Physical properties such as length, diameter, size, sphericity, surface area, mass, volume and true density of three aonla cultivars viz., krishna, NA-7, chakaiya were determined. Effect of boiling of fruits in hot water on surface hardness, pulp firmness and toughness was also studied. The size, sphericity and surface area of fruits from cultivars NA-7 was lower than krishna and chakaiya fruits but the mass of NA-7 fruits was higher. The rolling resistance of chakaiya fruits was more than the other fruits in vertical orientation. In radial orientation, the rolling resistance of all the fruits ranged from 12 degrees to 28 degrees. The seed size and surface area of NA-7 and chakaiya fruits were higher but the seed sphericity was more in krishna cultivar fruits. The mechanical properties of the fruits show that the fruits of different cultivars are not homogenous and also the surface hardness, pulp firmness and toughness reduced when the time of boiling in hot water was increased. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.