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9 October 2026
In northern Pakistan, among the high mountains of the Karakoram, there comes a time when parts of the Hunza Valley seem to change almost overnight. Apricot trees begin to flower, bringing pale shades of white and pink against an otherwise rugged landscape.
The fruit that follows has long been part of everyday life here.
Apricots are eaten fresh during the season, but much of the harvest is also dried. Families can then keep the fruit for months, including through the colder part of the year. Apricot kernels and their oil have also traditionally found a place in local households.
There is something appealing about this relationship with a tree.
People wait for its flowers, watch the fruit grow, gather what the season gives them and preserve part of it for days when the branches will be bare again.
Perhaps those who live close to mountains understand seasons differently. Nature cannot be hurried there. A late frost matters. Sunshine matters. So does a good harvest.
Visitors may remember Hunza for its enormous mountains and extraordinary views.
Someone who lives there may remember the year by something much simpler—the first blossom on an apricot tree, the taste of the ripe fruit, and trays of apricots drying quietly in the sun.
Sometimes a place reveals itself not through its landmarks, but through what people put away for winter.
#Pakistan #Hunza #Karakoram #RajatChandraSarmah
Rajat Chandra Sarmah, Guwahati, Assam, India, Instagram @rajatchandrasarmah, YouTube: conversewithasmile, email rajatchandrasarmah@gmail.com
