Srinagar, Mar 29: Srinagar’s Tulip Garden, the largest tulip garden in Asia, has set a new record by attracting over 160,000 visitors in its first week of operation. Located between Dal Lake and the Zabarwan Hills, the garden boasts more than 15 million tulips of 68 different varieties this year, making it a top springtime destination in the valley.
According to floriculture officials, approximately 106,000 people visited the garden during its first seven days, with more than 35,000 visitors on the third day alone. Although rainy days and low temperatures affected the bloom from March 24 to March 26, the garden is still a flowery wonderland with 80% of the garden in full bloom. The garden is expected to break last year’s record of 360,000 visitors, as it continues to attract tourists from both inside and outside the region.
The tulip bloom typically begins at the end of March and lasts for 20 to 25 days. To extend the bloom period, late-blooming cultivars have been included. The temperature-sensitive flowers require mercury to remain above 15 degrees and below 25 degrees Celsius.
In order to maintain the bloom of the sea of flowers, at least 60 gardeners are working around the clock in the garden, which is divided into 36 plots
with 16-18 beds each. The complex also features three parks.
The garden has become a crucial attraction in bridging the slack period between the busy winter and summer tourist seasons in the Kashmir Valley. It has also pushed back the start date of the summer tourism season, which typically begins in the last week of April. The percentage of outside visitors is increasing, with more than 7,000 to 8,000 domestic tourists visiting the garden every day, according to a floriculture officer.
