The famous Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden in Srinagar will open to the public from March 16, marking the official arrival of the spring tourism season in Kashmir.
The garden, known for its vibrant tulip displays and scenic beauty, is expected to attract thousands of tourists and local visitors during the upcoming tulip bloom season.
Record Display of 18 Lakh Tulips
Director of Department of Floriculture Kashmir Mathoora Masoom confirmed that the garden is fully prepared to welcome visitors this year.
He said the authorities have planted around 18 lakh tulips across more than 70 varieties, creating one of the largest floral displays in the region.
Masoom also stated that the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir will inaugurate the garden when it opens to the public.
Online Ticket Booking Introduced for Visitors
To improve visitor convenience, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has introduced online ticket booking for the tulip garden this season.
The facility will allow tourists and locals to book tickets in advance, helping them plan their visit more easily and reducing congestion at entry points.
Officials said additional efforts have been made this year to improve facilities and maintain cleanliness in the garden.
More Than Just Tulips
Apart from tulips, the garden also features several other flower varieties that enhance its colourful landscape. Visitors will also see blooms of:
- Daffodils
- Hyacinths
- Roses
- Ranunculus
- Muscari
- Iris
Together, these flowers create a spectacular display of colours and fragrances against the backdrop of the Zabarwan mountain range, making the garden one of Kashmir’s most popular tourist attractions.
Manasbal Lake Restoration Efforts Underway
Meanwhile, the Wular-Manasbal Development Authority has launched a dredging and cleanliness drive at Manasbal Lake to restore its ecological health.
Chief Executive Officer Ahsan-ul-Haq Chisti said the dredging work began about four to five months ago to remove accumulated silt, clear blocked water channels, and increase the lake’s water-carrying capacity.
So far, authorities have dredged around 1.3 square kilometres of the lake area and manually removed nearly 7,000 cubic metres of weeds.
Migratory Birds Return to Manasbal Lake
Officials said the restoration efforts are already showing results, with migratory birds returning to the lake after several decades.
Chisti urged local stakeholders such as fishermen, lotus stem collectors, and boat operators to cooperate with conservation efforts to maintain the ecological balance of the lake.
Local residents have welcomed the initiative. Resident Abdul Ahmad said the lake had been gradually filling with weeds and silt for years, affecting fishing and water flow.
Another resident, Sajad Ahmad, noted that the return of migratory birds is a positive sign that the lake’s ecosystem is recovering.
Residents believe the ongoing restoration drive will help revive the lake’s biodiversity while supporting the livelihoods of the local community.
