BY Qiesar Baba
Srinagar, Feb 25 (UNI) Asia’s largest Tulip Garden in Srinagar is set to showcase a breath-taking display of 1.7 million tulip bulbs this year, including two newly introduced varieties imported from the Netherlands, officials said.
Nestled in the foothills of the Zabarwan Range, overlooking the iconic Dal Lake, the Tulip Garden in Srinagar remains a major attraction for tourists and nature lovers from around the world.
“Every year, the Floriculture Department strives to introduce new tulip varieties to enhance the garden’s vibrancy and appeal. This year, we have added two new varieties to make the display even more colorful,” said Assistant Floriculture Officer (AFO) Asif Ahmad told UNI.
Last year, the garden featured 72 tulip varieties in an array of colours. This year, the number has increased to 74, offering visitors an even more mesmerizing floral spectacle. The garden is expected to open to the public after March 20.
“The two new tulip varieties—Triumph and Darwin Hybrid—imported from the Netherlands, will add a fresh burst of colour and charm to the garden,” Asif added.
Besides these 74 varieties of Tulips, there would be also Daffodils, Hyacinth, Muscari, supreme blossomed bulbs and trees in full bloom during this season.
He said a total of 1.7 million bulbs of Tulips and other supreme bulbs would be in the Garden altogether this year to welcome the tourists and visitors.
The AFO said the Tulips are being imported from the Netherlands which is the world’s largest producer of the variety and like other countries India is also purchasing from this country.
“Every year we alter the vibrant colour scheme to be presented in the garden but this year it would be quite different from the past year”, Asif said.
He said there are more than 3,000 varieties of Tulip flowers, but they adopt the display on the basis of primary colours -- Red, Yellow, and White-- and the tourists enjoy the bloom of such colour schemes.
The AFO said Tulip Garden has almost reached to its full expansion with green plants and added where these were needed and work on project Sakura is on-going which will take a couple of years to complete.
Asif said the other expansion works including channels; high rise fountains have almost been completed.
The Tulip Garden has already achieved a place in the world book of records London for its mesmerizing comeliness. The Garden has become a unique selling point particularly for the tourism of the valley.
Last year, a record 4.65 lakh tourists visited the Tulip Garden to experience the colourful variety of flowers and atmosphere of natural beauty in a short span of 25 days. The life of Tulips remains, boosting the economy of all stakeholders and playing a significant role in the tourism potential of the Kashmir valley.
UNI QAB CS1700