It’s time for bloom! With coronavirus spreading it’s tentacles once again, the beautiful booming tulips in Kashmir are mesmerising the locals and the tourists alike. The famous Tulip garden in the foothills of Zabarwan mountains overlooking famous Dal Lake in Srinagar saw the arrival of a record number of more than 4500 visitors on day one. And in just five days the number has crossed over 50,000 visitors. Asia’s largest Tulip garden is spread over 35 acres of land attracted a large number of guests on the day-one of its opening. Deputy Director Floriculture IkhlasShayiq said, “on the first day of opening of Tulip garden, 4533 visitors visited the garden which is a record if figures are compared to last few years.
Amid tough winters of 2020-21, Floriculture Department had planted around 15 Lakh Tulip Bulbs with 62 assortments this year. The nursery has nearly sprouted with around 50-60 per cent Tulips and in coming days the nursery will be at the pinnacle of blossom.
Baseer Ahmed Khan, advisor to L-G Manoj Sinha, threw open the garden, which also found a mention in the tweets of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with an appeal to visit the place. “A majestic tulip garden on the foothills of the Zabarwan Mountains will open for visitors. The Garden will see over 15 lakh flowers of more than 64 varieties in bloom,” PM Modi tweeted. Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to share pictures of the fresh bloom, writing the garden will see more than 64 varieties in bloom this year.
Whenever you get the opportunity, do visit Jammu and Kashmir and witness the scenic Tulip festival. In addition to the tulips, you will experience the warm hospitality of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. pic.twitter.com/RuZorHWBrO
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 24, 2021
Khan further said, “Entire Kashmir is famous for its natural beauty. The opening of the tulip garden will add more charm to the tourism of J&K. We aim to make the garden not only an attraction for domestic tourists but a global tourist destination,”. The garden has 64 varieties of tulips. They stay in bloom from three to four weeks.
Keeping in mind the current pandemic situation, Ikhlas Shayiq said the department is all set to host the guests, and amid Covid-19 pandemic. “We have put all Covid-19 SoPs and guidelines in place, and no visitor will be allowed in the park without facemask, and before entering the garden visitors will have to undergo thermal scanning. We have kept the sign boards all around the garden, sensitizing people about the already in place Covid-19 Sops and guidelines. We request all the visitors who intend to visit the Tulip garden to kindly follow Covid-19 Sops and guidelines”.
