Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Apr 13: The Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden will be closed to the general public from the evening of April 16, the Floriculture Department announced today.
The decision, taken on the recommendation of the Tulip Committee, was conveyed through an official notice issued by the Directorate of Floriculture, Gardens and Parks, Kashmir.
The garden was opened to visitors on March 16 as part of the annual Tulip Show-2026, nearly 10 to 15 days ahead of schedule.
Officials said the closure marks the conclusion of this year’s bloom season, which lasted around 30 days, depending on the flowering cycle.
According to official figures, around 2.92 lakh visitors had entered the garden through physical ticketing by the 25th day of the show. Of these, nearly 1.35 lakh were locals, about 1.56 lakh were domestic tourists, and around 800 were foreign nationals.
This year, 70 varieties of tulips were on display, with a total of 1.8 million flowers planted across the garden.
Officials said the season began on a subdued note due to inclement weather, but picked up after Eid.
During the first week, the average daily footfall ranged between 5,000 and 6,000, mostly domestic visitors.
They added that footfall increased steadily in the later phase, with daily visitor numbers currently ranging between 10,000 and 12,000, nearly 85 per cent of whom are domestic tourists.
Officials said intermittent rainfall had a mixed impact on the bloom, with early varieties affected by five to six wet spells, while mid- and late-blooming varieties benefited, helping extend the flowering period.
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