Akshay Acharya, Pune
A jewel has been engraved on the crown of India. The Tulip Garden of Srinagar, also known as the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, has received recognition and entered the World Book of Records (London) as Asia’s largest tulip park. The garden is spread across an area of around 30 hectares.
Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs congratulated the garden on Thai accomplishment through X (previously Twitter). He wrote, “‘Gar firdaus bar-rue zamin ast’ The picturesque paradise of tulips in Srinagar enters the World Book of Records as Asia’s largest! 1.5 million tulip bulbs showcasing an astonishing collection of 68 distinct tulip varieties and attracting 100,000 visitors!” He also took a jibe at the turbulent situation in the region by adding a line that said “phool aaye- patthar gaye“, which translates to “flowers came and stones went”. This referenced the protests where civilians threw stones at army personnel. He also emphasized the tulip garden’s relevance in the union territory’s tourism sector, as more than 1 lakh visitors visited the garden.
Kiren Rijiju, Minister of Earth Sciences of India, also congratulated this laurel through X (previously Twitter), saying, “Celebrate an iconic achievement for India! Srinagar’s captivating Tulip Garden has etched its name in the World Book of Records (London) as the grandest in Asia! This garden is a true masterpiece, with an astonishing 1.5 million tulip bulbs in 68 stunning varieties. Let’s cheer for the record-breaking 3.60 lakh visitors last year as they immersed themselves in the beauty of these vibrant blooms.”
The garden is home to 68 variants of tulips, and the number of tulips goes up to around 1.5 million, nestled on the Zabarwan mountain range in the Srinagar area. Apart from tulips, the garden also houses flowers such as daffodils, cyclamens, hyacinths, and muscari.
A certification ceremony took place at the Tulip Garden on August 19, where Sheikh Fayaz Ahmed, the Jammu and Kashmir administration’s secretary (floriculture, gardens, and parks), was certified by the World Book President and CEO, Santosh Shukla, in the presence of the World book editor, Dilip N Pandit, officials, and the garden staff.
The certification ceremony will also occur in the British parliament, where the officials have been invited to receive another certificate on September 14.