CM Omar Abdullah shares preview of Srinagar’s tulip garden
Srinagar/Jammu Tawi: With the arrival of spring, the tulip season in Jammu and Kashmir is set to begin, as spectacular floral displays in Srinagar and Sanasar prepare to welcome tourists from across the country.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on March 15 shared images of the tulip garden in Srinagar, describing it as “Asia’s largest” and noting that the garden already looked vibrant even before reaching its full bloom.
Abdullah appreciated the gardeners and the Floriculture Department team for their efforts. “Got a sneak preview of Asia’s largest tulip garden in Srinagar earlier today. The garden is still 7-8 days away from its full bloom but it’s already bursting with colour. The garden looks amazing. The team of gardeners have done an amazing job under the supervision of the Floriculture Department officials,” he said in a social media post.
Earlier, the Chief Minister had inaugurated the annual Almond Blossom Festival at the historic Badamwari Garden on March 14. Highlighting the valley’s natural heritage, he invited visitors to witness the early spring bloom and announced that the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden would open to the public on March 16.
“I would like to thank the department for decorating Badamwari so well. I hope people will come here and take advantage of it. We are awaiting our tourist season. Today (Saturday), this program took place in Badamwari, and the day after tomorrow (March 16), the Tulip Garden will be inaugurated. With this, the summer tourist season begins here. We hope that a large number of people will come and enjoy the beauty of Kashmir,” Abdullah added.
On March 11, Director of Floriculture Kashmir, Mathoora Masoom, announced that the garden was ready to welcome visitors with a record-breaking floral display. According to officials, around 18 lakh tulips of more than 70 varieties have been planted this year.
To facilitate tourists and locals, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has also introduced an online ticket booking system for the tulip season.
Meanwhile, in the Jammu region, more than two lakh blooming tulips are ready to attract tourists at the picturesque meadow destination of Sanasar. The Tulip Garden there is expected to open for the public soon, marking the beginning of the new tourist season in the region.
“Jammu’s first Tulip Garden at Sanasar in district Ramban has become a vibrant floral destination. With more than two lakh tulips in 25 distinct varieties, it is all set to attract visitors from across the country and will further enhance the tourism potential of the region,” Deputy Commissioner Ramban Mohammad Alyas Khan said.
He added that hundreds of blooming tulip flowers spread across 35 kanals of land at a scenic location present a mesmerising view. “This year 25 varieties of tulips are planted at the Sanasar garden,” he said.
Khan further stated that a golf course is also being developed by the Patnitop Development Authority to start golfing activities at Sanasar along with other development initiatives for the overall upgradation of the tourist spot.
He said the activity calendar would focus on promoting such destinations, with special emphasis on publicising Patnitop and Sanasar as potential “Wedding Destination” and “Film Shooting Destination.”
District Floriculture Officer Vikrant Sharma said the blooming tulip garden would soon be opened to the public. “Twenty-five varieties of more than two lakh tulip flowers will be in full bloom, and the garden will be thrown open soon,” he said.
He added that Jammu and Kashmir, endowed with unparalleled natural beauty and landscapes, holds immense potential for tourism and appealed to visitors to come in large numbers to witness the colourful spectacle of tulips in bloom.
