The Asia's largest Tulip Garden at Srinagar was opened up recently for the public by the J & K CM.Omar Abdulla
The garden, Asia's largest tulip garden is located in the foothills of the Zabarwan mountain range overlooking the world famous Dal Lake in the heart of capital Srinagar.
The garden which presents a rash of scintillating colours sports over a million tulips of possibly of all shades and colours.
The terraced garden with tulips in bloom has a mesmerising effect on the visitors, tourists and locals.
The garden saw a great rush of people immediately after it was thrown open. The visitors included both locals as well tourist presently holidaying in Kashmir.
The tulip garden has been named after the late former prime minister Indira Gandhi and was commissioned by the United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi in April 2008.
The garden now prides itself with over a million tulips directly imported from Holland, the home of tulips. Its size according to Javed Ahmad Shah, the incharge of the garden, is now around 12 hectares and is poised to grow further in coming years.
The garden has also acquired additional attractions of fountains and some shade trees.
The gardens management apart from earning revenues from the entry fee, which is Rs 50 for adults and Rs 20 for children, has multiplied the revenue generation by rearing tulips as cut flowers under controlled conditions and marketing these both in and outside the country.
The first such consignment was marketed in Mumbai on Christmas 2011 and continued the effort on Valentine Day in Mumbai, Hyderabad and Delhi.
Consignments of the cut flowers have also been sent to gulf countries for marketing.
In order to prolong the flowering season of the garden, around 25 lakh bulbs of these annual flowers have been planted since tulips remain in bloom for just 15 to 20 days depending on the temperature in Kashmir's Tulip garden.
It is a Delight to watch for all nature lovers to see such lovely Tulip flowers.
Tulip Garden is to be found at the foothills of the Zabarwan Mountains which are present on the banks of the Dal Lake, Srinagar. The garden is the most spacious one in Srinagar. A major attraction here is the large variety of Tulips found in thousands of numbers. The sight is heavenly during the full bloom season with all shades of the rainbow scattered on the fields of this garden.
The Tulips bulbs were all imported from Holland for cultivation in Srinagar. And to add to all this joy, the Tulips will now have company – Roses. Several beds of Roses are being cultivated to add to the enchantment of the tulip Garden. And it takes more than 150 flower-farmers to maintain this Garden.
courtesy:1,www.purefriends.sulekha.com
2,www.rediff.com
