Srinagar, Mar 25: The opening day of Asia’s largest Tulip Garden in Srinagar witnessed a good number of visitors mainly comprised of tourists from different parts of India.
On the side-lines of the opening ceremony—Kashmir News Observer-(KNO) spoke to the people from the Floriculture Department who despite harsh winter made the tulips blossom this year.
Mohammad Shafi who works as a gardener in the floriculture department said, during the harsh winters when there was snow all around the garden they had to clear the snow to plant the tulips.
“It takes eleven months for us to prepare the garden and ideally we start the work in the garden for tulips from the November month. It is a very tough job in harsh winter, more than 150 men are involved in preparing the Garden for visitors,” he said.
Another gardener Zahid Ahmad said they had to clear more than 2ft of snow to plant the tulips.
“This year was very tough because of harsh winter,” he said.
Dr Inaam, in charge of the Tulip Garden told KNO that the department worked hard this year to open the garden for visitors, especially after not been able to open last year following Covid-19 pandemic.
“Currently 25 per cent tulips have fully bloomed. In the coming days the entire garden will bloom with tulips,” he said.
He further said the garden ideally remains open for one month for visitors, however depending upon the weather it may get extended at times.
“The life of the tulip depends upon the weather conditions. The hotter it is, the less will be the life of the tulip,” he said.
Dr Inam also appealed to the people visiting the garden to follow the Covid-19 Sops and guidelines.
Earlier during the opening ceremony of the garden, Lieutenant Governor’s Advisor Baseer Khan said that the UT administration is carrying out a comprehensive survey to explore the new tourist destinations so that tourists go beyond Gulmarg and Pahalgam while visiting the Valley.
He also said that the government has started a new project to add to the beauty of the 35-acre sprawling tulip garden located in the Zabarwan foothills in Srinagar at the cost of Rs 10 crore to offer more to the visitors.
He said that the garden has been officially thrown open for the visitors and tourists from today onwards.
“On April 3, LG Mano Sinha sir will officially inaugurate the Tulip festival wherein we will showcase Kashmir’s rich culture, cuisine, art, and handicrafts etc. That will help attract more tourists and also help promote J&K UT’s rich traditions and culture,” Khan said—(KNO)
