Tulip Garden closes, records 3.9 lakh visitors

Srinagar, Apr 16: Asia’s largest Tulip Garden in Srinagar closed for the season on Wednesday, capping a successful run with total footfall nearing 3.9 lakh and revenue surpassing Rs 3.66 crore, officials said.
Assistant Floriculture Officer In-charge Tulip Garden Srinagar, Imran Ahmad said that the garden recorded 3,82,297 visitors till the last day, with the final figure expected to reach around 3.89 lakh after inclusion of pending online ticketing data.
“Footfall will be around 3.89 lakh as at least 7,000 more visitors will be added once the final online figures are received,” Ahmad said.
He said the garden witnessed a steady stream of visitors throughout the season, with a notable surge on the closing day despite the bloom declining significantly. “Even in the last phase, the response remained strong. The closing day saw a heavy rush of visitors,” he added.
In revenue terms, the garden generated Rs 3,66,43,504 from ticket sales, reflecting one of the strongest seasons in recent years. Of this, Rs 7,64,104 has been earned through online ticketing, while the final e-ticketing figures are awaited from J&K Bank.
He said offline ticketing continued to dominate, though digital bookings are gradually gaining traction.
The visitor profile this season reflected a strong turnout across categories. Around 2,24,233 tourists from outside Jammu and Kashmir visited the garden, while 1,56,842 were local visitors. Additionally, 1,222 foreign tourists also explored the garden, underscoring its growing global appeal.
Notably, the garden, which opened 10–12 days earlier than usual, maintained an average daily footfall of nearly 10,000 visitors. Peak days witnessed even higher numbers, with domestic tourist arrivals alone touching between 9,000 and 11,000 daily with significantly higher than previous years.
Visitors expressed delight over the experience, calling it a highlight of their Kashmir trip. “The Tulip Garden is absolutely breathtaking. Even though we came towards the end of the season, the beauty and scale are unmatched. It’s a must-visit,” said a tourist from Delhi.
Another visitor from Maharashtra said the garden exceeded expectations. “We had seen pictures online, but witnessing it in person is something else. The arrangements and the view with the mountains in the backdrop make it unforgettable,” he said.
Officials said the Tulip Garden once again lived up to its reputation as the curtain-raiser for Kashmir’s tourism season, drawing large crowds and setting a positive tone for the months ahead.
It is pertinent to mention that earlier, officials had announced that the garden would close on April 16 as the bloom had declined to around 20 per cent and was expected to fall further below the operational threshold. (KNO)