Srinagar, March 10 Asia's largest tulip garden, located on the banks of Dal Lake, will be open to the public from March 16, almost 10 days ahead of the scheduled date, as the valley experienced warmer days, leading to early blooming of the flowers.
Director of Floriculture, Mathura Masoom, said that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah will inaugurate the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden for visitors.
"The tulip garden will be open to the public from March 16 (Monday)," he said.
The garden, which was added to the list of tourist attractions in Kashmir in 2008, is usually opened to visitors in the last week of March. However, due to the unusually hot February in Kashmir, the tulips have started to bloom earlier than expected.
Masoom said that over 70 varieties of tulips will be on display at the garden. "This year, we have increased the density of bulbs to give a richer look to the garden. More than 1.8 million bulbs have been planted," she said.
The director said that all measures have been taken to ensure that tourists have a memorable experience at the garden.
"Ticket bookings will be online, and many other facilities have been added for the tourists," she said.
Cultural events have also been planned to enhance the appeal of the garden, the director said.
"We are also planning to invite school children and children from orphanages so that they can also experience the tulip garden," Masoom added.
The newly opened garden, located at the foothills of the Zabarwan Range, marks the beginning of a new tourism season in the Kashmir valley.
Formerly known as Siraj Bagh, the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden was opened in 2008 by the then Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. The idea behind the garden was to extend the tourism season in the valley by two months.
The average lifespan of a tulip flower is three to four weeks, but heavy rain or excessive heat can damage them.