- Thousands visited Asia's largest tulip garden in Srinagar on its opening day
- The garden features over 1.7 million tulips with more than 70 varieties planted
- Chief Minister Omar Abdullah inaugurated the annual tulip festival amid snowfall
Thousands turned up at Asia's largest tulip garden in Srinagar soon after it was opened for tourists on Monday. Surrounded by snow-covered Zabarwan hills after fresh snowfall, it was a breathtaking view of blooming tulips in the lap of snowy peaks.
The garden has over 1.7 million tulips, presenting a riot of colours. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah inaugurated the annual tulip festival as thousands of tourists visited the garden on day one.
Also Read: How The Iran-Israel War Is Costing Middle East Tourism USD 600 Million A Day
“ I don't have words to describe the beauty of this place. I have come from Ottawa, Canada. We have a tulip garden there as well. But that's not even a shadow of Srinagar's tulip garden. I believe everyone should come to this place at least once to experience the breathtaking beauty of this place and garden,” said a tourist.
Mr Abdullah appealed to tourists from across the country and around the world to visit J&K during the spring season and experience the unmatched beauty of Kashmir.
The Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden was built by Ghulam Nabi Azad during his tenure as Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir in 2007. Since then, it has become a postcard of Kashmir's tourism. and recognised as Asia's largest Tulip garden.
Officials say over 10000 tourists visited the garden on day one. Due to an unusual heatwave, the garden was opened a week before the usual time.
For the last two days, there has been a change in weather conditions. The valley witnessed rains and snowfall in higher reaches, including the Zabarwan hills around Srinagar.
Officials say this year, around 18 lakh tulips of over 70 varieties have been planted, besides about one lakh other bulbous flowers.
Also Read: Why Duduma Falls, A Hidden Odisha Waterfall, Is Getting Attention After Anand Mahindra's Viral Post
Mr Abdullah complimented the floriculture department for making the Tulip Garden ready ahead of schedule. He said the department should develop its own rootstock so that dependence on importing tulip bulbs is gradually reduced.
The chief minister said that the Tulip Festival has emerged as one of the most prominent tourism events in the Kashmir Valley and provides an excellent platform to showcase the breathtaking natural beauty, cultural richness and hospitality of Kashmir to visitors from across the country and around the globe.
