Wed Mar 26 16:43:46 UTC 2025: ## Kashmir’s Tulip Garden Blooms, Ushering in Tourism Season
**Srinagar, India** – Asia’s largest tulip garden, the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, opened its gates to the public on Wednesday, marking the official start of the Kashmir valley’s tourism season. Nestled between Dal Lake and the Zabarwan Hills, the garden, formerly known as Siraj Bagh, boasts a stunning display of over 1.7 million tulip bulbs in 74 varieties, including two new additions this year.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah inaugurated the garden, which was established in 2007 by then-Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to extend the region’s tourism beyond the traditional summer and winter seasons. The garden’s phased planting ensures a month or more of continuous blooms. Visitors can also enjoy a vibrant array of other spring flowers, such as hyacinths, daffodils, muscari, and cyclamens.
The garden, which began with a modest 50,000 bulbs imported from the Netherlands, has seen phenomenal growth. While visitor numbers dipped to 3.65 lakh in 2023, the garden still attracted over 4.65 lakh visitors in the previous year. With its expansion nearing completion, the 55-hectare garden continues to be a major draw for both domestic and international tourists.
First Piper 