Jumla's orchards spread up the valley sides from the Tila river. Many farms use little or no chemical fertiliser, partly from tradition and partly because inputs are hard to bring this far, and the district has promoted its produce as organic. Harvest runs from late August into October, when families pick, sort and pack fruit for trucks heading down the Karnali Highway.
Below the orchards, terraces of Jumli Marshi red rice step down to the river. This cold-tolerant variety has been cultivated here for many centuries and grows higher than almost any rice in the world. Farmers explain irrigation channels, transplanting in June and the threshing that follows harvest.
We stop at a farmhouse for fresh apples or juice, and, in season, a plate of red rice with local beans and greens. Bring a hat and water; the sun is strong at this altitude even when the air is cool.
Good for
- Families
- Couples
- Photographers
- Groups
Questions travellers ask
When is apple season in Jumla?
From late August to October, with the peak in September. Orchards are full, roadside stalls sell fruit cheaply, and trucks queue to carry apples down the Karnali Highway. In spring, April and May, the trees are in blossom, which is also a good time for photographs but without fruit to taste.
What is Jumla Marshi rice?
Jumli Marshi is a cold-tolerant red rice grown in the Tila and Sinja valleys from about 2,400 m to over 3,000 m, among the highest rice fields on earth. It has a nutty flavour and firm texture and is sold across Nepal as a speciality grain. It is believed to have been grown here for over a thousand years.
Can I buy Jumla apples and rice to take home?
Yes. Red rice in 1–2 kg packs and dried apple chips are easy to carry and sold in the bazaar. Fresh apples are cheap in season but heavy for the flight, where baggage is usually limited to 15 kg. Indian travellers can carry them home overland via Nepalgunj without difficulty.
