Tulips bloom in Kashmir

Tulips have come to Kashmir in a big way. Asia's largest tulip garden at the foothills of Zabarwan hills and on the banks of the famous Dal Lake is in full bloom and was thrown open to the public this week.
The garden, fashioned after and inspired by the world famous tulip gardens in the Netherlands, is the brainchild of Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. He ordered its creation last year to add not only more colour to the idyllic Valley but also add to the state coffers through the sale of tulips and their bulbs.



The tulip trade is estimated at billions of dollars worldwide, with Holland being the premier beneficiary of the global demand for tulips.
Kashmir, with climatic conditions favouring the growing of tulips is also aspiring to claim its share of the global pie.

The garden is spread over 90 acres and is in full blossom right now with tulips of various colours, making it quite a feast for the eyes.

It has has become new favourite with visitors in an area that is dotted with the famous Mughal gardens, juxtaposed with the Royal Spring Golf Course and the botanical garden.



With 50 varieties of imported tulips in full bloom these days, it has caught the fancy of locals and tourists alike and is frequented on all all days. Entrance fee is only Rs 20 per head.
"We are extending the Sirajbagh Tulip garden to 2000 kanals of land and that would make it world's largest tulip garden," said a state officer.



Tulips of various colours laid in beautifully symmetrical fields in Sirajbagh with the Zabarwan Hills in the background have become a major attraction this spring.
"We have imported 50 varieties of tulips from Holland and also engaged a consultant from there to grow them. Our experiment has succeeded and we have successfully grown 3.5 lakh tulip bulbs," Farooq Ahmad Shah, director of Kashmir's tourism department said.




Tulip gardens will also be laid in Gulmarg and Pahalgam to add to the beauty and grandeur of these international tourist destinations," Shah said.
The local gardens and parks department has now decided to distribute the exotic tulip varieties among local growers in order to support private enterprise in flower growing as there is a growing international market for these flowers.




Myriad coloured tulips -- white, yellow, blue, red, pink and crimson -- impart a majestic look to the Sirjabagh garden, which has become a delight for photographers and flower lovers in the Valley.
"It won't be long before Bollywood blockbusters would be shot amid the tulip fields of Kashmir instead of Holland," said a local photographer.