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Spring has arrived in the valley of Kashmir, and with it, the stunning display of tulips in the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden. This garden, formerly known as Siraj Bagh, is Asia's largest tulip garden, boasting over 1.5 million tulips of different colours and hues, along with other spring flowers like hyacinths, daffodils, muscari and cyclamens.
Located between the serene Dal Lake and the majestic Zabarwan hills in Srinagar, the garden was opened in 2007 to promote floriculture and tourism in the Kashmir Valley. It is built on sloping ground in a terraced fashion, comprising seven terraces and spreading over 30 hectares.
As the tulip festival begins, hundreds of gardeners have been working hard to ensure that the tulip blooms are in pristine condition for visitors to admire. The ground staff has been busy preparing the garden for months, including gardening, engineering, fungicide treatment, nutrient spraying and minor repairs.
Although the tulips bloom for only three to five days, it takes a year-round effort to maintain the quality of the bulbs. Inam-ul-Rehman, the in-charge of the garden, revealed that the ground staff puts in hard work throughout the year to ensure that the tulips continue to bloom in all their glory for years to come.
Apart from the stunning display of tulips, visitors can also enjoy the scenic beauty of the garden, which is situated in a picturesque location. The garden's terraces offer stunning views of the surrounding mountains, and visitors can take a leisurely stroll along the winding pathways or simply sit and enjoy the beauty of the flowers.
The tulip festival is an annual celebration, which is part of the tourism efforts by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir. The festival aims to showcase the range of flowers in the garden and promote the region's tourism industry. The festival is also organised during the onset of the spring season every year, adding to the excitement and beauty of the season.
In conclusion, the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden is a testament to the beauty of nature and the hard work of the ground staff. The colourful spectacle of tulips is a sight to behold and should be on every traveller's bucket list. So, if you're planning a trip to the Kashmir Valley, make sure to add the tulip garden to your itinerary and witness the magic of nature in full bloom.
