With Kashmir valley witnessing an early spring and above normal day temperature, the Tulip Garden, which has become a major tourist attraction, is likely to reopen ahead of schedule this year.
Spread over 30 hectares of land, displaying around a million colourful flowers at the foothills of the Zabarwan range, the Tulip Garden usually opens in March end. Last year, the garden’s reopening was delayed to April 6 due to incessant rains.
Nazir Ahmad Reshi, in charge of the Tulip Garden, said the garden would be thrown open in mid-March, only if the present weather conditions prevailed.
“Usually, we reopen the Tulip Garden by March end. However, if weather conditions remain favourable, we will throw open the garden by mid-March,” Reshi said.
While Srinagar city received scanty snowfall in winters, the summer capital has been witnessing bright and sunny days. On February 24, Srinagar recorded maximum temperature at 20.6°C, which was the hottest in the past 76 years.
Considered to be the largest garden of its kind in Asia, the Tulip Garden has been credited with extending the tourism season in the Valley. While the tourist season will reach its peak in May, the garden has been drawing tourists in advance.
Tourists who visit the garden have often been heard saying that they come to see a background similar to what was seen in the Bollywood song – ‘Dekha ek khwab’ of Amitabh Bachan-Rekha starrer ‘Silsila’.
Reshi said the Floriculture Department had procured new varieties of tulips this season and were hoping that a good number of visitors would visit the garden. The garden had received 1.25 lakh visitors last year, even though it remained open for only 25 days amid frequent spells of rain.
The garden, formerly known as Siraj Bagh, was first opened for the public in 2008. Besides tourists and locals, the garden has become a favourite spot for shooting crews of the film and TV industry. The government is planning to open another Tulip Garden in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Tulip Garden may reopen by middle of March; early spring
