Love mangoes? This unique museum in Gujarat has more than 200 varieties to explore

Mango is the buzzword of the summer season. From fruit stalls overflowing with fresh produce to mango-inspired desserts taking over restaurant and café menus, the king of fruits is everywhere.

Now, what if we told you there is an entire museum dedicated to mangoes?

Located just 3 km from Gir National Park in Gujarat's Bhalchhel village, this unique Mango Museum, also known as Anil Farms Mango Museum, is unlike any conventional museum. There are no galleries, display cases or information panels. Instead, it is a living orchard where hundreds of mango varieties continue to grow, evolve and flourish.

Spread across 12.5 acres, the orchard is home to thousands of mango trees representing more than 230 varieties collected from different parts of India and across the world. For mango enthusiasts, it is a rare opportunity to see some of the country's most famous mangoes alongside international varieties in one place.

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From Langda and Dasheri to Japan's famous Miyazaki mango

The orchard showcases mango varieties from across India, including Chaunsa, Langda, Dasheri, Chinna Rasam and Chandrama. Visitors can also find dwarf mango trees and the seedless Sindhu-117 variety.

What makes the collection even more unique is its international selection. The farm grows mango varieties from the United States, Thailand, Australia, Europe and Israel. From American varieties such as Tommy Atkins, Keitt and Osteen to Thailand's Nam Dok Mai mango, which can weigh up to 1.5 kg, the collection spans multiple countries. It also includes Israel's Maya variety and Japan's Miyazaki mango, which is considered among the most expensive mangoes in the world.

The farm also cultivates varieties such as Katimon, Bajrang Baramasi and Baramasi Valsad, which can produce fruit multiple times a year.

Situated along the Hiran River, the property also features a 25-room agri-tourism facility, allowing visitors to stay amid the orchards and experience mango farming up close.

How a family orchard became Gujarat's Mango Museum

The story of the orchard began in 1985 when Noor Ali Veera Jhariya moved from Sangdora village to the present location of the farm. According to The Better India, he initially collected and planted 14 varieties of mangoes, laying the foundation for what would later become the Mango Museum.

The collection was further expanded by his son, Samasudin Jhariya, who continued introducing new varieties to the orchard. The next major phase came with the family's third generation. Sumeet Jhariya explored the Japanese mango variety, Miyazaki’s cultivation and later introduced the variety to the family's growing collection.

Over the past two decades, the Jhariya family has added both indigenous and hybrid varieties, turning the farm into one of India's most diverse mango orchards. The family uses organic cultivation practices and drip irrigation systems to grow the fruit.

Speaking to the Times of India during a 2023 interview, Samasudin said, "The TSS (sugar) content in exotic mangoes is around 15. In the Indian subcontinent, mangoes it goes from 18 to 22. We want farmers to grow exotic varieties of mangoes as the demand for these is higher among diabetic patients. In the future, we can also export such exotic mangoes from our country to places where people prefer less sweet ones."

With the aim of introducing more exotic mango varieties, the father-son duo regularly gathers feedback from customers and growers to identify new varieties worth adding to the orchard.

Beyond cultivation, the farm has also become a learning centre, with the Jhariya family conducting workshops and training sessions on mango farming, plant care and orchard management.

For travellers heading to Gir National Park, this unusual mango museum offers a stop that combines agriculture, local heritage and one of India's most loved fruits.