The Tulip Garden is being opened against the backdrop of the last summer's unrest that sounded death knell to the tourism sector, which suffered Rs 3000 crore loss
Over 1.5 million tulips are in full bloom in the Asia's biggest Tulip garden which will be thrown open to the public on Saturday. The Tulip Garden is being opened against the backdrop of the last summer's unrest that sounded death knell to the tourism sector, which suffered Rs 3000 crore loss.
This year, however, the government is hoping for a good flow of tourists to make up for the loss. “Situation was very bad and both tourism and our department have tried to highlight it (Tulip Garden). The response is good. Inshallah (God willing) tourist flow is there”, M Hussain Mir, Director Floriculture, Gardens and Parks, Kashmir, told DNA.
Spread over 600 kanals (20 kanals form one hectare) of land, the tulip cultivation has been done on 200 kanals of the garden area.
Located at the foothills of the Zabarwan hills on the banks of Dal Lake, the Tulip garden is the biggest draw for the tourists visiting Kashmir.
“Last year 1.5 to 1.75 lakh tourists visited the Tulip garden. We earned Rs 58 lakh revenue last year. This year we expect to host more than three lakh tourists”, said Mir.
More than 15 lakh tulips of 48 varieties are embellishing the garden this year. “All tulip varieties in the garden are imported. There is no indigenous variety in the garden. We have a wild tulip variety which does not last long. On experimentation basis we will plant this variety next year,” he said.
Grandeur, serenity and colourful tulip beds, beautiful Zabarwan mountain range overlooking the garden and world famous Dal Lake at its base mesmerizes tourists and marks the spring beauty of the Valley
The icing on the cake this year is the Tulip festival to be held inside garden from April 1. “The festival will showcase our tourism, culture and heritage. There will be around 15 stalls of different departments in the garden. Tourism, handicrafts, central silk board and others will display their products to attract the people”, Mir said.
The highlight of the festival is the folk musical programmes to enliven tourists. “Folk music programmes will be organised for 15 days. We are also in talks with some schools so that a painting competition is held during the festival. The government is also contemplating holding international level Urdu poetry recitation,” said Mir.
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