The tulip garden in Jammu and Kashmir, Asia’s largest, opens for tourists

Asia's largest tulip garden, the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, opens for tourists on Thursday. Formerly known as Siraj Bagh, the tulip garden overlooks Dal Lake in Jammu and Kashmir. (PTI Photo: S. Irfan)

The tulip garden is spread over 30 hectares in the foothills of the Zabarwan Range. It has 15 lakh tulips of 62 varieties this year. (Twitter/@narendramodi)

Apart from tulips, there are also other species of flowers like hyacinths, daffodils and ranunculus. (Twitter/@narendramodi)

The tulip garden attracts thousands of tourists every year. However, it remained closed last year due to the coronavirus pandemic. This year, Covid-19 protocols are in place to ensure the safety of visitors. (Twitter/@narendramodi)

The tulip garden was inaugurated in 2008 by then chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. (PTI Photo/S. Irfan)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday invited people to visit the tulip garden. "Whenever you get the opportunity, do visit Jammu and Kashmir and witness the scenic Tulip festival. In addition to the tulips, you will experience the warm hospitality of the people of Jammu and Kashmir," he tweeted. (Twitter/@narendramodi)

Cold weather conditions, spells of rain and snowfall have delayed the blooming of the flowers this year, according to PTI. (PTI Photo/S. Irfan)