Srinagar, Apr 1: The famed Tulip Garden thrown open for visitors on Sunday here doesn’t have a full bloom so far with many flower beds without flowers, disappointing tourists who expected to see the place in its full grandeur.
The Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden located in the foothills of Zabarwan Mountains in Srinagar is usually thrown open in the last week of March.
As per routine the month -long tulip exhibition started on Sunday. It, however, didn’t enthrall the enthusiastic visitors.
Of nearly 12.5 lakh bulbs planted in the 30 hectare plot, only 25 per cent have bloomed so far, making visitors question the Horticulture Department’s decision to throw open the garden.
As one treads towards the garden, a digital hoarding ousted the park reads “25 per cent bloom inside the garden”.
The garden appears like a green pasture with brief patches of red and yellow tulips.
Scores of the visitors were unhappy after finding fewer tulips in the garden.
“May be they (tulips) will bloom in a week’s time. We had scheduled our trip particularly to see the garden but it has very less tulips now,” said Sunita, from Maharashtra who visited with a group of 12 tourists.
Scores of the foreigners particularly Malaysians were seen strolling in the garden, who too had expected a full bloom.
“Last year, my friends had visited Kashmir in March and it was on their recommendation that we too decided to come to Kashmir at this time. It is a beautiful garden but will be more beautiful in the coming week. Unfortunately, we are leaving day after tomorrow,” said Mohammad Aliyas, a Malaysian tourist.
When contacted, Director Floriculture, Abdul Hafiz Shah said they are expecting a full bloom in the coming week.
“We have been opening the garden when there were 15 percent bloom. This year it is 25 per cent and it is going to be a full bloom in coming weeks, which will increase the flow of visitors to the garden,” he said.
