SHAKEELA ANDRABI
SRINAGAR: As Tulip Garden has been opened for tourists, despite ongoing Ramadan and rainy season, during the first ten days more than on 1.35 lakh visitors from across the world have visited the place.
According to officials of the Floriculture department, over 1.35 lakh tourists visited the gardens since March 19, 2023 when it was opened with over 35,000 people visiting it on third day of its opening. Similarly on March 23, 8683 tourists visited the garden including 1304 locals, 7341 from outside UT and 38 foreigners. On March 24, 7694 visitors visited the garden including 7122 from outside states and 40 foreigners, besides 532 locals. On March 25, 7862 tourists visited the garden that included 464 locals, 7271 from outside union territory and 127 foreigners Located between Dal Lake and Zabarwan hills in the summer capital, the garden has over 1.6 million tulips of various colours and hues. Besides a scenic display of tulips, the garden, formerly known as Siraj Bagh, has other flowers such as hyacinths, daffodils, muscaris and cyclamens.
The garden played an important part in wooing tourists during the 2022 spring, particularly after COVID-19 disruption. In 2022, the garden witnessed a record number of tourists when around 3.6 lakh people visited .The number was 2.3 lakh in 2021 and is expected to close by mid-April when tulips start to wither.
A Floriculture department official said the number could have crossed four lakh this year, but as Ramadan started just three days after the opening of the garden, the rush of locals decreased. “Many people avoid picnics and other activities during the holy month of Ramadan, but a large number of domestic tourists who are arriving in Kashmir ensure to visit the garden,” he said.