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SUMMER · GIR KESAR · MANGOKesar Season
Each summer the orchards around Junagadh and Talala turn golden with Gir Kesar — the saffron-hued "queen of mangoes," a GI-tagged fruit whose fragrance defines the season.
The queen of mangoes
When summer comes to the foothills of Gir, the region’s famous mango ripens: the Gir Kesar, named for its saffron (“kesar”) colour and prized for a sweet, fragrant, fibre-free pulp. Grown chiefly around Talala and the villages ringing the Gir forest, it carries a Geographical Indication tag that ties its identity to this soil. The Talala mango market in season is a spectacle of crates, colour and scent.
A fruit tied to its soil
The orchards flower in spring, setting the crop that summer will ripen.
Through the rising heat the fruit fills and sweetens on the trees.
April to June is the season, with May the market's peak month.
Talala's mango yard then runs at full cry, crates stacked to the roofline.
Why come
Gir Kesar
Gir Kesar is the famed mango of Saurashtra, named for its saffron-coloured pulp.
Saffron pulp
The flesh is sweet, smooth and fibreless — the qualities the name promises.
GI-tagged
A Geographical Indication tag certifies the true region-grown fruit.
Talala market
The season carries a genuine buzz; all of Gujarat talks mangoes in May.
Gir orchards
The orchards ring the Gir forest's edge, sharing ground with the lions.
Mango treats
Ras, aamras, ice cream and the plain cut fruit — the season eats well.
What to see
THE FRUITGir Kesar
Queen of mangoes.
THE MARKETTalala
Crates and colour.
How to experience it
Come in summer
Time it for April to June — Kesar is a summer fruit and will not wait.
Visit Talala
Visit the Talala mango market at its May peak, the season's great spectacle.
Taste the Kesar
Eat the fruit fresh from the crate, still warm from the orchard.
Tour an orchard
See the orchards themselves, ringing the Gir forest's edge.
Try aamras
Take aamras with puri, the season's classic table.
Carry some home
Carry a box of Kesar home; everyone in Gujarat does.
Gujarat's summer obsession
Mango season is a genuine event in Gujarat, and Gir Kesar is its aristocrat — eaten fresh, whipped into aamras to scoop up with puri, and gifted by the box. Its GI tag protects the name and rewards the growers of the Gir belt, whose orchards, nourished by the forest’s microclimate, give the fruit its distinctive fragrance and colour.
Our Junagadh travel guide maps out the other places worth your time here.
Timing
April to June is when Kesar is at its best, fresh from the Talala orchards.
The mango months build to May, when the market runs at full pitch.
Outside the season there is no fresh Kesar — only pulp, and anticipation.
⏰ Gir Kesar is a summer fruit, roughly April to June; May is usually the peak of the market.
Getting there
By Air
Rajkot / Keshod / Diu.
By Rail
Junagadh / Veraval.
By Road
Talala, near Gir.
More in Junagadh
MAHA SHIVRATRI
Bhavnath Mela
Sadhus, naga ascetics and all-night bhajans at Girnar’s foot. Explore →
KARTIK
Girnar Parikrama
Once a year in Kartik, tens of thousands walk the Lili Parikrama — a 36-kilometre circuit through the forests around Mount Girnar, a moving river of pilgrims, fires and folk devotion. Explore →
FOLK
Music & Dandiya
Junagadh keeps the folk beat of Saurashtra alive — dandiya-raas and garba, the soulful dayro of Kathiyawadi singers, and dhol-driven nights where whole towns dance in ring after spinning ring. Explore →
WILD
Lion Country
Junagadh is the old gateway to lion country — the princely city whose Nawab first shielded the last Asiatic lions, and the doorstep to the Gir forest where they still roam. Explore →
What to eat
AAMRASAamras
Mango pulp & puri.
KESARFresh Kesar
Straight from Gir.
THALIKathiyawadi Thali
With seasonal ras.
CHAASChaas
Cools the heat.
Kesar Season FAQ
What is Gir Kesar?
A famous mango variety grown around the Gir forest, named for the saffron colour of its pulp and prized across India for its sweetness and fragrance — many rank it beside or above Alphonso.
When is the season?
Roughly April to June, with May usually the peak.
Where is it grown?
Chiefly around Talala and the villages ringing the Gir forest in the Junagadh–Gir Somnath belt.
What does GI-tagged mean?
A Geographical Indication tag certifies the mango’s origin in this region, protecting its name.
Where can I buy it?
The Talala mango market is the famous hub during the season.
How is it eaten?
Fresh, or as aamras — mango pulp eaten with puri — among many other treats.
Across Gujarat
Ranchhodji Temple
A beloved Krishna shrine
Unai-area Shrines
Pilgrim spots near the forest edge
2Kawant Holi Fair
One of Gujarat’s most colourful tribal gatherings
COASTDahej Coast
Where the Narmada meets the Gulf
FOODRajkot Chowk
Legendary farsan, penda & chikki
CITYRace Course
Rajkot’s central grounds, gardens & events
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Published 24 June 2026 · Updated 3 July 2026