Dasheri Mango: Complete Guide

Last Updated on January 17, 2022 by asoulwindow

FIRST DASHERI MANGO TREE OF THE WORLD

Of all types of mangoes, Dusshehri has a different story. Did you know that the first Dussehri aka Dasheri Mango tree of the world still exists! It is located in a nondescript village called, what else but Dussehri village near Kakori in Lucknow district in Uttar Pradesh.

On my way from Lucknow to Malihabad, the mango paradise, I made a pit stop at the famed enclosure which guards the precious mango tree. The impressive Mango Malihabadi dussehri stood tall and wide.

Despite its fame, it sees no tourists thanks to its remote location and difficulty in reaching. Originated in 18th century, the Dussehri aam or mango is famous for its sweet fragrance and irresistible taste. No wonder it is called the king of mangoes. This story is about offbeat budget family road trip from Lucknow to Mango capital of India, Malihabad!

Orchard. Uttar Pradesh. Dussehri Mango Tree Malihabad, kakori, Lucknow. India Kaleem Ullah Khan
Just another day in the Dussehri Mango Orchards of Malihabad, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Incredible India!

Malihabad is Dussehri paradise, we found out. Malihabad is the largest producer of Dussehri. There are 14 mango belts in Uttar Pradesh alone. Uttar Pradesh is after all the largest mango producing state in India. Malihabad is the largest of them all with 30,000 hectares of land reserved for growing mangoes.

No wonder, North Indian state Uttar Pradesh is the second largest producers of mangoes in India. The first position is claimed by South Indian state Andhra Pradesh. You can also order Dasheri mango online.

Mother tree. Dussehri Mango Tree Malihabad, kakori, Lucknow. India Kaleem Ullah Khan (3)
My dad posing under the huge Mother Dussehri Tree near the Dussehri Mango Orchards of Malihabad, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Incredible India!

MIRZA GHALIB LOVED THE WORLD FAMOUS DUSSEHRI AAM

Dussehri aam is also grown in Andhra Pradesh and outside India in Pakistan and Nepal.  Thanks to its long shelf life, Dashehari aam is also exported to countries like Malaysia, Philippines, Hong Kong, Singapore etc. There is high demand for the Malihabad mango.

Also Read: Shri Ram Janm Bhoomi and other top Places to see in Ayodhya.

Dussehri Mango Tree Malihabad, kakori, Lucknow. India Kaleem Ullah Khan
My mom (left) and mausi (right) checking out the MAGIC TREE of Padma Shree Kaleem Ullah Khan in Malihabad. The tree is in Abdul Nursery and has more than 300 varieties of mangoes. Dussehri Mango Orchards of Malihabad, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Incredible India!

Did you know that the Dussehri mangoes of Awadh were so famous that even the renowned poet Mirza Ghalib could not resist the temptation? It is said that every time Mirza Ghalib traveled to Kolkata from Delhi to collect his pension, he made sure that a detour is made. He used to stop in Awadh to relish the sinful taste of Dussehri and other Malihabad mangoes. Dashehri always enjoyed a special status from all types of mangoes.

Also read: Bhavya Deepawali Mahotsav in Ayodhya

Mother tree. Dussehri Mango Tree Malihabad, kakori, Lucknow. India Kaleem Ullah Khan
Check out the sign board. The huge Mother Dussehri Tree near the Dussehri Mango Orchards of Malihabad, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Incredible India!

200 YEAR OLD HISTORICAL DUSSEHRI MANGO TREE IS IN KAKORI, LUCKNOW

The mango orchards in Uttar Pradesh are mostly owned and managed by Muslims. Several families have been growing mangoes in the Dussehri belt of Lucknow for more than 200 years. No wonder it is one of the the largest mango producing states in India.

The reason can be attributed to the fact that Nawabs patronized mango farming in Awadh and nearby areas. Not only did they guard the secrets to grow best mangoes but they were very ‘orchard proud.’ The vestiges of that era can still be found in the mango orchards of Malihabad and nearby areas. Mango Malihabadi Dussehri has an interesting history.

