Tulip Festivals In Kashmir- A Journey Through Petal Paradise

Are you planning a Kashmir trip? Then you must not miss one of the most stunning experiences: the Tulip Festivals In Kashmir! Imagine walking through a kaleidoscope field of over 1.5 million tulips, each one a different colour, painting the landscape in a stunning rainbow of hues. These Tulip Festivals in Kashmir, held annually at the enchanting Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, are an artist’s palette come to life, usually marking the start of spring in April.

The Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, formerly known as SirajBagh is one of the most popular and hot-spot tourist destinations in Srinagar Kashmir. It was opened in 2007 with the aim to boost tourism sector in Kashmir. The garden is located at the foothills of Zabarwan Mountain and with its stunning array of tulips in full bloom, the garden is a sight to behold. Sadly  It only lasts for 20 days  in Year 2023 it was Closed on April 21st 2023,  after which the tulips start losing their color and stance.

The tulips are planted in rows and each row has a different variety of tulip. In addition to tulips, many other species of flowers are also there, including hyacinths, daffodils and ranunculus. This garden also has a number of walkways and fountains that make it an ideal place for people to spend their leisure time in a pleasant environment. It is a seven terraced garden and the water channel flowing through these terraces is what gives the place its unique charm and makes it a perfect spot for families as well as couples who can get some memorable pictures clicked here. It has an area of around 30 hectares and is the largest tulip garden in Asia.

Once called the Model Floriculture Center, the Tulip Garden was first opened in 2007 by the former Chief Minister Gulam Nabi Azad. The Dal Lake, Nishat Bagh, and Chashma Shahi Garden surround this gorgeous garden on three sides.

When one imagines the Tulip Festivals in Kashmir, expansive fields flooded with colour spring to mind. While the festival is largely held in the renowned Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, other gardens like Shalimar Bagh and Chashme Shahi Garden are also located in the area and add to the festival’s allure. These gardens play a crucial role in the Kashmir Tulip Festival experience; they serve as more than just picturesque backdrops.

This flower field was the first largest landscaping project undertaken by the government after the Mughals built pleasure spots in Kashmir in the 16th century.

Spread over 30 acres, this terraced garden is built on a mountain slope. There are seven terraces each with a different variety of flowers, especially tulips. With more than 46 varieties and 15 lakh tulips, new flowers are added each year. The tulip is a novelty; however, the climatic conditions of Kashmir are most suited for it.

Open Hours: 9am to 7pm Mon-Sun.
Entry Fee: INR50 for adults and INR25 for children

The best time to visit the Tulip Garden in Srinagar is during the month of April preferably in first week. This is when the tulips are in full bloom and the annual Tulip Festival is held. The tulips do not survive for more than 20 days. 

The best time to visit the Tulip Garden is between March-end and early April. If you fancy visiting the annual Tulip festival, then make it a point to reach Srinagar during the 1st two weeks of April. The weather is cool, pleasant throughout the year in Srinagar. April to October is the best time to visit if you love seeing colourful blossoms all over the city.

The tulip garden is about 22km from Srinagar Airport (Sheikh ulAlam International Airport Srinagar). You can easily hire a taxi to reach Tulip garden from the airport.
The nearest railway station to this garden is Srinagar Railway station, which is 18 km away. You can book a cab in advance from KashmirTripPackages to pick you up from the Srinagar Railway station.
The distance from Lal chowk to Tulip garden is 8 km, so it’s a perfect spot for a day trip! Just hire a taxi from Lal chowk and enjoy the beautiful garden.

The Tulip Festival is held at the beginning of spring in Srinagar, between March and May, when the tulip buds are ready to bloom. This festival lasts for fifteen days or a month as different flowers continue to bloom creating a rainbow of colours. The weather dictates when the Tulip Festival begins each year. So, if you’ve missed it last year, you could plan for this year.

Tulip festival is an annual celebration that aims to showcase the magic of Tulips in the world famous Tulip garden as part of tourism efforts by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir. It is organized during the onset of spring season in Kashmir valley. Tulips in Kashmir remain in bloom for 15-20 days from the last week of March to mid April, depending upon the weather conditions. Asia’s largest tulip garden situated on the foothills of Zabarwan Range offers a mesmerizing spectacle. More than a million tulips of 62-varieties are expected to bloom in the garden.

Visitors will now be able to buy souvenirs and savor Kashmiri dishes from outside the garden area. This will be possible because of the decorated stalls and kiosks exhibiting the cuisine and handicrafts of Kashmir.

If you want to witness the beautiful Tulip Garden and explore the city, book Kashmir tour packages with Indian Holiday for a smooth and memorable travel experience.

Every year the Tulip festival in Kashmir brings new additions for the visitors. In 2021, there are some added attractions which will make your visit worth it.

• There is an addition of more variety of flowers in the garden this year which will make it appear more beautiful.
• For the visitors the garden authorities has introduced surplus facilities like free Wi-Fi, additional fountains, washrooms (separately for disabled people) and drinking points.
• Plants like Daffodils, Hyacinths, Narcissus and few other ornamental plants are planted in the garden to decorate the area.
• Decorated stalls are put up displaying souvenirs, Kashmiri food and handicrafts for visitors to enjoy outside the garden area.
• These tulips in Kashmir are imported all the way from Holland and planted at this magnificent garden in Siraj Bagh. This festival reflects the culture and beauty of the place.
• The Tulip garden in Kashmir is designed in such a way that in a first glimpse, one can see a parallel rows of bright colored tulips lined up.
• This garden is carved out of seven terraces which creates a gently sloped ground which gives a view of the entire garden from any direction.

The prime location of the Tulip Garden makes it the most visited place in Srinagar. This park is surrounded by scenic hills, attractive gardens of the Mughal era, and most importantly, it overlooks the awe-inspiring Dal Lake. Given below are some other attractions that lie nearby.

• Chashme Shahi Garden – This garden is the center of attraction for housing a natural spring that flows from it.
• Pari Mahal – Overlooking the amazing Chashm-E-Shahi Gardens, this historic monument was once a Buddhist Monastery.
• Shankaracharya Temple – Soak in the beauty of the snow-laden Pin Panjal Range from this age-old temple situated at 1100 feet.
• Dal Lake – Dal Lake is truly a paradise on Earth. The beauty of this breathtaking lake is beyond description. A Shikara Ride is a must here.
• Nishat Gardens – Spotted at a distance of 3.2 km from Tulip Garden, Nishat Bagh is home to long avenues of Cypress and Chinar trees, rare flowers, and fountains.
• Mughal Gardens – A confluence of Nishat Bagh, Shalimar Bagh, and Chashm-E-Shahi, this park draws the crowd for its cascading fountains.
• Shalimar Bagh – Another well-manicured garden built by Jahangir, a Mughal emperor. Praise the outstanding craftsmanship of the Mughals in terms of horticulture here.
• Nagin Lake – The azure waters of this lake are sure to leave you spellbound.
• Hazratbal – This sacred Muslim shrine is visited by many on religious occasions to see a relic of the heir of Prophet Muhammad. A vibrant fair is held afterward.
• Local Markets – Visit the local market to buy the specialties of Srinagar like leather products, Cashmere Shawls, carpets, mats, rugs, woolen clothes, dry fruits, etc.

As per latest information from Srinagar Municipal Corporation & Department of Floriculture which are incharge and responsible of the Tulip festival happening in  Indira Gandhi Memorial Kashmir Tulip Garden It is expected to commence from 19th of March 2024. But it can vary as per the weather changes.  As of this Year some more varieties of Tulips have been added and also more land has been added to accommodate 15 Lakh tulip flowers for the Year 2024.