The garden not only attracts tourists but has also changed into a hub of cultural and musical events.”
With the opening of tulip garden in Srinagar last Saturday the arrival of tourists has shown a fresh surge in Kashmir despite the fact that the attention of the local population is focused on fasting these days in the ongoing holly month of Ramadan and political activities have started picking up with the commencement of the first phase of Lok Sabha elections just few days ago. While tourist season begins with opening of tulip garden from the year the garden was thrown open for tourist activities way back in the year 2007, i.e, almost 17 years ago, the trend of introducing new varieties of tulips year after year is continuing for the last more than 15 years. Situated between Zarbarwan hills and the world famous Dal Lake the tulip garden popularly called “Siraj Bag” is a major source of attraction not only for the tourists but also for the local populations in Kashmir. Though smiles of the tourists don’t last long due to unpredictable weather in Kashmir as life of tulips shortens with any change in weather but it is also fact that tourist season in Kashmir annually starts with opening of tulip garden in Srinagar and as such gets advanced by atleast two months. The garden not only attracts tourist but has also changed into a hub of cultural and musical events. Not only for tourists and travel operators but for the local populations also the garden throws up seasonal employment and income opportunities. During last two years the garden has also become a major attraction for shooting films and videos as several units from other parts of the country come here to shot parts of their projects here in this garden.
“Tulips have undoubtedly not only advanced tourist season in Kashmir by two months but have also given a huge boost to tourism in the recent years in Kashmir. Such a huge tourist activity getting advanced by two months extends tourist season in Jammu and Kashmir beyond the conventional summer and winter months and this is a new experience for stakeholders of tourism sector in Kashmir.”
Encouraged hugely by the rising tourist footfall witnessed during last two years, the Government has undertaken sanitation drives, extended mobile toilet facilities, and expanded parking space by nearly 22,000 square feet for the convenience of the tourists at the garden. The annual Tulip festival, held during the advent of spring, serves as a jubilant celebration of the garden’s diverse floral offerings, aiming to attract tourists from both within and outside the country. Tulips have undoubtedly not only advanced tourist season in Kashmir by two months but have also given a huge boost to tourism in the recent years in Kashmir. Such a huge tourist activity getting advanced by two months extends tourist season in Jammu and Kashmir beyond the conventional summer and winter months and this is a new experience for stakeholders of tourism sector in Kashmir.