Also read: Offbeat Trip to Dudhwa National Park and Tiger Reserve

Mother tree. Dussehri Mango Tree Malihabad, kakori, Lucknow. India Kaleem Ullah Khan (2)
The huge Mother Dussehri Tree near the Dussehri Mango Orchards of Malihabad, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Incredible India!

The folklore has it that Dussehri aam originated from the 200-year-old mother tree which still exists in Kakori. Some even say it is 300 years old. When I visited it, the only sign of the ‘celebrity status’ of the tree was a lock-less fence around it and few men guarding it on a charpai (cot) nearby, wiping their faces every now and then, thanks to the extreme heat.

The tree is guarded through the night also. In fact, there is an abandoned police station near the tree. Needless to say, it was set up only to guard the tree. Nawab Ansar Ali owned this tree and to date, every summer all the fruits from this particular tree go exclusively to his descendants who live in the city. The Malihabadi aam is no ordinary mango after all.

Also read: Dhangadhi – The offbeat India Nepal Border near Lucknow

Kids. Dussehri Mango Tree Malihabad, kakori, Lucknow. India Kaleem Ullah Khan
Local kids coaxing us to buy mangoes. When they saw camera in my hands, their priorities changed. They are peeping in my car window. The Dussehri Mango Orchards trail of Malihabad, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Incredible India!

The Dussehri mango tree looked odd and old but still strong. Unruly kids with unkempt hair, bare feet and untidy clothes played around it, no one daring rob the trees of its prized mangoes. This area is home to many other old trees of mangoes as well. Luckily you can also place an order of Dasheri mango online.

Uttar Pradesh. Dussehri Mango Tree Malihabad, kakori, Lucknow. India Kaleem Ullah Khan (3)
51 percent population of Malihabad is that of Muslims. I shot this from the moving car. The Dussehri Mango Orchards trail of Malihabad, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Incredible India!

HISTORY OF 200 YEAR OLD HISTORICAL MOTHER DUSSEHRI MANGO TREE IN KAKORI, LUCKNOW

It is said that the mangoes which grew on this tree was not made available to the commoners. It was a prized possession. A secret treasure! The Nawab was always presented the first fruit of the season. The craze for Dasheri mango was immense. During the rule of Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula, a farmer’s tree was seized because the government didn’t want the common people to buy the fruit. This Malihabad mango tree is legendary indeed.

If U.P. is the mango capital of the world, then Malihabad is the mango capital of U.P. for sure. The Malihabad mango has many admirers across the world.

Uttar Pradesh. Dussehri Mango Tree Malihabad, kakori, Lucknow. India Kaleem Ullah Khan (4)
Yes, that stick is a warning. Touch the mango and he will make sure you visit the ब्रह्माण्ड (universe) in a jiffy. Guard of Dussehri Mango Orchards of Malihabad, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Incredible India!

ORIGIN OF MOTHER DASHERI TREE

In mid 19th century, mango farmers who crossed Dussehri village had to pay a toll tax of 5 mangoes from each lot. A dispute between both the parties angered the farmers and they abandoned all the mangoes unceremoniously. It is believed by the locals that one of the seedling germinated and is now what we call the Mother Dussehri. Soon, the grafts from this tree were grown in orchards of Malihabad and Kakori and the rest is history.

You will enjoy this first-hand experience of Mango cultivation in India. Let us now learn about the Pathans of Malihabad. Not many people talk about it. Fewer know about it. Let us find out more about Malihabadi aam and mango growers.

Also read: My stay in Hyatt Regency, Lucknow

Dussehri Mango Tree Malihabad, kakori, Lucknow. India Kaleem Ullah Khan (2)
My parents packed many petis (carton) of mangoes. Yes, those are ours and we bought more. The traditional wooden petis are eco-friendly but fast losing popularity due to cheaper but ecologically disastrous materials. The Dussehri Mango Orchards trail of Malihabad, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Incredible India!

