SRINAGAR, March 16: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah inaugurated the annual Tulip Festival–2026 at the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, officially opening Asia’s largest tulip garden to the public. The garden features nearly 1.8 million tulips across more than 75 varieties, along with approximately one lakh other bulbous flowers, set against the scenic Dal Lake and Zabarwan foothills.
Ministers, MLAs, senior officials, and visitors attended the event. CM Abdullah highlighted the festival's role in promoting tourism, boosting the local economy, and showcasing Kashmir's natural beauty and cultural richness. He praised the Department of Floriculture for preparing the garden on time and emphasized plans to develop local tulip rootstock with support from SKUAST-Kashmir.
The Chief Minister also inaugurated a souvenir point, a handicraft and handloom exhibition, and released a tourism promotional song titled 'Wadi-e-Sumbul', appealing to tourists to experience Kashmir's spring splendor and vibrant floral landscapes.