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HARVEST · HAFUS · SOUTH GUJARATMango Festival
Each summer the orchards of the Navsari–Gandevi belt ripen with Alphonso and Kesar mangoes, and a mango festival celebrates the king of fruits with tastings, stalls and orchard visits.
The king of fruits, celebrated
The Navsari–Gandevi belt of south Gujarat is famed mango country, its orchards heavy each summer with prized Alphonso (Hafus) and Kesar fruit. A seasonal mango festival marks the harvest with fruit tastings, growers’ stalls and orchard visits — a fragrant, juicy celebration of the region’s best-loved crop.
Orchards of south Gujarat
The orchards flower from December into January, and growers watch the set closely — a bad flowering, or unseasonal rain at the wrong moment, decides the whole season.
Fruit swells through March and April, and the first pickings begin as the heat builds towards the end of April.
May is peak season for both Hafus and Kesar, and it is when the festivals and grower stalls appear across the Navsari-Gandevi belt.
The season closes with the monsoon in June, after which the fruit is gone until the following summer.
Why come
Alphonso
Alphonso — Hafus in Gujarati — is the prestige variety: dense, aromatic and almost fibreless, and priced accordingly.
Kesar
Kesar takes its name from saffron, for the deep orange of its pulp, and is the variety most used for aamras and shrikhand.
Fresh tastings
Buying at a grower's stall means fruit that was picked days rather than weeks ago and ripened naturally, not in a carbide chamber.
Orchard visits
Several orchards in the belt open to visitors during the season, and walking a mango grove in fruit is worth the detour on its own.
Growers' stalls
Prices at the orchard gate are well below city rates, and you can taste before you commit to a box.
Mango treats
Aamras with puri, mango shrikhand, kulfi and fresh juice all appear through the season alongside the fruit itself.
What to enjoy
THE FRUITHafus
Alphonso is the variety the region is known for, and the standard against which the rest of the season is judged.
THE PLACEGandevi
The Navsari-Gandevi belt of south Gujarat, where the orchards run more or less continuously between the towns.
How to enjoy it
Come in summer
Come in May, the peak of the season, when both Hafus and Kesar are picking and the stalls are at their fullest.
Taste the Hafus
Taste Alphonso against Kesar side by side — the difference in texture and aroma is obvious once you have both in front of you.
Try the Kesar
Try the Kesar specifically for aamras. Its deeper colour and softer pulp are what make the dish, and it is the local preference.
Visit an orchard
Walk an orchard if one is open to visitors, ideally in the early morning while the pickers are working.
Shop the stalls
Buy direct from a grower rather than a roadside reseller — better fruit, lower price, and naturally ripened.
Sip aamras
Fresh mango pulp.
A summer built on mangoes
Mangoes are woven into the life of south Gujarat, and the Navsari–Gandevi belt is one of its finest growing regions. The festival brings growers and visitors together to celebrate the harvest, showcase local varieties and share the many ways the fruit is savoured — from aamras to shrikhand.
For everything else the district holds, see our Navsari travel guide.
Timing
Peak harvest.
Hafus at its best.
Season winds down.
⏰ The mango season runs April to June, peaking in May; festivals are timed to the harvest, so check local dates.
Getting there
By Air
Surat (~40 km).
By Rail
Navsari station.
By Road
Navsari / Gandevi.
More in Navsari
12 MARCH 1930
Dandi March
Where Gandhi’s salt defiance shook an empire. Explore →
PARSI
Navroz
Navroz, the Parsi New Year, glows in Navsari — one of India’s oldest Zoroastrian centres — with prayers at the ancient fire temple, new clothes, feasting and warm community cheer. Explore →
TRIBAL
Dangi Culture
In the forested uplands around Vansda, the tribal culture of Navsari comes alive — dhol-driven dances, colourful fairs and folk custom set among the teak woods of Vansda National Park. Explore →
NATIONAL
Dandi Day
At Dandi today, the nation remembers the Salt March at the National Salt Satyagraha Memorial and Saifee Villa, where Gandhi stayed the night before making salt on 6 April 1930. Explore →
What to eat
MANGOAamras
Fresh mango pulp.
SWEETMango Shrikhand
Creamy and rich.
DRINKMango Lassi
Cool and sweet.
THALIGujarati Thali
With aamras.
Mango Festival FAQ
What is the Navsari Mango Festival?
A summer celebration of the mango harvest in the Navsari–Gandevi belt, with tastings, stalls and orchard visits.
Which mangoes are celebrated?
Mainly the Alphonso (Hafus) and Kesar varieties for which the region is famed.
When is it held?
During the mango season, roughly April to June, peaking in May.
Where is the mango belt?
The Navsari–Gandevi area of south Gujarat, known for its rich orchards.
What can I do there?
Taste fresh fruit, visit orchards, shop growers' stalls and enjoy mango sweets and drinks.
What mango dishes should I try?
Aamras, mango shrikhand and mango lassi are seasonal favourites.
Across Gujarat
HERITAGENehru Gate
A grand ceremonial gateway in town
TOWNSantrampur
A forest-edge town of the highlands
CURIOSITYJhulta Minar
The mysterious ‘shaking minarets’
OLD TOWNKapadvanj
Ancient torans and a carved stepwell
Hatkeshwar Mahadev
The ornate Nagar Brahmin temple
Pavagadh Jain Temples
Carved Digambar shrines along the climb
WHERE TO STAY
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Published 24 June 2026 · Updated 3 July 2026