In a bid to attact tourists, J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday (March 16, 2026) threw open the annual Tulip festival at the iconic Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden situated at the foothills of the Zabarwan Range in Srinagar.

“This year, around 18 lakh tulips of over 70 varieties, along with nearly one lakh other bulbous flowers including daffodils, hyacinths and narcissus, have been planted, adding vibrant colours to the Valley’s spring landscape,” said Mr. Abdullah.

He appealed to tourists from across the country and around the world “to visit Jammu & Kashmir during the spring season and experience its unmatched natural beauty”.

Mr. Abdullah expressed hope that the onset of spring would usher in renewed optimism, prosperity and growth for the people of J&K, particularly for the tourism sector which serves as a major driver of the region’s economy.

“The Tulip festival has emerged as one of the most prominent tourism events in the Kashmir Valley and provides an excellent platform to showcase the natural beauty, cultural richness and hospitality of Kashmir,” said Mr. Abdullah.

Vocal for local

The Chief Minister also underlined the need to produce tulip bulbs indigenously rather than exporting them from European countries.

“In time to come, the Floriculture Department shall be developing its own rootstock so that dependence on importing of bulbs is gradually reduced and this would also require support of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Kashmir,” he said.

He said Jammu and Kashmir is blessed with unparalleled natural splendour and scenic landscapes that continue to attract nature lovers and travellers from different parts of the world. 

On the occasion, the Chief Minister also released a tourism promotional song titled ‘Wadi-e-Sumbul’ produced by the Department of Information and Public Relations.

The J&K government has stepped up efforts to attract tourists after the tourism sector was hit badly last year, in the wake of the Pahalgam attack that left 26 civilians dead.