Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden

Tulip Garden (Also known as Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip garden) in Srinagar is one of the most popular tourist places to visit in Kashmir during the spring season. Every year from late March to April, this garden fills up with more than 1.75 lakh tulip flowers in different colours like red, yellow, white, pink, orange, and purple. It is the largest tulip garden in Asia and is spread over 30 hectares of land at the foot of the Zabarwan hills.

The garden has seven levels called terraces that go down from the top of the hill towards Dal Lake. When you walk from the top terrace to the bottom, you get a different view at every level. From the top, you can clearly see Dal Lake and the snow-covered mountains behind it. This view of the flowers with the lake in the background is something very special to experience.

During the tulip bloom time, the J&K government also organises the Tulip Festival here. Local folk artists perform music and dance, and there are stalls selling Kashmiri food, handicrafts, and Pashmina products. A visit to Tulip Garden Srinagar during this time gives you flowers, culture, food, and the natural beauty of Kashmir all in one place.

Key Information About Tulip Garden

History of Tulip Garden Srinagar

Before 2007, the land at Siraj Bagh near the Zabarwan hills was not being used properly. The J&K government decided to develop this land into a tulip garden for two main reasons — to grow floriculture in the Kashmir Valley and to bring more tourists to the region during the spring months when visitor numbers were low.

Tulip bulbs were brought from the Keukenhof Gardens in the Netherlands for the first planting. The garden was planted across all seven terraces with 1.75 million bulbs of many different varieties. When it opened that spring, it quickly became one of the most talked-about tourist places in Srinagar.

Over the years, the garden has been improved every season. For 2026, the total number of flowers has gone up to 17 lakh. The government has also added new facilities like free Wi-Fi, extra drinking water points, new fountains, and better washrooms, including separate washrooms for differently-abled visitors.

Why Tulip Garden Srinagar is Famous

Tulip Garden Srinagar is famous because it is the largest tulip garden in the whole of Asia. No other garden in India has so many tulips blooming in so many colours at the same time.

Along with tulips, the garden also grows other flowers like hyacinths, daffodils, ranunculus, and narcissus which add even more colour to the terraces. The view from the upper terraces is another big reason why tourists love this place. You can see Dal Lake right below and the snow-covered mountains in the background, making it a very popular spot for photography.

Key reasons to visit:

• More than 75 tulip varieties bloom together every spring in colours like red, yellow, white, pink, orange, and purple
• The seven hillside terraces give a clear view of Dal Lake and the Pir Panjal mountains
• The Tulip Festival brings Kashmiri folk music, dance, handicrafts, and local food all in one place
• Other flowers like hyacinths, daffodils, and ranunculus also bloom here along with tulips
• Entry is very affordable at Rs. 75 for adults, suitable for families and group visits

If you want full information about this place, check out our blog: Tulip Festival in Kashmir 2026 – Dates, Location, Tickets & Travel Guide

Things to Do at Tulip Garden Srinagar

Plan to spend at least 2 to 3 hours here. The garden is bigger than it looks from the entrance, and there are many things to do apart from just walking through the flower rows.

1. Walk Through All Seven Terraces: Start from the topmost terrace and walk down slowly. Each terrace has different varieties of tulips planted in it. The view gets better as you go higher up, so do not miss the upper terraces. Many visitors make the mistake of starting from the bottom and missing the best views.
2. Photography: This is one of the best places in India for nature photography. Rows of colourful tulips with Dal Lake and snow mountains in the background make every photo look very beautiful. Morning time between 9:30 AM and 11:00 AM is best for photos as the light is soft and the crowd is less.
3. Dal Lake Viewpoint at the Upper Terraces: The upper terraces are high enough to give a clear open view of Dal Lake below. From here you can photograph tulips and the lake together in one frame. This is one of the most popular photo spots in Srinagar.
4. Watch Kashmiri Cultural Performances: During the Tulip Festival in the first two weeks of April, live Kashmiri folk music and Rouf dance performances are held inside the garden. These are included in the entry ticket. Check the schedule at the entrance to plan your visit accordingly.
5. Shop at Kashmiri Handicraft Stalls: Local Kashmiri artisans set up stalls inside the garden during festival time. You can find Pashmina shawls, Papier-mâché items, walnut wood carvings, copper ware, and Kashmiri rugs here. Always ask for a GI-tag or Wool Mark certificate when buying Pashmina to make sure it is genuine.
6. Try Kashmiri Food and Drinks: Food stalls near the lower terraces sell Kashmiri food and snacks during the season. Do not miss Kahwa, the traditional Kashmiri green tea made with saffron, cardamom, almonds, and cinnamon. Seekh kebabs, Kashmiri noon chai, and local dry-fruit sweets are also available at the stalls.

