Srinagar’s famous tulip garden could reopen on March 15

Once again, it's time for Srinagar's most reliable seasonal spectacle! The Srinagar Tulip Festival, known for its notoriously short window, is finally back for a repeat performance of what's widely considered India’s most colourful event after Holi.

While the exact date still remains slightly foggy, the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden is probably going to open on March 15, according to a report by Kashmir Observer. Officials told the publication that prep at the garden – Asia's largest tulip garden, incidentally – is in the final stretch, and the question of when it's going to open dangles solely on whether the weather plays along over the coming days.

When it does open, the garden will once again show off more than 1.5 million tulip bulbs across roughly 65 varieties, spread across its 30-acre slope overlooking Dal Lake. The display typically lasts 15 to 30 days, with blooms peaking between late March and mid-April, meaning the window to see it is brief but spectacular.

First developed in 2007 to boost spring tourism in the valley, the garden features the classic reds and yellows alongside newer varieties introduced every year, including bulbs imported from the Netherlands. Expect to see about 1.5 million bulbs stretching across a whopping 65 varieties, including the imported Dutch, Parrot, Fringed, and Darwin Hybrid types in red, yellow, purple, and white.

The garden sits about 9 km from Srinagar’s city centre, between the Mughal gardens Nishat Bagh and Chashme Shahi, and roughly 30–40 minutes by road from Sheikh ul-Alam International Airport.

Expect the usual surge in visitors once the flowers hit their peak, especially after Eid al-Fitr, when traffic restrictions are sometimes put in place around the garden. If you’re planning a visit, checking bloom updates in advance is a good idea: tulips, as it turns out, are punctual but not particularly patient.