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Tulip Festival in Srinagar: Asia's largest tulip garden
Terraces of tulips running down from the Zabarwan hills towards Dal Lake
The Tulip Festival is the spring season of the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden in Srinagar, described as the largest tulip garden in Asia. UK government travel advice for India states: "FCDO advises against all travel to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (including Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, the city of Srinagar and the Jammu-Srinagar national highway), except for: travel by air to and from the city of Jammu; travel within the city of Jammu." The garden lies on seven terraces at the foot of the Zabarwan range above Dal Lake. It opens when the tulips bloom, usually in mid- or late March, and stays open for about a month until the bloom ends in April.
The Jammu and Kashmir floriculture department announces the opening a few days ahead, once the tulips bloom, and the closing in April when the bloom ends.
The legend
Persians and Turks were the first to grow tulips, and by the 15th century they were the most prized of flowers, later a symbol of the Ottomans.
In the 16th century Northern Europe discovers them, and the Netherlands become the world's tulip country.
In 2007 a tulip garden, Asia's largest, is laid out on the old Siraj Bagh at the foot of the Zabarwan hills.
Meaning
Shalimar Bagh
Emperor Jahangir laid out this garden in 1619; it is held to be the peak of Mughal garden-making and is called the Crown of Srinagar.
Hari Parbat
Kashmiri Pandit tradition places the goddess Sharika's home here, and their New Year, Navreh, begins on the first day of the bright half of Chaitra.
Customs
Seven terraces
The garden steps down towards Dal Lake in seven terraces: some 30 hectares and 70 to 75 varieties of tulip.
Not only tulips
Another 46 kinds of flower bloom alongside: hyacinths, daffodils, ranunculus.
The Navreh plate
On the eve of Navreh, Pandit families cover a plate of rice, flowers, walnuts, a pen, coins and bread, and uncover it together in the morning.
Words of the festival
باغ
bagh
"garden" in Kashmiri, as in Shalimar Bagh, Nishat Bagh, Siraj Bagh
قہوہ
kahwa
Kashmiri green tea with saffron, cinnamon and cardamom, served with nuts
shikara
the wooden boat of Dal Lake; like the gondola for Venice, a symbol of Kashmir
True or myth
✅ True. At the peak of the Dutch tulip mania, in February 1637, bulb prices soared and then collapsed all at once.
✅ True. It is traced to a Turkish word for turban, which the flower was apparently thought to resemble.
❌ Myth. Some 1.75 million bulbs were brought in from the Netherlands.
Where to celebrate
Srinagar
Worth the trip
Asia's largest tulip garden opens for about a month each spring on seven terraces below the Zabarwan hills above Dal Lake; in 2026 it held about 18 lakh tulips of more than 70 varieties.
UK travel advice (FCDO)
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) travel advice for India says, word for word:
"FCDO advises against all travel to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (including Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, the city of Srinagar and the Jammu-Srinagar national highway), except for: travel by air to and from the city of Jammu; travel within the city of Jammu."
The same page states: "Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)."
The advice can change. Read the current version on gov.uk before you book, and check your own government's advice too. General information is in is India safe.
The garden
The garden was laid out in 2007 on the old Siraj Bagh, later the Model Floriculture Centre, to bring floriculture and tourism to the Kashmir Valley. It covers about 30 hectares on a slope stepped into seven terraces, with Dal Lake below. It is owned by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir and run by its Department of Floriculture, Gardens and Parks.
The planting is 70 to 75 varieties of tulip, grown from bulbs first brought from the Netherlands, and recent seasons have had about 18 lakh (1.8 million) tulips. Hyacinths, daffodils, narcissus and ranunculus bloom alongside them. Its record season brought about 855,000 visitors.
When to go and how to buy tickets
- Wait for the announcement
There is no fixed date: the Floriculture Department announces the opening once the tulips bloom, and it moves with the season. In recent years it has opened as early as mid-March and as late as the end of March. It closes in April when the bloom ends, also announced a few days ahead.
- Aim for the first fortnight
The fullest bloom usually comes about ten days after opening, when the later beds catch up with the earlier ones. Go early in the morning, before the terraces fill.
- Buy the ticket online
Entry is paid. Tickets can be bought online through the Department's website, floriculture.jk.gov.in, which avoids the weekend queues at the gate.
- Keep bookings flexible
April is high season on Dal Lake, including the houseboats on Dal and Nigeen. Because the opening is announced only one to two weeks ahead, book changeable rooms and flights about six weeks ahead for the likely window, and re-read FCDO advice before you travel.
The Mughal gardens on the same slope
Three Mughal gardens stand along the same hillside above Dal Lake and are at their best in the same weeks.
Cheshma Shahi
A Mughal garden on the same slope as the tulip garden.
Nishat Bagh
The Garden of Delight, one of the famous gardens on the shore of Dal Lake.
Shalimar Bagh
Built by Emperor Jahangir in 1619 at the north-east of Dal Lake and also called the Crown of Srinagar.
FAQ
When is the Tulip Festival in Srinagar?
About four weeks in spring, from the day the tulips bloom, usually from mid- or late March to mid- or late April. The Floriculture Department announces the opening a few days to two weeks ahead.
Where is the Tulip Festival held?
At the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden in Srinagar, at the foot of the Zabarwan range overlooking Dal Lake.
How many tulips are there?
Recent seasons have had about 18 lakh (1.8 million) tulips of 70 to 75 varieties on about 30 hectares.
How do I buy tickets?
Online through the J&K Department of Floriculture, Gardens and Parks at floriculture.jk.gov.in, or at the gate, where weekend queues can be long.
What does FCDO advise about travel to Srinagar?
The UK advice reads: "FCDO advises against all travel to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (including Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, the city of Srinagar and the Jammu-Srinagar national highway), except for: travel by air to and from the city of Jammu; travel within the city of Jammu." Check the current version on gov.uk before you travel.
Sources (6)
Facts checked: 21 October 2026. Prices and hours are approximate; check locally.