Srinagar, Oct 23 (KNO): Inviting locals and tourists to visit Chrysanthemum Garden, popularly known as Bagh-e-Gul-Dawood, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday said that no one can afford to miss its vibrant autumn colours and grandeur.
According to the details available with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) CM Omar inaugurated the Chrysanthemum Show-2026 at the Botanical Garden, Chashma Shahi, marking the second consecutive year of the floral attraction aimed at extending Kashmir’s tourism season and promoting autumn tourism. “I invite not only tourists from across the country but, more importantly, our own people from Srinagar and surrounding areas to come, enjoy the beauty of this garden, take photographs and carry home beautiful memories,” CM Omar said.
Titled ‘Enriching Autumn with New Colours’, the show features 3.5 lakh locally produced plants representing more than 70 varieties and nearly 12 million blossoms across the 100-kanal theme garden.
Developed and curated by the Department of Floriculture, Parks and Gardens, the garden has been upgraded this year with expanded flower beds, colourful floral displays, water features, selfie points and modern visitor amenities, set against the backdrop of the surrounding mountains.
The Chief Minister said the garden was introduced last year to create a distinctive floral attraction during autumn, when Kashmir previously lacked a major tourism draw comparable to the Tulip Garden at the beginning of the tourism season.
“We have been trying to increase our tourism season. You must have seen that many people visit the Tulip Garden at the beginning of the year. But during autumn season, we have tried to add something special to show to people. That is why this Chrysanthemum Garden has been developed by the Department of Floriculture,” he said.
Expressing satisfaction over the improvements, the Chief Minister said he had witnessed significant progress since last year and assured that the garden would continue to be developed with new features and attractions.
Highlighting the importance of local production, he said much of the plant material used in the chrysanthemum garden was locally produced and could be propagated and multiplied within Jammu and Kashmir, unlike the Tulip Garden, which relies on bulbs sourced from outside the country.
“One big advantage of this garden is that the bulk of the plant material is indigenous and some quantity of bulbs is procured from outside the country to keep it running. Much of the plant material of this garden is our own. We propagate it and multiply it. We will try to do something new in this garden every year,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the government would continue introducing new attractions to sustain public interest and strengthen Kashmir’s autumn tourism offerings.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by Agriculture Production Minister Javid Ahmed Dar, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, MLAs Shamim Firdous, Salman Sagar and Sheikh Ahsan Ahmed, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta, Commissioner Secretary Floriculture, Parks and Gardens Zubair Ahmad, Director Floriculture Kashmir Mathoora Masoom and other officers—(KNO)