HOW ARE AFRIDI PATHANS FROM AFGHANISTAN CONNECTED TO MALIHABAD?

Here is the lesser-known story of Afridi Pathan From Afghanistan connection with Malihabad. With time, eventually, Dussehri mango became available to commoners. People started trading it in Awadh region and it soon gained immense popularity. The Afridi Pathans from Afghanistan further raised the Dussehri belt of Lucknow.

They settled in this region around 200 years ago as Mughal period inched closer to its end. The first mango orchards were established by the Pathans. The Afridi Pathans thus have a major role to play in the mango cultivation in India. Pathans of Malihabad have an interesting history indeed.

Also read: The story of Dilkusha Kothi in Lucknow

WHY WE VISITED MALIHABAD IN EXTREMELY HOT WEATHER

My main aim to visit this part of the region in the extreme heat of June was not only this magic tree though. I and my parents had braved the sun because it was the right time for a mango trail. Not many are fond of Indian summer. It is extremely hot. Temperature crossing the 50 degrees mark in North India is normal.

The abundant mangoes which Indian summers bring with it are one of the saving graces. This is when the Mango Belts of Uttar Pradesh are fragrant with abundant mangoes. The Malihabadi mango lure is for real! Determined, we move on to his famous Malihabad nursery.

Dussehri Mango Tree Malihabad, kakori, Lucknow. India Padma Shree Kaleem Ullah Khan
My father posing with Padma Shree Kaleem Ullah Khan under his MAGIC TREE in Malihabad. The tree is in Abdul Nursery and has more than 300 varieties of mangoes. Dussehri Mango Orchards of Malihabad, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Incredible India!

MEETING PADMASHREE KALEEM ULLAH KHAN

Haji Kaleem Ullah Khan is famous not only in Malihabad or Lucknow but also beyond. Thanks to his unprecedented contribution to mango farming and horticulture, he has been awarded the honor of Padma Shree by Indian government. He is also known as the ‘Father of mango Grafting’ in India or the Mango man of India. His famous mango tree which grows more than 300 varieties of mangoes in one tree draws travelers and notable personalities and scientists from across the world.

Also read: Story of Begum Samru of Sardhana in Meerut

Uttar Pradesh. Dussehri Mango Tree Malihabad, kakori, Lucknow. India Kaleem Ullah Khan
Locals idling time under extreme heat of North India. We visited on 25th June. The Dussehri Mango Orchards of Malihabad, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Incredible India!

MY COMPLICATED RELATIONSHIP WITH MANGOES

Having been born and brought up in various cities of Uttar Pradesh, one of the largest and most populated states of North India, I have been surrounded by mango zealots all my life. Almost all of my family members are mango fanatics. I was an aberration when I was a child.

I was not much fond of mangoes till I shifted to Mumbai in 2008. While the mango worshippers in my family used to coax me into eating mangoes, I always found an excuse to live a mango free life. Not that I had any knowledge that mango can make me fat. It is just that I didn’t like mangoes.

Maybe because it is too much of a work to eat mangoes. And also a bit too messy! That explains why grapes are my most favourite fruits. It is easy to eat grapes. And let’s not even talk about Kiwi. I once almost stabbed myself while trying to peel an unripe kiwi in my luxurious room in Khyber resort and spa in Gulmarg.

Also read: Where to find Pink Kashmiri Tea in Lucknow

Uttar Pradesh. Dussehri Mango Tree Malihabad, kakori, Lucknow. India Kaleem Ullah Khan (2)
Locals playing around, unmindful of the importance of the place. The Dussehri Mango Orchards trail of Malihabad, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Incredible India!

It was only after I shifted to Mumbai that I realized the true worth of Mumbai. I was not much fond of expensive and over rated Alphonso mangoes. It is nice and well marketed and all that jazz, but I missed the amazing variety of mangoes which my own state Uttar Pradesh offered.

