Asia’s largest tulip garden in Kashmir is now open to tourists

On March 16, the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden — Asia's largest tulip garden in the foothills of the Zabarwan hills in Kashmir, overlooking the Dal lake — was thrown open for visitors. (Source: Express Photo)

The early rise in temperatures in Kashmir resulted in early blossoms, leading the garden to be opened up to the public two weeks ahead of schedule. (Source: Express Photo)

The tulip garden — which was inaugurated in 2008 — attracts thousands of tourists every year. In this picture, tourists are enjoying at the tulip garden in Srinagar.(Source: PTI)

The Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden has about 1.5 million tulips of 70 different varieties. The department of horticulture in Kashmir takes care of the garden and organises the Tulip Festival for the public every year. (Source: PTI)

The beauty of the Tulip Festival isn't restricted to the tulips, though. Kashmiri folk dance and music and traditional handicrafts will also be on display to acquaint the tourists to broader aspects of Kashmiri culture. (Source: PTI)

The entry fee to the festival is a nominal Rs 50 for adults and Rs 25 for children. The flowers remain in full bloom for only 15 days in a year, making a visit to the tulip garden a trip to plan for. (Source: PTI)

The tulip garden was adjudged as the second best tulip garden in the world by the World Tulip Summit Society in 2014. In this picture, a gardener tends to tulip buds in preparation for the Tulip Festival. (Source: PTI)

Over 500 gardeners and labourers have worked over the past several weeks to unveil the garden to the public in its full glory. In this picture, gardeners tend to tulip buds in preparation for the Tulip Festival. (Source: PTI)