Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, on Monday inaugurated Asia’s largest tulip garden on the banks of Dal Lake, expressing hope that the region’s tourism sector would rebound after the setbacks faced last year.
The garden — Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden — was opened to visitors in the presence of Abdullah’s Cabinet colleagues and legislators from the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference. Situated along Cheshma Shahi Road in Srinagar, the sprawling garden is a major attraction during the spring season in Kashmir.
“This will be a new start for those associated with the tourism industry. They had to go through a very tough phase,” Abdullah told reporters at the inauguration. “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.”
Chief Minister today inaugurated Tulip Show–2026 at the Tulip Garden, Srinagar and took a tour of the garden. This year, around 18 lakh tulips of over 70 varieties, along-with nearly one lakh other bulbous flowers including daffodils, hyacinths and narcissus, have been planted,… pic.twitter.com/vYwb13xe1h
— Office of Chief Minister, J&K (@CM_JnK) March 16, 2026
The tulip garden was among 44 tourist destinations that were closed last year following the Pahalgam terror attack in April that claimed 26 lives. The site has now been reopened after a detailed security audit by authorities.
Highlighting future plans, Abdullah said the government is working to develop floriculture as a commercial sector, allowing flowers grown in Kashmir to be exported to other parts of India. He noted that establishing a reliable cold chain logistics system, either through rail or air transport, remains a key requirement for expanding the industry.
“Most things are in place. A reliable cold chain is the issue right now. Once we get that, this sector can bloom,” he said.
The chief minister also revealed efforts to develop tulip bulbs locally, which would reduce dependence on imports from the Netherlands and help save foreign exchange.
The garden has been opened to the public nearly 10 days earlier than usual this year due to warmer weather conditions in the Kashmir Valley, which led to early blooming. Traditionally, the tulip garden opens in the last week of March.
Officials said that over 1.8 million tulip bulbs representing more than 70 varieties have been planted this year, with the floriculture department increasing the density of bulbs to give the garden a richer visual appeal. Cultural programmes and events have also been planned to enhance the experience for visitors.
Since being added to Kashmir’s tourist attractions in 2008, the tulip garden has emerged as one of the region’s most iconic springtime destinations, drawing thousands of tourists each year.