Having grown up smelling and occasionally eating varieties like Chausa, Johari Safeda, Langda, the rare Gaurjeet, I still used to run away from the mango plate which my mother neatly peeled, cut and placed in a plate in order to lure me into eating it. And these are just few mango variety names in India.

I continued doing the crime of rejecting mangoes consistently. After I returned from Navi Mumbai in Maharashtra after spending 7 years in Vashi, I hogged on mangoes like there was no tomorrow. Since the summers of 2016, I eat at least 1 mango every day during the season. I have become a complete convert. Ironically, Dussehri is not my favourite mango. I am a huge Chausa fan. The taste is distinct and other worldly.

Also read: Epic Road Trip to Kailash Mansarovar Yatra

Jack fruits. Dussehri Mango Tree Malihabad, kakori, Lucknow. India Kaleem Ullah Khan
It is also a jackfruit paradise. My parents bought many jackfruits too. The Dussehri Mango Orchards trail of Malihabad, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Incredible India!

INTERESTING FACTS & TRIVIA ABOUT MANGOES OF UTTAR PRADESH

  • Sanskrit word of Mango is amra which mean ‘of the people’.
  • So, how many types of mangoes in India? India has more than 1500 varieties of mangoes. Mango farming in India is growing steadily.
  • Johari safeda aam is named so because the erstwhile Nawab of Awadh loved the taste of mangoes gifted to him by Fakir Mohammad Khan Goya so much that he presented pearls to him as a gesture. And the name Johari Safeda stuck. Its literal meaning is pearls of the jeweler.
  • Chausa mango belongs to Cheensa village in Sandila. The original tree was owned by a widow. The local landlords aka zamindars bought its fruits for a sum of Rs. 100. Thus it was privately relished by a privileged few for many years. Its mass marketing and availability outside Sandila began when a commoner tasted it for the first time. It is now a very popular variety of mango and one of my personal favorites. I am sure by now you are impressed with availability of different types of mangoes in India.
  • Malihabadi Dussehri was awarded the Geographical Indications (GI) status in 2010 by Geographical Indications Registry of India.
  • In early 1900s, more than 1300 varieties of mangoes used to be farmed in Malihabad. The good news is that the mango cultivation in India keeps growing.
  • Dussehri is the first mangoes which fill the markets every summer season.

Also read: How I became the Top Travel Blogger Of India

Uttar Pradesh. Dussehri Mango Tree Malihabad, kakori, Lucknow. India Kaleem Ullah Khan (5)
My parents were on a mango buying spree. I was not complaining! The Dussehri Mango Orchards trail of Malihabad, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Incredible India!

HOW TO REACH MALIHABAD DUSSEHRI VILLAGE FROM LUCKNOW

Covering the distance from Malihabad to Lucknow and vice the versa is easy. Dussheri Village is near Kakori in Lucknow district. It is merely 10 kilometers away from the city of Lucknow. It is 17 kilometers away from Hazratganj in Lucknow city. The Dussheri village falls in the Lucknow- Malihabad road.

By Road Trip

It is apt for a low budget backpacking weekend trip from Lucknow since it is located very close to Lucknow and you do not have to spend any money on stay. A day trip to Malihabad from Lucknow is what most tourists do. You can make a day trip with your family and friends too. My dad hired a car and visited Malihabad along with me, my mother and my mausi (maternal aunt). You can ask any locals for direction as the tree is quite famous here.

By Rail

You can also reach Malihabad by taking a train to Malihabad railway station from Lucknow and other cities. It is really easy to do to and fro between Malihabad Lucknow.

Also read: Who destroyed Martand Mandir in Kashmir

Kulhad. Dussehri Mango Tree Malihabad, kakori, Lucknow. India Kaleem Ullah Khan
Much of India practices eco-friendly lifestyle by default. This is kulhad, made from mud clay. Not only does it impart a unique flavour to the tea, it is also eco friendly and cheap. Yes, we did sipped the tea from the kulhad. The Dussehri Mango Orchards trail of Malihabad, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Incredible India!

