Srinagar, Mar 16 (KNO): Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday inaugurated the Tulip Festival–2026 and formally threw open the iconic Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden at foothills of Zabarwan mountain range here.
According to the details available with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) the garden has been adorned with around 18 lakh tulips representing more than 70 vibrant varieties, creating a breathtaking floral display expected to attract thousands of tourists and locals during the blooming period.
In addition to tulips nearly one lakh other bulbous flowers including daffodils, hyacinths, muscari and ranunculus have been planted across the terraced landscape to enhance the garden’s beauty and diversity.
The formal opening of the Asia’s largest Tulip Garden, overlooking the beautiful Dal Lake, for visitors marked the arrival of spring in Kashmir and the beginning of the tourism season.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Omar expressed hope that the onset of spring would usher in renewed optimism and growth for Jammu and Kashmir, particularly for the tourism sector which remains a major driver of the region’s economy.
Quoting the popular Kashmiri saying “Wande chaliye, sheen galiye, yei bahar” meaning the snow melts, flowers bloom and spring arrives, CM Omar said the change in season brings fresh hope for the people associated with tourism and allied sectors.
He noted that the Tulip Festival has emerged as one of the Valley’s most prominent tourism events, providing an ideal platform to showcase the breathtaking natural beauty, cultural richness and hospitality of Kashmir to visitors from across the country and abroad.
The Chief Minister said that the Floriculture Department has introduced new terraces and redesigned flower beds this year to further enhance the experience of visitors.
He also appreciated the efforts of officers and gardeners of the Floriculture Department for preparing the garden in time for the festival and said their hard work deserves recognition.
“We will have many opportunities to talk about politics, but today the focus should remain on the Tulip Garden and the dedication of the gardeners who made this possible,” he said.
CM Omar further said that the government is exploring possibilities to develop local tulip rootstock in coordination with Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir in order to gradually reduce dependence on imported bulbs in the coming years.
During the event, the Chief Minister also released a tourism promotional song titled ‘Wadi-e-Sumbul’, inaugurated a souvenir point set up by the Floriculture Department and inspected exhibition stalls of handicrafts and handloom products.
Several ministers, legislators and senior officials attended the inaugural ceremony of the festival, which is expected to draw a large number of tourists, photographers and nature lovers to the Valley during the ongoing spring season.
Notably, the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden also recognized as Asia’s largest tulip garden remains one of Kashmir’s most sought-after spring attractions and a major highlight of the Valley’s tourism calendar—(KNO)