Kashmir’s chrysanthemum garden opens to boost autumn tourism

SRINAGAR, 22/10/2026: Gardeners work Kashmir's first Chrysanthemum Garden, locally known as 'Gul-e-Dawood,' on the foothills of Zabarwan range on the banks of Dal Lake, scheduled to open for public on October 23. | Photo Credit: IMRAN NISSAR

Amid the gentle autumn chill, a riot of colours welcomed visitors as Asia’s largest chrysanthemum garden opened to the public on Friday. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah inaugurated Bagh-e-Gule-Dawood, with authorities expecting a large turnout of visitors.

Located within the Nehru Memorial Botanical Garden at the foothills of the Zabarwan range, the sprawling garden covers five hectares, with lakhs of chrysanthemum plants adding vibrant hues to the landscape.

Officials said more than 3.5 lakh plants had been planted, producing over 12 million blooms.

The floral attraction is expected to draw visitors during autumn, traditionally considered an off-season for tourism in Kashmir. With the Valley’s landscape taking on hues of gold, amber and crimson, the chrysanthemum garden offers another attraction for tourists exploring the region during the season.

“We are expecting a very good number of visitors this year,” an official said.

The bloom is expected to last nearly two months, giving visitors an extended opportunity to experience the garden’s vibrant floral display throughout the autumn season.

According to Mathoora Masoom, Director of Floriculture, Gardens and Parks, more than one lakh people visited the garden last year, when it was opened to the public for the first time.

She said the garden had generated considerable interest among visitors this year, with the department receiving numerous calls from people enquiring about the attraction.

The government has long sought to position Kashmir as a year-round tourist destination by developing attractions beyond the peak summer season. In 2007, Ghulam Nabi Azad, then Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, established the region’s tulip garden, which was developed with thousands of tulip bulbs imported from the Netherlands.

“The tulips bloom in March. The idea was to start Kashmir’s tourism season early,” an official said.

He said both tulips and chrysanthemums offered opportunities to attract visitors during periods that traditionally see fewer tourist arrivals.

While the tulip garden signals the arrival of spring, the chrysanthemum garden adds colour to the autumn calendar, potentially encouraging tourists to extend their stays and explore the Valley beyond its peak travel months.

“We hope the new attraction will draw both tourists and local residents, adding to Kashmir’s seasonal appeal and supporting the broader effort to reduce the tourism sector’s dependence on a few peak months,” said the official.

Published on October 23, 2026