With spring onset, Badamvari blooms to life

Srinagar, Mar 12 : Located on the foothills of Koh-e-Maran, the Badamvari almond garden spans 300 kanals and boasts around 1500 almond trees, making it a major tourist attraction drawing thousands of visitors.
The garden’s almond blossoms provide visitors with a mesmerizing experience, and it has become a must-visit destination for both tourists and local residents alike, with roads leading to the area being jam-packed throughout the day.
Farooq Ahmad Rather, Director of Floriculture Kashmir, has confirmed that the almond tree is one of the earliest blooming plants in the garden, attracting both local and foreign tourists with its spectacular bloom. The garden is currently around 25 percent in bloom, with peak bloom expected within the next two weeks.
According to Rather, the Badamvari garden is one of Srinagar’s oldest gardens, providing a peaceful area for locals to unwind. Since the floriculture department took over the garden’s maintenance, all damages have been repaired, and further efforts are underway to enhance its beauty. “Badamvari has a rich history that we aim to maintain. Just like the annual tulip garden festival, more people should visit Badamvari,” he remarked.
Visitors flock to this historical park to enjoy its star attraction: the multi-coloured almond blooms. The park dates back to before the fourteenth century and was later abandoned, with nomads taking up residence. It was revived and properly opened to the public in 2008.
Hilal Mir, a visitor to the garden, described the views from the park as breathtaking, with the flower-laden almond trees appearing mesmerizing. In Kashmir, the blossom-laden trees are the best part of spring, with a range of colors ranging from light purple to yellow to pink to white and crimson.
Last year, the garden saw around three lakh tourists, and officials have confirmed that the annual festival will be held in the garden again this year to entertain visitors. Large crowds are expected to attend the festival.