Coonoor Railway Station was built in 1897. Coonoor Sim's Park was established even earlier – in 1874. It was, therefore, interesting to see the heritage Park celebrating the heritage station which is part of the heritage site status accorded by the Unesco.

This happened at the two-day 53rd Fruit Show which concluded at Sim's Park, Coonoor, on Sunday.

The star attraction was a ‘fruit replica' of Coonoor railway station. Nilgiris Horticulture department built it right at the first lawn close to the entrance. “We have used nearly 25,000 musumbis (sweet lime) weighing five tonnes to create this. We have given cocoa border. The model measures 35' long, 15' high and 15' wide”, Assistant Director of Horticulture, Mr N. Mani, told Business Line .

The department also created an imposing welcome arch with varieties of fruits. Its stall exhibited spices and hill vegetables besides fruits. There were information charts on the nutritious values of fruits. Visitors benefited from the flow charts on preparing jams, jellies, juices and pickles.

Horticulture departments' units from Coimbatore, Kanyakumari, Theni, Velur, Krishnagiri, Thirunelveli, Salem, Dharmapuri, Dindugal and Madurai displayed hundreds of fruit varieties. The officials gave scientific explanations on growing and using these fruits. There were guidelines on the next generation fruits to be created with extensive research. Much stress was laid on organic cultivation and reduction of chemical inputs in general fields.

Adding to visual treat were Hogenakkal waterfalls made with 3,750 mangoes, Mickey mouse with 400 kg grapes, tower with 1,000 mangoes, Madurai Meenakshi Temple with thousands of fruits, fruit human silhouettes and fruit carvings. A number of articles made with banana fibre also caught attention.

Nearly 30,000 visitors witnessed the two-day show.

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