Srinagar hosts immeasurable beauty with panoramic views that could only be justified by the term surreal. One such attraction that is a total treat for the eyes and the soul is the famous Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, which first opened in 2007. Here's everything you need to know about it, along with the details of the annual Tulip festival.
Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden is the largest tulip garden in all of Asia, similar to the famous Amsterdam's Keukenhof Tulip Garden. Previously the Model Floriculture Centre, it's spread over 30 hectares, overlooking the breathtaking Dal Lake. Located on the foothills of the Zabarwan range, which adds a stunning backdrop to the already gorgeous landscape. The aim behind the garden was to promote tourism in Kashmir Valley while also boosting floriculture.
The garden flourishes on a sloping ground in a terraced fashion, consisting of a total of seven terraces. There are about 12.25 lakh tulip bulbs of 40 varieties and colours. Other than tulips, you can also expect to see blossoming rows of hyacinths, daffodils, narcissus, and ranunculus in the field, which look vibrant and full of life. The garden has also gathered many awards and records to its name, including an inclusion in the World Book of Records.
The Tulip Festival is the annual festival, which showcases and cherishes the beauty of these tulips and other flowers when they are in full bloom. This naturally means that the festival is held during the onset of spring, meaning from March to the end of June, and visitors come from all over to experience this beautiful sight. It's an absolutely heavenly sight to visit, and we believe that it should be on everyone's radar to visit at least once.
Timings: 8 AM to 7 PM
Price: INR 75 (Adults), INR 30 (Children)
Best Time To Visit: March till end of June, during the Tulip Festival when all flowers are in full bloom.
How To Reach:
By Air: Fly to Sheikh ul Alam International Airport, which is about 22 km away from Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden.
By Train: The closest railway station is Srinagar Railway Station, about 18 km away from the garden.
By Road: The garden is 8 km away from Lalchowk. There is a large parking space available so you can easily travel by a private vehicle. The parking is a slightly long walk from the garden, however, wheelchairs are available for senior citizens.
