SRINAGAR: As the chill of winter gradually gives way to the gentle warmth of spring, the iconic ‘Badamwari Garden’ here has come alive with the breathtaking beauty of almond bloom, much to the delight of locals who eagerly anticipate this annual spectacle.

“For us Kashmiris, the blooming of almond trees in Badamwari Garden is a cherished and beautiful view that marks the beginning of spring,” said Aazan, a resident of Zafran Colony Srinagar. “It’s a sight that fills our hearts with joy and reminds us of the resilience of our land.”

Rahul, one of the visitors from Mumbai, said that the enchanting beauty of Badamwari Garden’s almond bloom, and the arrival of spring is like seeing heaven with your naked eyes.

The vibrant hues of pink and white blossoms against the backdrop of snow-capped mountains evoke a sense of wonder and reverence among the people.

The beauty of Badamwari Garden during almond bloom is unparalleled, Sahil, a local said, adding that it is like stepping into a fairytale, where every tree is adorned with delicate flowers.

Families are gathered amidst the blossoms to celebrate the arrival of spring, and the air is filled with a festive look.(KNO)

SRINAGAR: Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip garden, located on the foothills of Zabarwan mountain range, turned out to be a major tourist attraction in Kashmir this year with over 3.7 lac visitors from far and wide thronging the garden to enjoy the diverse hues of nature at display.

The Tulip garden spanning over an area of 30 hectares (74 acres) has on a year-to-year basis pulled record number of visitors from all across be it the local, the national or the foreigners. 

The figures, available with GNS, suggest that a total of 377201 tourists of which 315266 included domestic, 3259 foreigners and 58676 locals visited the garden over a period of 33 days – after thrown open to visitors on March 19,2023 upto April 20, 2023.

As per an official, the footfall this season was the highest ever. “We had 3.6 lakh tourists visiting the garden last year and this year it saw an increase making it the highest ever footfall in the history of this garden”, the official told GNS adding the period of tulip bloom this season lasted for 33 days, as compared to last year’s 27 day period, largely due to  mild weather conditions. 

“There were 68 varieties of tulips on display in the garden this season, out of these varieties, four new ones were introduced this year: Hamilton, Sweetheart, Cafe Noir and Christmas Dream”, the official said.

Expressing his satisfaction over the record number of visitors, the official further said the enormous flow of Tourists from within and outside the country motivates us and imbues in us courage to do more to make the visit to the garden a memorable experience. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: Cable Car Corporation today cautioned Tourists of falling in the trap of Touts.

A statement issued said that "It has come to the notice of the Management of the Cable Car Corporation that some of the tourists fall into the trap of touts and some miscreant elements regarding tickets of Gulmarg Gondola project".

It reads that "All Our esteemed tourists are informed through this press note that the tickets of Gulmarg Gondola Project are available only through online mode on official website www.jammukashmircablecar.com and there is no other means to get the ticket of Gulmarg Gondola Project".

There is a transparent system of online ticketing of Gulmarg Gondola and the question of black-marketing of Gondola tickets does not arise, therefore, our esteemed tourists are advised not to fall prey to the propaganda of touts and do not go for gondola booking by any mode other than online booking through official website www.jammukashmircablecar.com

 The intending tourists/visitors are advised to plan Gondola ride as per availability of tickets on the official website.(GNS)

SRINAGAR: The Tulip Garden in central Kashmir's district Srinagar has attracted over 1.58 lac visitors including local, national and international tourists in the first 12 days of its opening, officials said.

The Assistance Floriculture Officer (AFO), and the ground level in-charge of Tulip Garden Inam-ul-Rehman, told GNS that the (Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip) Garden, garden was thrown open to the public on March 20, 2023, and since then, it has turned out to be a major attraction for tourists, who are flocking to the garden to witness the vibrant colors of the tulips. “A total of 1.58 lakh people visited tulip garden Srinagar in the first 12 days and which includes local, national and international visitors.”

Rehman further said that the number of visitors has exceeded expectations and the garden is receiving a good response from all across. “We are happy to see that people are showing keen interest in visiting the garden. The tulips are in full bloom and visitors are enjoying the scenic beauty of the garden to the hilt,” he added.

“The garden has been set up with over 1.6 million blossomed bulbs of 68 colourful varieties, which have been imported from different parts of the world. The garden also features several other varieties of flowers, including Daffodils, Mascaries and Hisins.

The authorities have announced that they have made special arrangements for the safety and convenience of the visitors. The main facilities they offer include garden clearance and maintenance, and in addition to this, other public utilities including adequate drinking water facilities and rain shelters.

The famous Garden located on the foothills of Zabarwan Range in Srinagar along the banks of the Dal Lake is expected to remain open till April end, with the authorities expecting more visitors in the coming days. (GNS)