Fagu. The tourists would cover a distance of 160 kms during these trips to apple orchards and they can book these packages online.

“If the visitors want to stay at apple orchards or want to indulge in camping at these sites, the Tourism Development Corporation would provide them with staying facilities,” Janartha said.

He said that the tourists can even put up in the Home Stays in the woods, if they want to. "We will provide the information on this."

It is worthwhile to mention that Congress government in HP, around a decade back, had planned to link educational tours of children from across the country with apple orchards and hydro power projects. It however, hung fire for general red-tape.

HP’s apple economy is worth Rs 3,500 Crore and the crop is largely produced in the districts of Shimla, Kullu, Kinnaur, Mandi, Chamba and Sirmaur.

Apple is the most important cash crop of state as it constitutes 49 percent (around 1.25 lakh hectare area) of the total area under fruit crops and about 85 percent of the total fruit production.

Himachal Pradesh produces around 40 percent of the total production in country while Kashmir valley contributes around 50 percent of the total apple production.