Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah opened Asia’s largest tulip garden. He expressed hope for the tourism sector’s recovery after last year’s challenges. The garden closed last year due to a terrorist attack and reopened after a security review. Efforts are underway to develop floriculture commercially and cultivate tulip bulbs locally. Cultural events are planned to enhance the visitor experience.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday threw open Asia’s largest tulip garden on the banks of Dal Lake here for visitors. He hoped that the tourism sector would bounce back from last year's setbacks. Abdullah was accompanied by his Cabinet colleagues and National Conference MLAs to the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden on Cheshma Shahi Road, officials said.
“This will be a new start for those associated with the tourism industry. They had to go through a very tough phase. However, the situation keeps changing, and we hope that it improves to enable people from outside to come and enjoy the beauty of Jammu and Kashmir,” Abdullah told reporters.
The tulip garden was among 44 destinations closed for tourists last year following the Pahalgam terror attack in April that killed 26 people. It reopened this year after a security audit. Abdullah said various stakeholders are working to make floriculture a commercial venture, with flowers grown here expected to be sent to other parts of the country.
“Most things are in place. A reliable cold chain is the issue right now. Once we get that, be it through the rail or air sector, it can bloom,” he said. Abdullah also said that efforts are underway to develop tulip bulbs locally to reduce the cost of importing them from the Netherlands. “This will save foreign exchange as well,” he said.
On security at tourist places, Abdullah said those responsible would definitely make their presence felt at all tourist destinations. The garden was opened for visitors almost 10 days ahead of schedule as the Valley experienced warmer days that led to early blooming of the flowers. The garden, which was added to the list of the tourist sights of Kashmir in 2008, is open to visitors in the last week of March.
The garden was opened for visitors almost 10 days ahead of schedule, as the Valley experienced warmer days that led to early blooming. The garden, which was added to the tour of the lots of Kashmir in 2008, is usually open to visitors in the last week of March.
However, as Kashmir experienced its hottest February in decades, the tulips began to bloom early. More than 70 varieties of tulips will be displayed at the garden, as the floriculture department has increased the density of bulbs to give a richer look to the garden, where over 1.8 million bulbs have been planted. Cultural events have also been lined up to add to the attraction. The response was encouraging on the opening day, with a large number of tourists and locals waiting outside the garden before its formal opening.
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