See it before they go: Where to enjoy the best of Delhi’s spring beauty in March

The dazzling flowers are the best reward of spring. Even during most bustling workdays, I make sure to spend some time chatting with these beautiful flowers, popping up across the campus.

And the weekends are well reserved for wandering around the city. I still remember my first encounter with the blooming Tulips in the Mughal Gardens. Those vivid bulbs in purple, yellow, red and white, with its exquisite brilliance and soothing aura, entered into my being, deep in the heart.

Make sure to visit this majestic Presidential Estate garden before 21st of march, these bulbs don't last more than a week.

The national capital is fully prepared to welcome spring. The proof is the annual 34th Garden Tourism Festival at Delhi’s Garden of Five Senses. Organized by Delhi Tourism for 3 weeks to celebrate nature, it aims to create awareness about the importance of conserving the environment.

Trust me, as soon as you enter, you'll be awestruck to see an ocean of flowers lying all over along the walkways with an exquisite display of some of the choicest foliage plants, bonsai of different species, bougainvillea, succulent plants, cactus and many more. What a sheer delight watching the colourful cineraria, salvia, marigold and dahlia pinnata spreading beauty in the surroundings.

A grand market of plants and Horticulture workshops are also organized for enthusiasts. Plan soon to visit this fest before 13th of March.

Various stalls can also be seen selling handicrafts items customized paintings, calligraphy and sketches beside the pathways.

Delhi in spring is a sight to behold, Vibrant flowers blooming to its fullest can be seen all over Lutyens Delhi. Just take a drive through the roads of new Delhi and you will know it is spring.

From Shantipath of Chanakyapuri to Matthew circle at the Akbar road -Tughlaq road crossing, everywhere, its a flower lover’s seasonal delight.

Take a glance around the sidewalks and the roundabouts and you will notice flowers in yellows, reds and purples pool over. Leafy nasturtiums, purple Aster flowers, lined fairy orange marigolds and red petunia with tiny white stock flowers are in full bloom.

Don't forget to visit this lookalike of Srinagar's Shalimar Bagh, the Talkatora garden, cited at the edge of the Lutyens' Delhi. Not much interfered by human presence, it's a perfect spot for nature lovers.

It’s the time when the outdoors is more fun as the temp is just perfect to take advantage of a plethora of parks and gardens the city offers.

Be it a loveliest escape of the city as Lodhi Gardens or Nehru Park at the edge of diplomatic enclave, the capital’s trees and shrubs are dressed with budding blossoms. The spring sunshine on young tender shoots and newborn leaves filling the air with a sweet perfume are much more worthy to witness than watching a Netflix series on couch.

Witness this well tendered lush green park with Lodhi tombs scattered amidst the lawns and blooming flower beds.

And catch a glimpse of the flowers swaying away in the breeze under the blue skies in Nehru Park too.

Just a few kilometers away, on the way to Humayun's tomb lies an “oasis of Beauty'', a 16th century heritage park, a necropolis, a testimony of urban renewal and environmental development, the Sunder Nursery is a combination of monuments, forest and nursery within one interactive experience.

Spring clouds perfectly pitch over this abode of 300 species of trees ,80 species of birds and 15 Mughal monuments with flourishing flowers that make the whole place look so vibrant and colorful. Gradually it became a favorite picnic spot for Delhiites' who leave the hustle of the city to dive into tranquility.

The sight of these fully blooming trees and flowers will always remain in my mind as the perfect image of spring in Delhi.

Spring Festivities

Celebrations of the arrival spring is a ritual from all four directions. It is the time of nature’s rebirth, new life and happiness, which are well depicted in festivals like Holi, Basant Panchami, Bihu, Baisakhi across the nation.

Even festivals from foreign lands are heartfully celebrated. One such is Nowruz (New Day) - The Persian New year, celebrated for 3000 years by Iranians and nowadays equally observed in Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Pakistan Azerbaijan, some region of Turkey.

Peoples from these countries living in Delhi could be seen celebrating it with full fervor in Lodhi gardens. One can also witness the charm of the festival in restaurants and locality of Lajpat Nagar.

Happening on 21st March this time, it starts with charshanbeh Soori (celebration of fire and light) and major feature is the preparation of “Haft-Seen,” ( 7 “S’s”), traditional table setting of Nowruz. Typically includes seven items that all symbolize spring and begin with the letter sin [s]. Usually, it comprise things like garlic, apples, sprouts, and samanu (a sweet, smooth Iranian pudding).

A poem by Hafez (The great Iranian poet) is read at homes and peoples greet each other by saying “Nowruz Mubarak”.

This gorgeous season carries an ideal temperature to seek after cool open air experiences and still appreciate comfortable nights nestled into a soft cover.

Experiencing the blooming flowers and new buds swaying with the breeze, gorgeous trees with fresh green look and the festivities all around is the perfect escape from the drudge of daily life.