Srinagar, Mar 25: With colourful tulips in bloom, the famed Tulip Garden on the banks of Dal Lake was on Thursday thrown open for the tourists and the locals.
The minister for Floriculture, Shyam Lal Sharma and his deputy, Javaid Ahmad Dar threw open the sprawling garden situated on the foothills of the splendid Zabarwan mountains.
Around 15 lakh tulips of various hues—red, pink, yellow, white, orange, magenta—and spread over seven acres of land are in bloom and are expected to be a major attraction.
According to the officials of the department of floriculture, which maintains the garden; of the 15 lakh tulip bulbs, 3.7 lakh have been imported from Holland.
“This year we have extended the garden and the tulips are spread over seven acres of land as against five acres last year,” director floriculture, Sarwar Naqash said.
 “Last year around 40,000 people visited the garden and it earned revenue of Rs 17 Lakh for the department,” he informed.
From this year, he said, the garden will be open round the year. “Till now the garden used to close with the withering of tulips but this the garden would be open round the year,” he said, adding that the department was expecting the revenue to increase manifold.
The entry to the garden for both locals as well as tourists is by entry only. The tickets for adults cost Rs 50 while the entry for children costs Rs 20.
Around 1000 people, including tourists and locals, visited the garden on the first day of its opening.
Envisaged by former chief minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad, the garden was set up in 2008 and since then has been a major tourist attraction of Srinagar in spring season.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 25 Mar 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 25 Mar 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 26 Mar 2010 00:00:00 IST