MOHAMMAD HANIEF
Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder, and when we talk about gardens, there’s no one out there who would deny witnessing beauty. Gardens, blossoms, and trees are essentials that make this entire world more colourful, and you are never missed with the humongous number of mesmerizing flowers that our mother earth holds.
Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden in Kashmir is Asia’s largest tulips garden. The tulip garden, formerly known as Siraj Bagh , is located at the foothills of Zabarwan mountains and on the banks of Dal lake. The major attraction here is the large variety of Tulips found in thousands of numbers. There are over 70 varieties of early, mid and late blooming tulips.
The Jammu and Kashmir Tourism department organises “Tulip festival” every year as this festival is an annual celebration that aims to showcase the range of flowers in the garden as a part of tourism efforts by the government of Jammu and Kashmir. Tulip, which has its origin in Persia (Iran), was introduced in Europe in 17th century, where it had been developed in different varieties. Holland is the largest producer of tulips, which inhabits the mountain areas extending from Europe to Central Asia.
The plantation of tulips begins from September, before the start of winter season and the garden is in full bloom by mid-April. The sight is heavenly during the full bloom season with all shades of the rainbow scattered on the fields of this garden. This garden is the most spacious one in Srinagar as compared to the other Mughal Gardens.
The Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, formerly known as SirajBagh is one of the most popular and hot-spot tourist destinations in Srinagar Kashmir. It was opened in 2007 with the aim to boost tourism sector in Kashmir. The garden is located at the foothills of Zabarwan Mountain and with its stunning array of tulips in full bloom, the garden is a sight to behold. Sadly It only lasts for 20 days after which the tulips start losing their color and stance. It is expected to open in this year on March 23th 2024.
Nearly 1.7 million Tulips of various colours and hues will be on display this season as last year 3.70 lakh tourists visited the garden while the number was 3.6 lakh and 2.3 lakh in 2022 and 2021 respectively. Perched at the foothills of the majestic Zabarwan mountain range, overlooking the serene waters of Dal Lake, the garden has achieved a remarkable distinction by being officially recognized as the largest one in Asia.
Its exceptional status has been engraved in the prestigious World Book of Records (London), a testament to its grandeur and signicance. This year new varieties of tulips have been added besides expanding the existing garden area, bringing the total number of varieties to 73.
Tulips in Kashmir remain in bloom for 15-20 days from late March to mid April depending upon the temperature. The Tulip garden not only boasts a splendid collection of tulips but also serves as a haven for a myriad of flower species.
The garden has been divided into 36 plots with 16-18 beds in each plot. There are three parks also inside the garden where the visitors can sit and visualize themselves in a sea of colours, dominated by the Zabarwan Mountains. Various small ornamental trees including the tulip tree decorate the sides of the numerous paths of the garden.
The tulips are planted in rows and each row has a different variety of tulip. In addition to tulips, many other species of flowers are also there, including hyacinths, daffodils and ranunculus. This garden also has a number of walkways and fountains that make it an ideal place for people to spend their leisure time in a pleasant environment. It is a seven terraced garden and the water channel flowing through these terraces is what gives the place its unique charm and makes it a perfect spot for families as well as couples who can get some memorable pictures clicked here. It has an area of around 30 hectares and is the largest tulip garden in Asia.
An annual tulip festival is organized by the tourism department of Jammu and Kashmir. This is a must-see event for all types of travelers because it not only showcases the natural beauty of the tulip garden, but also gives visitors a taste of Kashmiri culture through its handicrafts, cuisine, and music.
Tulip Garden in Kashmir is Asia’s largest tulips garden and there is a likely hood that it can become the world’s second largest too. The tourism authorities are using the festival to promote the tourism potential of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh as a preferred destination. The festival that also showcased, the traditional art and culture, was an instant hit with the foreigners.
Every year Tulip Festival is a must-attend event for flower enthusiasts, nature lovers, fans, aficionados, tulip lovers, and tourists worldwide. There are many varieties of these amazing flowers; Standard Tulips, Double Bloom, Parrot Tulips, Fringed Tulips, Bi-Color Standard Tulips, Rembrandt, Fosteriana Tulips, Lily-Flowering Tulips, Single Late Tulips, Triumph, etc with wide range of shades, splendid tones and bi colors are the characteristic features of these tulips.
The prime location of the Tulip Garden makes it the most visiting place in Srinagar. This park is surrounded by scenic hills, attractive gardens of Mughal era and most importantly, it overlooks the awe-inspiring Dal Lake. Some other attractions that lie in close proximity are Chashme Shahi Garden – This garden is center of attraction for housing a natural spring that flows from it, Pari Mahal – Overlooking the amazing Chashm-E-Shahi Gardens.
India is indeed a country of flowers and mountains and greenery. But it is also true that greenery is decreasing day by day due to urbanization and deforestation. Amid all this, it’s important to save greenery and blooming floral gardens. What’s better than to look at magnificent flowers and gardens blooming all around and enhancing the beauty of nature. These gardens should be in your bucket list and be visited.
