The hidden hands behind Kashmir’s Tulip Garden: The unsung gardeners of floral paradise

As spring breathes life into the Kashmir Valley, the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden—Asia’s largest of its kind—unfolds in a stunning spectacle at the foothills of the Zabarwan mountains, overlooking the famous Dal Lake.
Amid the breathtaking views, the garden transforms into a vibrant canvas of colours, drawing visitors from across the globe. Yet, behind this beauty lies an untold story of dedication and toil—the 120 tireless gardeners who are the true artists of this floral paradise.
Haji Ghulam Muhammad, the head gardener at the Tulip Garden, stands amidst the sprawling 55-hectare site, his weathered hands gently cradling a tulip bulb. “This is not just a job; it’s a labour of love,” he tells Rising Kashmir, a humble smile crossing his face. This year, the garden is set to showcase 1.7 million tulips across 74 varieties, the product of months of meticulous effort.
The journey begins each November as the chill of winter begins to settle across the valley. While some gardeners dig the soil, others plant the bulbs with care, ensuring they are nourished with just the right amount of water. “It takes three months for a tulip to bloom,” says Imtiyaz Ahmed, another gardener. “We work in freezing temperatures, through rain and frost, because every flower here carries our sweat and soul.”
Despite their dedication, most of these gardeners are casual labourers, earning a mere Rs 311 per day. “For the kind of work we do, our wages are too low,” says Bashir Ahmad, a 55-year-old gardener. “We spend an entire year preparing this garden, but once the tulips bloom, people admire the flowers—no one thinks of the hands that nurtured them.”
Working in a garden of this scale is no easy task. Every day, these gardeners toil from dawn to dusk, clearing weeds, preparing the beds, and ensuring the delicate tulip bulbs receive the right care. “There is no holiday for us,” says Shabir Hussain, a young gardener. “We work day in and day out to make this garden what it is.”
The Floriculture Department officials also contribute to the upkeep of the garden, often visiting even on Sundays. “We work as one team, hand in hand, to ensure the garden is ready by March,” Haji Ghulam Muhammad explains.
This year, the garden is expected to open after March 20, with the promise of an even grander display. Unlike last year, when the holy month of Ramadan limited local visits, the festivities of Eid and the April bloom will likely bring more Kashmiri visitors to witness the spectacle. Last year, the garden recorded an impressive five lakh visitors, with 70 percent being non-locals and only 30 percent locals.
As the tulips sway gently in the breeze, whispering the stories of those who nurtured them, one truth becomes clear—beauty like this is never effortless. It is born from the hard work of invisible hands, the unsung gardeners of paradise.
“Our only appeal to the government is to enhance the remuneration of casual employees (gardeners),” Haji Ghulam Muhammad says. “The daily earning of Rs 311 barely covers their travel expenses. The government must consider these hardworking individuals when discussing the sprawling Tulip Garden.”