Kafal Season Delights Tourists and Supports Local Incomes in Shimla

Currently, Kafal (Kale Bhore) is ripe in popular tourist destinations such as Kufri, Ceylonbagh, Koti, Mudaghat, and Junga, much to the delight of visitors. Local villagers dedicate their days to gathering Kafal in the forests, scaling tall trees and meticulously picking the berries to fill their bags. This fruit has become an important source of income for rural communities, with villagers selling it along roadsides in tourist hotspots like Kufri, Chail, and Ceylonbagh.

Kafal, an evergreen fruit rich in medicinal properties, is native to Himachal Pradesh and other Himalayan regions. Found at altitudes between 1000 to 2000 meters, the juicy fruit boasts a sweet and sour flavor and is known for boosting the immune system. Folklore suggests that Lord Ram and Sita enjoyed Kafal as Prasad during their exile.

According to Ayurveda Medical Officer Dr. Vishwabandhu Joshi, Kafal is packed with vitamins, iron, and antioxidants. It also contains natural compounds like myricetin and glycosides, while its leaves include Lavene 4 and Hydroxy 3. The bark, fruits, and leaves are all considered medicinally beneficial. Dr. Arun Chandan, Regional Director of the National Medicinal Plant Board’s Regional and Accessibility Center in Joginder Nagar, highlights Kafal as a seasonal fruit that helps boost immunity and ward off various diseases.