Asia's largest tulip garden welcomed visitors to behold the spectacular flowers blooming in the beautiful Srinagar on March 25. Located on the foothills of the Zabarwan Mountains, the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden has over 15 lakh flowers of more than 64 varieties in bloom. Overlooking the famous Dal Lake, the majestic garden’s opening marked the beginning of the new tourism season in Jammu and Kashmir.
Soon after its opening, the garden welcomed over 50,000 visitors in a week amid the ongoing pandemic which has brought the tourism industry to a standstill. The spectacular Tulip garden recorded a huge hit of visitors as both locals and tourists from different parts of the country flocked the garden to celebrate the beauty of nature. Over 4500 visitors graced the garden on day one of its opening while authorities are expecting heavy footfall in coming weeks.
An official from the Floriculture Department said, "In the past five days, almost 48,000 visitors including domestic and foreign tourists visited the garden. The full Tulip bloom is yet to happen and in the coming few days, the garden will present a breathtaking view. "
As over a million colourful flowers are expected to bloom by April end, an additional 200,000 tulip bulbs have been added to the 30-hectare terraced garden. The flowers, that last for a maximum of four weeks, are planted in a phased manner to make them last for at least a month.
Tulip garden details for visitors
Where: Cheshma Shahi Road, Rainawari, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir 190001
Entry timings: Every day, 9:00 am to 7:00 pm
Entry fee: Rs. 25 for children and Rs. 50 for adults
Tulips bloom amid COVID-19 gloom
The garden, that had been shut for over two years due to the deadly pandemic, opened with adequate precautions and authorities urged visitors to follow coronavirus guidelines and precautions. No visitor is allowed without face mask and tourists have to undergo thermal scanning at the entry. Additionally, sanitizer machines have been installed inside the garden and visitors are advised to maintain social distancing.
Tulip Celebration Festival
A Tulip Celebration Festival will be organized for six days from April 3 when tulips will be in full bloom. The festival, aimed to celebrate the arrival of the spring season, will see huge number of visitors. With a host of activities like cultural shows and musical evenings, the event is expected to give a boost to tourism in the valley. Around 25 stalls would be set up to make people familiar with the rich traditions, culture, cuisines and crafts of Jammu and Kashmir.
About Tulip garden
Formerly known as Siraj Bagh, the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden is spread across 30 hectares. The garden, located in the lap of Zabarwan mountain range, was opened in 2008 by then chief minister of erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state Ghulam Nabi Azad. The idea behind opening this mesmerizing place was to advance the tourism season in the valley by two months.
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