Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 22: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said that chrysanthemums (Gul-e-Dawood) could help Srinagar experience a tourism boom in October-November, similar to what tulips have done for March-April.
He was speaking after laying the foundation stone for the upgradation of a hi-tech flower nursery and the development of Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood (Chrysanthemum Theme Garden) here.
The CM highlighted how the introduction of the Tulip Garden transformed Kashmir’s tourist season, stating: “Our tourism season was once limited to two periods: winter, when people came to witness snowfall, or May, when visitors explored gardens and other scenic spots.”
However, he said, with the establishment of the Tulip Garden, “this pattern transformed. It extended our tourist season into March and April.”
The CM mentioned that while the Tulip Garden has had a remarkable impact, a new challenge lies in utilizing the ‘off-season’ months of October and November, before snowfall draws tourists to destinations like Gulmarg, Sonamarg, and Pahalgam.
“To address this, I commend the Parks and Gardens Department and Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology-Kashmir for their role in introducing Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood – the Chrysanthemum Garden,” he said.
He further explained the potential of the Chrysanthemum Garden, stating that the chrysanthemum, a flower that blooms in autumn, has the potential to do for October and November what the Tulip Garden does for March and April.
“Visitors to this garden will also explore other parts of Kashmir, benefiting the entire tourism ecosystem-be it shikarawalas, taxi operators, houseboat owners, or others,” he added.
Notably, the projects are being developed at an estimated cost of Rs 4.83 crore and Rs 1.869 crore, respectively.
The upgraded nursery at Poloview facility aims to serve not only as a resource center for plants but also as an education hub.
The Chrysanthemum Theme Garden, located within the Botanical Garden in Srinagar, is being developed at a cost of Rs 1.869 crore.
With its blooms expected to color late autumn, the garden is set to open to the public in Autumn 2025, marking a new chapter in Kashmir’s tourism story.
Spread over 100 kanals, the Chrysanthemum Theme Garden is poised to become a major autumn attraction.
It will showcase vibrant blooms in shades of yellow, red, pink, and purple, adding charm to Kashmir’s tourism landscape during the traditionally quieter autumn months.
On the sustainability of the initiative, the CM said that unlike tulips, which require costly bulb imports to maintain the garden, chrysanthemums can be grown locally without external dependence.
“Our efforts are already underway to develop tulip bulbs locally to reduce imports and even export them in the future. With chrysanthemums, however, we are self-reliant from the start. I hope this initiative will be fully developed and marketed by next year, providing Srinagar with a new tourist destination in the form of the Chrysanthemum Garden,” he said.
The Chief Minister emphasized the need to bolster the private sector to tackle unemployment. He added that expecting large-scale foreign investments here (in Kashmir) is a challenge. Instead, we must focus on sectors with strong local foundations, such as agriculture, horticulture, handicrafts, and floriculture.
The event was attended by Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Member of Legislative Assembly Lal Chowk Sheikh Ahsan Ahmad, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Vijay Kumar Bidhuri, Commissioner Secretary Floriculture, Parks and Gardens Sheikh Fayaz Ahmad, Director Floriculture Kashmir and others.23
Follow our WhatsApp channel
