Kotgarh is a famous place near Shimla that is very famous for its quality and abundance of apples and apricots. It is found at a distance of 82 kilometers from Shimla. The apple cultivation of the place was initiated by Satyanand Stokes who was an American missionary. The poor condition of the place moved him a lot and so he took the decision of starting apple plantation into the place. The valley of Kotgarh looks simply awesome when the orchards gets filled up with luscious red apples.

The silvery appearance of the river Sutlej and the enormous beauty of the valley area makes the place a lovers paradise. There are also quite a few number of trekking destinations around the Kotgarh valley area. This valley is in the shape of an 'U' that adds to the exceptional beauty of the area.

One interesting fact about Kotgarh in Shimla is that it is the apple cultivation that has proved to a major boon to the economic condition of the place. The apples from here are also exported outside India that earns a major revenue for the place. Juices and wines are made out of the apples of Kotgarh.

The enchanting beauty of the place with its tranquil ambiance fascinates the tourists from all over the country and overseas too. The climate is also very pleasing at Kotgarh. The place has been very well maintained by the Himachal Pradesh government. Major occupation and the way of earning livelihood of the people of Kotgarh is apple cultivation.