Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, Asia's largest tulip garden, is gearing up to welcome tourists this weekend, i.e. March 23.
Formerly known as Siraj Bagh, the garden is nestled between Dal Lake and Zabarwan Hills. Officials from the floriculture department announced that the garden will be open on Saturday as tulips of various hues have begun to bloom.
This year, the garden boasts the addition of five new varieties of tulips to the existing 68, with the department expanding the area under tulip cultivation by adding two lakh bulbs. According to officials, a remarkable 17 lakh tulip bulbs have been planted across the 55-hectare expanse of the garden.
Besides, visitors will also have the chance to marvel at other spring flowers, such as hyacinths, daffodils, muscari, and cyclamens, enhancing the garden's vibrant tapestry of colours.
Established in 2007 by the then Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden was intended to extend the tourist season in Jammu and Kashmir beyond just summers and winters. Starting with a modest 50,000 tulip bulbs imported from Holland, the garden quickly gained popularity among tourists and has expanded annually in visitor numbers and tulip varieties.
Last year, the garden attracted over 3.65 lakh visitors, including domestic and foreign tourists. Recognised as a favourite location for film shoots, numerous film units nationwide have utilised its picturesque backdrop for their projects.
To ensure a memorable experience for visitors, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir V K Bhiduri chaired a meeting in Srinagar to oversee the arrangements for the garden's opening. Among the directives issued was installing colourful lights to enhance the garden's visual appeal, along with instructions for sanitation and cleanliness drives conducted by the Srinagar Municipal Corporation. Moreover, the floriculture department has expanded parking facilities by nearly 22,000 square feet to accommodate the expected visitors to the garden.
(With inputs from PTI)