BEST TIME TO GO TO MALIHABAD AND DUSSEHRI VILLAGE FOR A MANGO TRAIL

Summer, though unbearable is the best time to go to Malihabad and enjoy the bounty of nature. June first week is when the markets are inundated with mangoes. May and June is also the time when the trees will be loaded with mangoes and the streets of Malihabad are filled with sweet smell of mangoes. You will also not be able to resist to buy Dasheri mango during the trip.

Dasheri mango online: Shopping Guide

You can buy Dussehri mango online or in person. Personally, I prefer buying Dussehri aam from Malihabad as it is located close to my home in Lucknow.

ATM in Malihabad

There are very few ATM in Malihabad. It is my personal advice, based on experience that you must carry some cash from Lucknow which is a bustling city with many ATMs.

Conclusion: Why eat Dasheri Mango?

Dasheri Mango of Malihabad near Lucknow is popular not only in Uttar Pradesh but across New Delhi NCR and much of North India. Dashehari mango is one of the most delicious, juiciest and fleshy of all the mango varieties of India.

The famous Dasheri mango tree of Malihabad is also worth a visit. Do share this comprehensive article on Dasheri Mango, the King of Mangos in North India. Thanks for reading A Soul Window by the un-disputed No. 1 Indian travel blogger. It is also listed as one of the most powerful Travel Blog of India.

The view from my #SoulWindow smells so divine!

jack Fruit. Dussehri Mango Tree Malihabad, kakori, Lucknow. India Kaleem Ullah Khan
It is also a jack-fruit paradise. My parents bought many jack-fruits too. The Dussehri Mango Orchards trail of Malihabad, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Incredible India!

Also read: The mysteries and miracles of Shri Jagannath Mandir

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15 thoughts on “Dasheri Mango: Complete Guide”

  1. Planning to visit the mango village mid July, hope i might get mangoes,thans you for the information.

  2. HI – is there any particular spot or address to which I can visit in Malihabad along with if there is any help (like a tourist guide) to help us navigate. Any help or information in this regard will be helpful.

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  4. Chitra Pandey

    Nice Blog!! Very interesting & informative post! Pictures are great and the blog is very easy to read.

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  7. I love mangoes! It is also interesting to know about the history and facts of the first Dasheri Mango tree of the world and to learn about how precious it is to the locals. Your photos of the tree certainly added charm to its story!! Thanks for sharing! 🙂

  8. This is a very nice post on Mangoes. I did not know about other parts of India like UP also growing Mangoes since I have largely spent my time south and most of the varieties are from Maharashtra/Andhra/Karnataka. This is also sad to know that they had a Mango Tax and did not have it for the commoners. Quite a nice story around the place! Good to see you buying crates! On a recent trip to Velas, I was offered some crates, but did not buy it. Now after looking at your post, I feel I should have got them. I think I can spend a day eating Mangoes and Jackfruit at this Mango village!

    1. Thanks for the lovely comment Kartik. It’s the opposite for me. I had no idea that Andhra is the largest producer of mangoes in India until I did this story. That’s what travel does to people, expose them to new information. Even I am a recent mango concert. For past 2 years I just hog on mangoes every season.

  9. Dussehri Mangoes are sooo soo yummy and this experience is just perfect for any mango lover. To see what goes into getting these mangoes to you is quite interesting. I loved reading about the history of the Mango tree – that is an awfully ancient one. Nice seeing your parents here. 😀

  10. I love mangoes. Dussheeri I don’t relish so much but my entire family love to eat this mango variety. Thanks for this piece of the story about Dussheri, I really didn’t know any of this.

  11. Mangoes are indeed an inseparable part of the life of an Indian. Can never forget the childhood summers when our parents bought sacks of mangoes which were semi-ripe and these were kept in the storeroom to slowly ripen. We would eagerly await our mango for the day with great excitement. The history of Dussehri and the original tree are both fascinating. It must have been a special experience to visit mango country with your parents.

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