Last Updated on April 26, 2017 by
I REALISED THAT KASHMIR indeed is heaven on earth when I visited the annual Tulip Festival in the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden aka Siraj Bagh in the heart of Srinagar.
It is second only to Holland’s Tulip garden. When Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department invited me to visit Tulip Garden, I accepted the invitation instantly.
As I entered the Siraj Bagh, rows and rows of multi hued Tulips blinded me with their beauty. The majestic Zabarwan range in the background made it all the more dramatic.
The manicured garden, large lake and fountains in the adjacent botanical garden on a lower level made it look like a location from a Yash Chopra movie.
It instantly reminded me of the unforgettable Bollywood song “Dekha ek khwab to ye silsile huye”. Though The Amitabh Bachchan – Rekha ‘s immortal song was shot in the Tulip Gardens of Holland, Srinagar’s Tulip Garden is nothing less in its grandeur. Locations indeed play an important role in movies and songs.
I realised this when I was bombarded with such comments on my social media “This reminds me of the Amitabh Rekha song”. Most of the readers who commented were not even born when the film released and yet the visuals are so vividly etched in their memory.
No wonder, many overseas Tourism Departments are wooing Bollywood to shoot in their country. A song from the upcoming Bollywood film “Hai Tujhe Salaam India” was being shot in the Tulip Garden of Kashmir when I arrived.
The choreographer was directing local Kashmiri girls and boys, dolled up in local dresses. Since the life of delicate tulip flowers is really short, it makes sense to shoot the song sequence while the festival is still on. In 2017, it was open from 1st April to 15th April.
The sprawling Siraj Bagh, set in 30 hectares of fairy land was abuzz with activity during the annual Tulip Festival of Srinagar.
The Department of Horticulture/Floriculture, Government of Jammu and Kashmir had set up attractive stalls under tents. The food stalls sold Kashmiri Wazwan, local cuisine served in tarami platter.
The sprawling Siraj Bagh, set in 30 hectares of fairy land was abuzz with activity during the annual Tulip Festival of Srinagar. The Department of Horticulture/Floriculture, Government of Jammu and Kashmir had set up attractive stalls under tents. The food stalls sold Kashmiri Wazwan, local cuisine served in tarami platter.
FAST FACTS ON TULIP FESTIVAL, SRINAGAR, KASHMIR:
- Tulip festival in Kashmir was inaugurated in 2008.
- The 2017 edition of Tulip Festival in Kashmir displayed more than 48 varieties of Tulip. Lakhs of flowers were neatly arranged in rows making it look like a rainbow on land.
- The tulips come in an amazing variety of colors. Apart from the red, blue, yellow, white and even black, there were some colors I could not even identify.
- The World Summit Tulip Society adjudged the Tulip garden of Srinagar, Kashmir as the second best tulip garden in the world in 2014.
- Tulip festival in Srinagar, Kashmir is organized every year at the onset of spring (Mostly April).
- The Tulip Garden at Srinagar is Asia’s largest Tulip Garden.
- Major Tourist attractions of Srinagar are near the Tulip Garden. Such as Dal Lake, Chashme Shahi, Pari Mahal, Shankaracharya Temple, Nishat Garden, Shalimar Garden
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Good one, one must visit this event
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Incredible pictures
Wow these tulips are incredible, makes for some stunning pictures! I have always wanted to visit the Netherlands and visiting at this time of the year is on my bucket list!
It would be a photographers dream to visit Srinagar! I see it was your dream too as you took some fasntastic colorful photos! I will put Srinagar in Spring on my list of important places to visit, the tulip gardens look unreal, maybe better than those of The Netherlands!
I can never get bored of watching those entrancing rows of hues shooting up from earth. These rows remind us our visit to the gorgeous garden of Keukenhof in Netherlands. Kashmir tulips are high on list hope to visit these sometime soon in future.
Wow! this is so beautiful! I bet they can give Keukenhof gardens a run for their money! Beautiful place.
Ohh wow, so pleasing to the eyes. Felt like I’m watching some calendar shots. Beautiful
They look amazing! I have not seen so many tulips in my life. Are they fragrant?
Iza c/o Kathy James (Walk About Wanderer)
Wow!! This is so beautiful! I can’t believe all those colors of tulips. This totally looks like a movie! I would love to go!
Wow so many tulips. I had no idea that Kashmir had so many tulips. Thank you for sharing these wonderful photos
Wow, from last few days I was reading all bad things and news about Kashmir. Good to see Tulips and to know about it. Thanks buddy.
I had no idea there were tulips like that in India! They are so gorgeous, as are the fountains. I would love to try the Kashmiri Wazwan.
Love Tulips, they make your soul so beautiful!
This is the poor man’s Amsterdam !
Why poor man?
Wow, Abhinav captivating clicks! For how long is this tulip festival there? Is it the right time to go to Kashmir side?Can solo women go traveling in Kashmir?
Thanks. The Tulip festival happens only for 15 days. Kashmir was full of tourists when I went. Solo female travel seemed safe. But it’s always better to go with a local guide in conflict areas.
I had no idea India had a tulip festival – and especially one that is only second to Holland! Your pictures are beautiful! It will be so much fun for you to see that Bollywood movie when it comes out, now that you’ve been there in person!
Awesome!!!!
Thanks.
lovely pictures, Abhinav! Having witnessed Tulips in Srinagar, I can vouch for your statement.
Thanks. Yes they are special.