Sindh's mango season starts first. Sindhri, the province's signature variety, ripens from the end of May into June, well before Langra (roughly July) and Chaunsa (June to August, peaking in July and August). If you want the earliest good mangoes of the year, Sindh is where they come from.
This guide compares the three varieties, explains where Sindh's orchards are and how the season runs, and gives practical advice on buying a box. Punjab's mango belt has its own story, told in our guide to the Multan mango season.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Sindhri | Large, deep yellow, sweet and aromatic; ripens end of May and June in Sindh |
| Langra | Stays green when ripe, tangy-sweet; roughly July to August |
| Chaunsa | Smaller, very sweet and juicy; roughly June to August, peak July and August |
| Main Sindh districts | Mirpurkhas, Tando Allahyar, Matiari, Hyderabad, Sanghar, Umerkot, Khairpur |
| Sindh's share of national output | Roughly 30 per cent by most sources; Punjab produces most |
What makes Sindh good for mangoes?
The province has the heat, light soils and irrigated land that mango trees like. The trees flower early, in January and February, so the fruit is ready weeks before most of Punjab. That head start is why the first boxes reaching Karachi and Lahore in May usually come from Sindh.
Mirpurkhas has a particular place in the story. According to a Trade Development Authority of Pakistan specification for the Sindhri mango, a breeding programme was started in Mirpurkhas in the early 1900s to develop varieties suited to local conditions, and Sindhri was released for cultivation there in 1909. The main growing districts are Mirpurkhas, Tando Allahyar, Matiari, Hyderabad, Sanghar and Umerkot, with Khairpur further north.
Pakistan's total crop was estimated at around 1.4 to 1.8 million tonnes a year, depending on the source, with Punjab producing roughly 70 per cent and Sindh most of the rest. Figures vary between sources, so treat them as rough.
Sindhri: the province's own mango
Sindhri is a large, oval, deep-yellow mango, generally 330 to 450 grams according to the TDAP specification, with thin skin, fibre-free flesh, a thin stone and a strong aroma. It is sweet when fully ripe, though early-season fruit can be a little tangy.
It has a slightly longer shelf life than many other varieties, which is why it travels and exports well. It is also a low-yielding tree, so a good Sindhri costs more than you might expect for an early fruit.
Season: end of May and June in Sindh, June and July in Punjab.
Langra: the green one
Langra is the mango that stays green when ripe, which surprises first-time buyers who wait for it to turn yellow. Flavour is tangy-sweet, with a sharper edge than Sindhri or Chaunsa. It is a mid-to-late season fruit, usually arriving around July.
Sindh grows Langra alongside other varieties, but it is grown widely across the subcontinent. It is not unique to the province in the way that Sindhri is.
Season: roughly July to August, depending on the year and the district.
Chaunsa: the late, sweet one
Chaunsa is small to medium in size, very sweet and juicy, and arrives late. Retail sources give its season as June to August, peaking in July and August, and it can carry on into September in some years. Sindh grows Chaunsa, but Punjab's Multan and Rahim Yar Khan belts are the names most associated with it.
If someone tells you they want Chaunsa in late May, they will be disappointed. It is the end of the mango year, not the start.
When to buy: a rough calendar
- Early May: the first Sindh fruit appears. Some of it is picked too early and is not at its best.
- Late May to June: Sindhri at its best.
- June and July: other varieties, including Anwar Ratol, Dussehri and Langra, arrive.
- July to August: Chaunsa peaks.
Weather changes all of this. Frost, rain at flowering or hail in April can delay the crop or thin it out, as growers reported in Dawn in 2021, so check what is in the market rather than relying on a date.
How to buy a good box
Mangoes are sold in boxes, typically around 12 kg, and in the season prices move week to week, so any figure would be out of date quickly. What matters more is choosing well:
- Smell the stalk end. A ripe mango has a sweet, strong scent there. No scent usually means it was picked too green.
- Press lightly. Ripe fruit gives slightly. Very hard fruit needs a few days at room temperature.
- Avoid dark patches and wrinkling. These suggest bruising or age.
- Judge by colour with care. Langra stays green,.
- Buy from a stall you trust, and open one box before buying several.
Store ripe mangoes in the fridge for a few days; leave unripe ones out of it.
Visiting mango country
Most orchards are private farms, and the districts are hot in June, so plan any orchard visit for early morning. Roadside stalls are common on the main roads near growing areas in season. If you are passing through Hyderabad, our guide to places to visit in Hyderabad covers a city stop, and our Sindh planning guide explains why May and June are among the hottest months to travel. See our experiences page for more on eating and shopping locally.
Which variety should you choose?
If you like a sweet, fragrant, fibre-free mango and want fruit early, choose Sindhri. If you like a sharper, tangier taste, choose Langra. If you want the sweetest, juiciest fruit and can wait until July, choose Chaunsa.
For a first box, buy two varieties in the same week and compare. Most people find a clear favourite quickly.
Frequently asked questions
Which mango is Sindh famous for?
Sindhri, which was developed at Mirpurkhas and is named for a town in that district. It is large, deep yellow, sweet and aromatic.
When is mango season in Sindh?
Sindhri ripens from the end of May into June. Langra follows around July, and Chaunsa is at its best in July and August.
What is the difference between Sindhri, Langra and Chaunsa?
Sindhri is large, yellow and aromatic, Langra stays green and is tangy-sweet, and Chaunsa is smaller, very sweet and juicy and arrives last.
Which districts of Sindh grow the most mangoes?
Mirpurkhas, Tando Allahyar, Matiari, Hyderabad, Sanghar and Umerkot are the main ones, with Khairpur in the north.
Does Sindh grow more mangoes than Punjab?
No. Punjab produces roughly 70 per cent of the national crop, though Sindh's fruit arrives first.
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