Kashmir to have Asia's largest Tulip garden

Srinagar, Apr 8 (UNI) Kashmir will soon have the largest tulip garden in Asia.

Spread over an area of 750 kanals (37.5 hectares) of land on the Zabarvan foothills near Cheshma Shahi here, the garden is expected to attract a large number of tourists and filmmakers this year.

This year, about 50 varieties of flowers have been cultivated on 35 kanals (1.75 hectares) of land in the Tulip Garden, also known as Siraj Bagh. About 3.50 lakh saplings have been imported from Holland this year.

The Directorate of Gardens and Parks and the Tourism Department have launched massive efforts to develop 'Siraj Bagh' as the largest Tulip Garden in Asia.

Levelling and other development and works were on in full swing at Siraj Bagh. According to Director Tourism Farooq Ahmed Shah, time was not far away when filmmakers would make the garden a favourite shooting spot.

He said tourism and floriculture departments have formulated a plan to cultivate Tulip flowers at Gulmarg and Pahalgam from next year to add to the charm of the world famous resorts.

UNI