Tulip Garden Ticket Price

Entry to the Tulip Garden Srinagar is very affordable. One ticket covers the full garden including all seven terraces and the festival performances.

There is no extra charge for photography or videography inside the garden.

Online ticket booking is available and is recommended, especially for the first two weeks of April when walk-in queues can be very long on weekends.

Timings

2026 Season: Expected to start around 26th March 2026 and end around 30th April 2026. The exact opening date can change slightly depending on how quickly the tulips bloom that year.

Please check the J&K Tourism website for confirmed dates before planning your visit. The garden is closed for the rest of the year.

Best Time to Visit Tulip Garden

The best time to visit Tulip Garden Srinagar is the first week of April. During this time, almost all 75+ varieties of tulips are in full bloom at the same time and the garden looks its most beautiful.

Try to visit on a Tuesday or Wednesday if possible. Saturdays and Sundays in early April are very crowded. Morning between 9:30 AM and 11:00 AM is the best time of day as the crowd is less and the light is good for photography. Late afternoon after 4:30 PM is also a good option. Avoid visiting from June to September as the garden is completely closed during the monsoon months.

Nearby Tourist Places

• Dal Lake – 4.1 km (famous for Shikara rides, houseboats, and floating vegetable markets)
• Chashma Shahi – 1.8 km (old Mughal garden with a natural spring, one of the oldest in Kashmir)
• Nishat Bagh – 3.1 km (large Mughal garden on the Dal Lake shore, built in 1633)
• Pari Mahal – 3.8 km (ruins of an old Mughal observatory on the Zabarwan hillside with good views)
• Zabarwan Park – 4 km (public park with a 3D cinema hall and Kashmiri folk music evenings)
• Shankaracharya Temple – 9.4 km (old hilltop temple with a full view of Srinagar and Dal Lake)
• Shalimar Bagh – 6.6 km (famous Mughal garden on Dal Lake built by Emperor Jahangir)

How to Reach By Road Guide

Srinagar is well connected by Road and Air and Tulip garden is located at around 19 KM from Srinagar Airport. You can reach Srinagar and from there to Tulip garden via.

From Srinagar city centre, the garden is about 9 km from Lal Chowk. You can take a local auto-rickshaw or shared cab from Lal Chowk or the TRC bus stand. Hotel taxis are also available. Another option is to take a Shikara ride on Dal Lake to the Chashmashahi ghat and then take a short auto-ride or walk up to the garden entrance.

Travel Tips for Visiting Tulip Garden Srinagar

• Wear comfortable walking shoes because you have to walk up and down several terraces on a slope. Sandals and heels are not suitable here.
• Mornings in Srinagar are quite cold in late March and early April, sometimes as low as 5 to 8 degrees C before 10 AM. Carry a light jacket or shawl especially if you are visiting early morning.
• Book your entry tickets online before visiting, especially for the first two weeks of April. Weekend queues at the gate can take 30 to 45 minutes.
• Carry a water bottle as the food stalls are mostly near the lower entrance and the garden is large.
• Do not step into the flower beds or pluck any flowers. Garden staff are present on all terraces and will ask you to leave if you damage the plants.
• When buying Pashmina at the stalls, always check for the GI-tag or Wool Mark certification. Cheap Pashmina without any tag is usually blended with acrylic fibre and is not genuine.
• Book your hotel in Srinagar at least 3 to 4 weeks before your April visit. The Tulip Festival season is the busiest time of year in Srinagar and good hotels near Dal Lake fill up quickly.

Stay Options

The Boulevard Road area along Dal Lake, about 3 to 4 km from the garden, is the best place to stay when visiting Tulip Garden Srinagar. There are good options for all budgets:

• Houseboats on Dal Lake — a very unique Kashmiri experience available in all budget ranges; book through an established operator or J&K Tourism to avoid touts
• Hotel Lalit Grand Palace, Srinagar
• Vivanta Dal View, Srinagar (Taj group)
• Grand View Hotel, Srinagar
• Many budget guesthouses and family-run hotels on Boulevard Road and Foreshore Road, within 4 km of the garden