Srinagar, Mar 10: Come Monday, the foothills of Zabarwan will turn into a canvas of colours. The Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, Asia’s largest, will open for visitors on March 16, signalling the start of the tourist season in Kashmir.
Officials said the garden is ready with nearly 1.8 million tulip bulbs — across 70 to 75 varieties — in full bloom. “The flower-bed density has been increased this year to offer a more vibrant spectacle,” Director, Floriculture Kashmir, Mathoora Masoom, said on Tuesday.
Overlooking the Dal Lake, the garden was originally known as Siraj Bagh. It was renamed in 2008 after former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and has since become a major draw for tourists.
Spring, however, has already made an entry in the Valley. At the historic Badamwari garden in the old city, almond trees are in full bloom, covering the Koh-e-Maraan hillside in pink and white. For Kashmiris, the blooming of almonds has always been more than a seasonal change — it marks the end of a long winter and the beginning of hope.
Masoom said the first bloom always begins there. “This garden belongs to the people,” she said.
To ensure the spring cheer lasts beyond the almond season, the Floriculture Department has planted 300 new saplings and around 40,000 lavender plants, which are expected to bloom in May. Daffodils and tulips have also been added to keep the garden vibrant for weeks.
“We have brought the essence of the entire spring bloom here,” Masoom added.
