Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, Mar 10: The Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, also recognised as Asia’s largest tulip garden, will open for visitors on March 16, officials from the Floriculture Department said on Tuesday.
The garden, located on the foothills of the beautiful Zabarwan Range and the beautiful Dal Lake, has been fully prepared to welcome tourists and locals for the much-awaited tulip season.
Director Floriculture Kashmir Mathoora Masoom said that the decision to open the garden has been taken as tulips have started blooming and preparations for the season have been completed.
An official from Floriculture Department said this year the garden will showcase around 1.8 million tulips of nearly 70 to 75 varieties, offering visitors a colourful and vibrant floral spectacle.
Earlier, officials indicated that the opening date would depend largely on favourable weather. Assistant Floriculture Officer Imran Ahmad had said that the department was monitoring climatic conditions before announcing the final opening schedule.
He had informed us that, apart from bulb planting, a series of finishing works was carried out in the garden to ensure a smooth visitor experience.
These works included repairing and tightening railings, reshaping flower beds, upgrading pathways, painting infrastructure and improving public facilities such as washrooms.
Officials also said that flower-bed density has been increased this year to enhance the garden’s visual impact. Earlier, around 30 to 35 beds would fit into a particular patch, but this year the number has been increased to over 42 beds in the same space, making the floral display denser and more attractive for visitors.
The annual opening of the tulip garden marks the beginning of the spring tourism season in Kashmir, drawing thousands of visitors from across the country and abroad.
The garden witnessed a record-breaking footfall last year, with 8,55,125 visitors visiting during the 30-day opening period from March 26 to April 24, 2025.
The unprecedented number included locals, domestic tourists and international travellers who thronged the garden to witness more than 1.7 million blooming tulips.
With an even larger display planned this year, officials expect the garden to once again be one of the major tourist attractions in Srinagar during spring.
