Which regions and chilling conditions suit apricot (khubani) cultivation in India?

Apricot is a temperate stone fruit that needs good winter chilling and dry spring weather, and it does well in the cold dry inner Himalayan belts: Ladakh, Kinnaur and the dry temperate parts of Himachal, parts of Uttarakhand, and Kashmir. It flowers early so it is very vulnerable to spring frost, which is the main risk in lower or frost-pocket sites. The dry climate of Ladakh and Kinnaur is ideal because it allows sun-drying into the well-known dried apricot (khubani), which has a long shelf life and good market, and the kernels are also sold. Fresh apricot is highly perishable and must be sold quickly and locally or with cold chain, so in remote cold-desert areas dried apricot and kernels are usually the more practical and profitable route, while areas with market access can sell premium fresh fruit. Choose varieties and rootstock suited to your altitude with your horticulture department, and pick a site that escapes late frost.