• A Majestic Tapestry Set in Srinagar
Srinagar| Oct, 24: Jammu and Kashmir Kashmir’s autumn tourism calendar has gained a new floral attraction, with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday opening the Chrysanthemum Show 2026 at the Botanical Garden, Chashma Shahi, bringing the 100-kanal Bagh-e-Gul-Dawood into focus as an emerging destination for visitors beyond the Valley’s celebrated spring tulip season. Featuring 3.5 lakh locally produced plants, more than 70 varieties and nearly 12 million blossoms, the garden has been developed as part of efforts to diversify Srinagar’s tourism offerings and create fresh reasons for visitors to explore Kashmir during autumn. Themed “Enriching Autumn with New Colours”, the show presents an extensive display of chrysanthemums in shades of yellow, red, pink and purple against the surrounding mountain landscape. The opening marks another step towards broadening Kashmir’s seasonal tourism appeal, traditionally associated with the Tulip Garden in spring. By developing a dedicated autumn attraction, the government and the Department of Floriculture, Parks and Gardens are seeking to distribute visitor interest across more months of the year rather than concentrate it around a single flowering season. The initiative also places local floriculture at the centre of a tourism model that combines landscape development, horticultural expertise and visitor amenities.
From Tulips To Chrysanthemums: Speaking at the inauguration, Omar Abdullah said Bagh-e-Gul-Dawood was introduced last year to establish distinctive floral attractions marking different seasons in Kashmir. “This is the second year of bloom at Bagh-e-Gul-Dawood in Srinagar. This garden was started last year, and the purpose was to mark the beginning of our tourism season and to mark the end of the year in Srinagar. Both these gardens are special and unique to Srinagar,” he said. The Chief Minister said the popularity of the Tulip Garden had demonstrated the potential of floral tourism, but autumn needed a comparable attraction capable of drawing visitors after the spring flowering season. “We have been trying to increase our tourism season. You must have seen that many people visit the Tulip Garden at the beginning of the year. But during autumn season, we have tried to add something special to show to people. That is why this Chrysanthemum Garden has been developed by the Department of Floriculture,” he said. The strategy seeks to build a more varied tourism calendar for Srinagar, where gardens, heritage sites, lakes and mountain landscapes already provide a diverse visitor experience. A dedicated autumn flower show adds another reason for tourists to include the city in their itineraries during a period when the Valley’s landscape changes colour. The garden’s significance will ultimately depend on its ability to attract repeat visitors, sustain public interest and complement existing tourism destinations.
A Larger Display, An Enhanced Visitor Experience: This year, the garden has been upgraded with additional areas under flower beds, colourful floral arrangements, water features, selfie points and modern visitor facilities. Spread over 100 kanals, the landscaped space offers visitors an opportunity to experience the chrysanthemum blooms amid the natural surroundings of Chashma Shahi. The extensive display of flowering plants creates a seasonal attraction that combines horticulture with recreation and photography. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said he had observed improvements compared with the previous year and expressed confidence that the garden would continue to develop. “I have seen the difference between last year and this year. We will continue to develop it in the same way,” he said. The expansion reflects the importance of continuous investment in tourism infrastructure. Floral displays may provide the initial attraction, but visitor comfort, accessibility, maintenance, cleanliness and the overall quality of the experience will influence whether such destinations become established features of Kashmir’s tourism circuit. The garden’s development also offers scope for connecting floral tourism with local businesses, including transport operators, guides, food outlets and other service providers. Greater visitor movement during autumn could help generate economic activity beyond the peak spring and summer periods. However, sustained benefits will depend on effective management, promotion and the garden’s capacity to remain attractive throughout its flowering window.
Local Plants, Long-Term Potential: A distinguishing feature of Bagh-e-Gul-Dawood is its reliance on locally produced plant material, which can be propagated and multiplied within Jammu and Kashmir. Highlighting this aspect, the Chief Minister said the chrysanthemum garden differed from the Tulip Garden, where some planting material has to be sourced from outside the country. “One big advantage of this garden is that the bulk of the plant material is indigenous and some quantity of bulbs is procured from outside the country to keep it running. Much of the plant material of this garden is our own. We propagate it and multiply it. We will try to do something new in this garden every year,” he said. Local propagation can provide the department with greater control over plant availability and the development of future displays. It also creates opportunities to strengthen horticultural knowledge, improve cultivation practices and build local capacity in ornamental plant production. The approach could contribute to a more sustainable operating model if supported by appropriate nursery management, efficient resource use and long-term planning. It may also provide opportunities for local growers and horticultural enterprises as demand for ornamental plants expands. The emphasis on indigenous production therefore adds a second dimension to the garden: alongside tourism, it demonstrates the potential of locally developed floriculture resources to support recurring seasonal attractions. The Chief Minister said new features would be introduced in the coming years to maintain the garden’s appeal and provide visitors with something different during successive flowering seasons.
Extending The Tourism Season: Seasonal diversification remains an important consideration for Kashmir’s tourism economy. While spring brings large numbers of visitors to the Tulip Garden, autumn offers a different experience through changing foliage, pleasant outdoor landscapes and the flowering of chrysanthemums. Bagh-e-Gul-Dawood is intended to strengthen this autumn offering and encourage visitors to explore Srinagar beyond its established seasonal highlights. The initiative could also help tourism businesses plan for a longer operating calendar. Additional attractions during autumn may support accommodation providers, transport services, restaurants and local markets, although the scale of these benefits will depend on visitor numbers and spending patterns. For the strategy to deliver sustained results, the garden will need continued maintenance, effective publicity, convenient access and coordination with other attractions in Srinagar. Promoting the show alongside heritage sites, Dal Lake, Mughal gardens and local cultural experiences could encourage visitors to extend their stays. The Chief Minister invited residents and tourists to visit the garden and experience its floral display. “On this occasion, I would like to invite the visitors and local people to come and take advantage of the beauty of this garden. Take some pictures and take them back as a souvenir,” he said. The invitation also underlines the garden’s value as a public recreational space for residents of Srinagar and adjoining areas, not merely as a destination for outside tourists.
A Seasonal Attraction With Room To Grow: The opening of the Chrysanthemum Show represents an effort to give autumn a more prominent place in Kashmir’s tourism calendar. Its 3.5 lakh plants, more than 70 varieties and nearly 12 million blossoms provide the scale for an attraction that combines horticulture, landscape design and tourism promotion. Its longer-term success, however, will depend on whether the annual display develops into a consistently maintained destination with fresh features, strong visitor engagement and benefits for the local economy. The garden’s reliance on locally propagated plants offers an additional opportunity to strengthen floriculture capacity within the region while reducing dependence on externally sourced planting material for much of the display. Omar Abdullah was accompanied by Minister for Agriculture Production Javid Ahmed Dar, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, MLAs Shamim Firdous, Salman Sagar and Sheikh Ahsan Ahmed, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta, Commissioner Secretary Floriculture, Parks and Gardens Zubair Ahmad, Director Floriculture Kashmir Mathoora Masoom and other officers.
