Srinagar: As Spring has set in Kashmir, this year a little earlier than its usual arrival, the Asia’s largest Tulip Garden in Srinagar was thrown open for visitors on April 1.
Spreading over an area of about 15 hectares, the garden is situated on the foothills of Zabarwan range with an overview of picturesque world famous Dal Lake. The tulips of 46 varieties adorn and add colour to the landscape at 5,600 feet altitude.
This garden was conceived, conceptualized and created by then Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Ghulam Nabi Azad, in 2006-07.
In 2014, it was declared as the second best tulip garden in the world by World Tulip Summit Society.
Originally known as Siraj Bagh, Srinagar’s Tulip Garden has been described as a ‘flori-marvel’ by cultivators as the tulips spread a rainbow of red, orange, purple, white, pink, parrot and yellow colours on the precincts when in full bloom. About 500 gardeners and labourers have worked hard over the past few weeks to give final touches to what has become a major tourist attraction in Kashmir’s main town.
The garden is expected to attract large number of nature-lovers including domestic and foreign tourists to enjoy the view of plant life and around 1.3 million exotic tulips. Many of tourists on inaugural day were seen taking selfies with their cell phones.
Local residents are equally enthused by beautifully laid garden next door. “The garden has started come to life with white, red, orange and purple varieties of tulips already in bloom. The full bloom is only about a week away,” said an official of Kashmir’s Department of Parks, Gardens and Floriculture,
He said that the department has imported around 220,000 tulip bulbs this season, mainly from Holland.
This time, visitors can enjoy soothing music inside the garden as Cultural Academy will hold a 15 day’s long musical festival there. Besides, stalls have been erected inside the garden where from tourist and general public can make purchases.
