Shimla, Aug 28: Himachal Pradesh Tourism Minister V S Mankotia today inaugurated three day apple festival here in the lawn of Christ Church at historic Ridge Maidan. The festival has been organised by Shimla Hotel and Restaurants Association in collaboration with the department of tourism.
Apple festival is a part of efforts to attract the tourists during the lean tourist season. During the festival, the tourists would be taken to apple orchards in the interior of Shimla district so that they could enjoy the beauty of apple trees. Thirty-seven commercial varieties of apple have been displayed at the festival. Origen spur red variety produced by B R Tejta has been declared 'first' in the red variety. Extra large red delicious variety weighing 600 grams per piece produced by Upinder Rawat of Jubbal Kotkhai areas of Shimla district was declared 'Apple King'.
Talking to reporters, Tourism Minister Mankotia said an action plan to make tourist resort Kufri more attractive and beautiful was being prepared. Bureau Report