Said to have originated in the Hindu Kush mountains, the Tulip flower now has a new home in Srinagar as Asia’s largest Tulip garden was opened to public this year.
Since 2008, the Spring Festival of Kashmir, Bahaar-e-Kashmir, kick starts with the opening of this garden. Though the Tulip festival is supposed to be for only 15 days, the flowers in the garden are in bloom for a much longer time as early flowering varieties, as well as late-flowering varieties, are planted in alternate plots to keep the flowering season extended.
Almost every year, the Tulips in this garden are in bloom right through the month of April and into the first few days of May. The garden is spread over 76 hectares which boasts 48 varieties of Tulips growing from over 1.5 million bulbs.