You heard it right. Cherry blossoms in a natural phenomena where fruiting trees (especially cherries) bloom after being barren all of winters. Since there are no leaves, the entire tree is covered only with flowers for almost 2-3 weeks before the leaves bloom and the tree becomes green again.
Now the 2 most famous places to spot cherry blossoms are DC in United States and Sakura all over Japan. But not for long, a lesser known, and on a lesser scale blossom happens right here in the orchards of Himachal.
Along with Apple and Cherry trees, Apricot, Peach, Plum, and Pear trees bloom too adding to the riot of colours - ranging from pastel pinks, whites, and purples.
Where to spot the blossom?
While there is no particular spot like Japan or USA where roads are lined with cherry trees, Himachal has several orchards that bloom together. At The Nilaya, we are surrounded by Apple, Pear, and Apricot trees with few plums and cherry trees too. You can actually spot one from your room window and if you truly want to appreciate it, we would recommend driving to remote orchard towns on the way to Narkanda.
What is the best time?
There is no set date for the cherry blossom and each year, it starts any time in middle of March to first few days of April. We would suggest to get a live update from the area before you commence travel. At The Nilaya, we would be happy to shift your booking in case it isn't conciding with Cherry blossom that you are coming for.
How long does it last?
The blossom lasts for less than 4 weeks, with the first 2 weeks being ideal since there is not even a speck of green in the entire tree. Once you get a whiff of the bloom, book your stay and make a move to Mashobra.
The pink and white hues sure make for some memorable pictures and just the thought of sitting under an apple tree in full bloom makes me feel happy.