Srinagar, Mar 16 (ANI): A view of tulips blooming at Asia’s largest tulip garden after its inauguration by Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on the foothills of Zabarwan mountains, in Srinagar on Monday. | Photo Credit: ANI

With the opening of the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden and Badamwari Garden, early signs of a cautious revival are emerging in Srinagar’s tourism sector, with stakeholders hoping the spring season will mark a turnaround after last year’s disruption following the Pahalgam terror attack.

Both destinations have witnessed strong footfall since being opened to the public.

According to official figures, 4,229 visitors came to the tulip garden on its opening day on Monday.

“The figure is based on physical ticketing. Many visitors also booked their tickets online,” a Floriculture official said, adding that by 2 p.m. on Tuesday, more than 3,700 people, including 14 foreign tourists, had visited the garden.

Official data also showed that more than 6,000 people have visited Badamwari to witness the almond blossom since it opened on March 14.

Director Floriculture Kashmir, Mathoora Masoom, said the department had not anticipated such an overwhelming response on the first day of the tulip garden’s opening.

“We are looking forward to a steady rise in tourist footfall in the coming weeks,” she added.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah inaugurated Asia’s largest tulip garden on Monday and expressed hope that the spring season would breathe new life into the tourism sector and those associated with it.

Fresh optimism

As last year’s terror attack, which left 26 people dead, derailed the Valley’s tourist season, stakeholders said the influx of visitors to the tulip and Badamwari gardens signals an early recovery.

“The reopening of gardens has infused fresh optimism among tourism stakeholders, with early trends indicating a strong start to the season,” said Qazi Tauseef, spokesperson of the Kashmir Economic Alliance.

He said spring tourism traditionally sets the tone for the entire year and early positive trends could translate into sustained momentum in the coming months.

“Advance bookings and increased tourist inquiries at key destinations point towards a promising spring,” he added.

Hoteliers and tour operators in Srinagar said weekend occupancy levels were already improving, with a noticeable rise in enquiries for April and May. Taxi operators and tourist guides also reported increased demand, particularly for visits to the tulip garden and other nearby attractions

Published on March 17, 2026