Experience Walnut - Tour to Kashmir

Walnut

The Walnut, whose shape resembles our brain, is harvested in Shopian and Kupwara region. Earlier Kupwara had the highest harvest but today, it is the Shopian regin with maximum harvest. Other areas include Marwah, Chatroo, Mughalmaidan and Bounjwah Tehsils respectively.
Srinagar - Kupwara: 85 kilometers
Srinagar - Shopian: 51 kilometers

Walnut seeds are majorly divided into two categories:

Visit the Flowering/Maturing Season

Walnuts starts flowering on the onset of spring season in the month of March to April. After flowering, fruit rapidly grows but it takes time to mature. Depending on this maturing time, the harvesting period also gets delayed and plucking is done from the mid of August to mid of October.

The height of the trees makes the job of harvesting Walnut very tough. Usually, labourers beat the fruit-bearing-branch with a long stick to get it down. Drying process is done after washing out the nuts in flowing stream or river. Drying is done in the open field under sky up to 5 or 8 days.

Depending on when you arrive in Kashmir, you can take chances of witnessing either the flower or the fruit.

Walnuts kernels resemble the human brain. The trees only grow above 7,000 feet. Hop on to the tour package and visit either Shopian or Kupwara and witness the hugely towering trees that grow up to 75 feet! Take selfies, caress the bark and grab some not-yet-ripe walnuts and share as the proud owner!

Tip

The outer shell when dried hard in the Sun turns black and then you can use it in your Henna.