Kotgarh, a town on the Hindustan-Tibet Road, is a scenic place acknowledged as the apple heartland of
Himachal Pradesh. Located 82 km north-east of
Shimla, it is famous for its delicious apples and acres of apple orchards.
The seeds of appetizing apples were first sown here by Satyanand Stokes, an American missionary. He pioneered the apple cultivation revolution in Himachal, and today these apples are transported from here to throughout the country.
The River View Orchard, run by Dr Uma Singha, the eldest granddaughter of Satyanand Stokes, is located few blocks from the town. It boasts a cottage with accommodation facilities. The spectacular sight of the Sutlej River and valleys can be enjoyed from here.
Situated 6 km from Thanedar and 18 km from
Narkanda, Kotgarh’s other landmarks include an old church built by the British in 1843, Gorton Mission School, Harmony Hall, Rhogha Khud and Arya Samaj Mandir, a pahari style temple housing inscriptions from the Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita. Tani-Jubbar Lake and Hattu Peak are nearby attractions.
Nearest airport is Shimla Airport. Chandigarh Railway Station, about 200 km away, is the nearest major railhead.
