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The mango has always been a fruit that sparks obsession. Even Mahatma Gandhi once called it a “cursed fruit” for how much he loved it. India is the home of the mango, celebrated in ancient texts, Mughal kitchens, and art across the country. The Portuguese later introduced grafting techniques, giving rise to many varieties still grown today. Mangoes show up everywhere—from royal desserts to paisley patterns on textiles and have inspired travellers, poets, and generations of farmers. Now, if the country has a mango museum, things take a quick paradise-like turn, don’t they? In the Bhalchhel village of Gujarat, it’s a plantation, home to 300 varieties of mangoes cultivated by one family. If you plan to visit this place, here’s an outline of what you need to know first-hand.
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
A Mango Museum At Jhariya Farms
A 12-acre plantation in the village of Bhalchhel, around three miles from the Gir forest, is essentially a mango paradise. Here, the Jhariya family cultivates more than 300 varieties of mangoes, creating what the locals refer to as a "live mango museum." Here, one may see the delicate kohitur, which rests on cotton rather than a table, or dudhpedo, which has a soft, milky-yellow pulp. Fourteen baramasi kinds bear fruit several times a year, as well as the sonpari, a cousin of the Alphonso. The tastes are wild. Some are intensely sweet, others tangy, some barely sugary, and a few even taste like guavas, pineapples, or lemonade. The shapes are just as surprising—red mangoes, five-kilo giants, apple-shaped ones, and even banana-shaped varieties.
When Noor Ali Jhariya purchased the property and planted Kesar trees, the museum was established in the early 1980s. Farming was difficult because of the surrounding river and soil; too much moisture or water could damage the mangoes. The issue was resolved using raised beds and drip watering. His son Shamshuddin enlarged the orchard in the 1990s by visiting research institutes around India to gather uncommon and exotic kinds.
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Later, Shamshuddin’s son Sumeet added international inspiration, studying Japan’s Miyazaki mangoes, which are famous for aroma, colour, and crazy price tags. Unlike Japan, all mangoes in Bhalchhel grow outdoors under the sun.
The family also employs high-density farming. They place trees 10–12 feet apart rather than 30–40 feet apart. The trees begin to bear fruit earlier and produce significantly more than with conventional techniques, thanks to pruning and careful picking. Given the prevalence of tiny landholdings in India, this is ideal.
How Mangoes Are Cultivated For India
Mango cultivation is not simple. Grafting is used to clone the best trees since they can yield fruit that tastes substantially different from the original. The fruit is identical to the original when it works, though success rates vary—80% for common varieties, 20–30% for unusual ones.
Local mangoes continue to be the most popular, while exotic mangoes are more expensive. When it succeeds, the new tree yields fruit that is exactly like the parent. Despite all of this work, local varieties are typically preferred by consumers, making it more difficult to market exotic mangoes even though they are more expensive.
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The Jhariya farm offers experiences in addition to food. For those who are interested in mangoes, the orchard offers a 30-room hostel, a nursery, and a museum. Guests can wander between rows of trees, try varieties they’ve never seen, and watch the family’s careful farming methods in action. Each tree tells a story, each mango has its own personality, and the whole farm feels like a living history of India’s love for this fruit.
300 Mangoes & Infinite Stories
Mangoes are more than simply food in India; they are an integral element of the country's culture and character. Mughals once constructed vast orchards, such as Akbar's Lakhi Bagh, to keep the royal kitchens stocked, and auctions for early-season Kesar mangoes may send prices skyrocketing. The Jhariya farm is a contemporary representation of that passion, with hundreds of kinds conserved, researched, and shared with guests, preserving the custom while simultaneously experimenting with farming methods, drawing inspiration from around the world, and promoting tourism.
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Mangoes of all sizes, hues, and tastes dangle from the branches; some are small, others are large, some are vivid red, and some are delicate yellow. Sumeet's experiments have even resulted in the growth of a Miyazaki tree. Here, the king of fruits rules supremely in all its splendour as history, science, and passion come together.
