Sudhanshu Shekhar
Spring is here and so is the season of tulips! The Indira Gandhi Tulip Garden, also known as Siraj Bagh, is gearing up to open its gates to the public on March 19. The garden, located between the scenic Dal Lake and Zabarwan Hills in Srinagar, is Asia’s largest tulip garden and is expected to attract a heavy footfall of tourists this year.
With over 1.5 million tulips of various colours and hues on display, along with other spring flowers like hyacinths, daffodils, muscari, and cyclamens, the garden is a must-visit for nature lovers and photography enthusiasts. In addition to the breathtaking flowers, visitors can also enjoy the serene ambience of the garden nestled under the shadow of the Zabarwan mountains.
The garden’s charge, Inam-ul-Rehman, has been busy preparing for the tulip show, which includes gardening, engineering, fungicide treatment, nutrient spraying, and minor repairs. He says that the preparations are going well and that the fountain channel has been extended this year to set an example of gardening professionalism across the globe.
Formerly known as Siraj Bagh, the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden was opened in 2008 to bridge the valley’s lean tourist arrival period between the winter and summer seasons. While the tulip bloom lasts only three to five weeks, the ground staff works tirelessly throughout the year to maintain the quality of bulbs for the next season.
This year, the garden has expanded with new varieties of tulips, and visitors can expect a rainbow of tulip colours ranging from yellow, red, crimson, purple, and white, among others. Last year, the garden had two lakh visitors, and this year, the garden supervisor, Mushtaq Ahmad Mir, is expecting an even better season with heavy inquiries from outside Kashmir.
In conclusion, if you’re planning a visit to Srinagar, don’t miss the opportunity to visit the Indira Gandhi Tulip Garden, a breathtaking oasis of colour and tranquillity in the heart of the valley.
