National Fruit
A fleshy fruit, eaten ripe or used green for pickles etc., of the
tree Mangifera indica, the mango is one of the most important and
widely cultivated fruits of the tropical world. Its juicy fruit is
a rich source of Vitamins A, C and D. In India there are over 100
varieties of mangoes, in different sizes, shapes and colours. Mangoes
have been cultivated in India from time immemorial. The poet Kalidasa
sang its praises. Alexander savoured its taste, as did the Chinese
pilgrim Hieun Tsang. Mughal emperor Akbar planted 100,000 mango trees
in Darbhanga, Bihar at a place now known as Lakhi Bagh.
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