The summer festival season is expected to start by the end of this week, officials from The Nilgiris district administration confirmed.

The festival, which usually includes the Spices Show, Rose Show, Flower Show, Vegetables and Fruit Show, is usually announced well in advance so that tourists can organise their visits around the dates the shows are scheduled to be held. However, due to the State Legislative Assembly elections this year, and the impasse over the formation of the new government, preparations had to be put on hold.

However, efforts have now been stepped up to prepare the Government Rose Garden and the Government Botanical Garden in Udhagamandalam and Sims Park in Coonoor to host the Rose Show, Flower Show and Fruit Show, officials said.

The two other shows are not being organised this year due to the elections and lack of preparation time. “The schedule is expected to be ready in the coming days and we can expect the festival to start by the end of the week,” said an official from the district administration.

Tourists have already begun visiting The Nilgiris in large numbers over the last few weeks, with resorts and hotels reporting good visitor numbers.

Meanwhile, the Nilgiri Documentation Centre (NDC) has urged Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to inaugurate the flower show.

“The Chief Minister’s visit will be timely as the once famous Queen of Hill Station has declined in recent years to a pitiful state. Still, nearly four million people visit the town from all over India. No other tourist spot attracts so many visitors in India,” said the NDC in a press release.