Srinagar, April 18, 2026 :The iconic Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, Asia’s largest tulip garden, witnessed a sharp decline of over 50% in visitors this year, raising concerns for the region’s tourism sector.
Officials reported that only 3.90 lakh visitors visited the garden this season, compared to a record 8.55 lakh footfall last year. This year’s visitors included around 1,222 foreign tourists, 2.89 lakh domestic tourists, and nearly 1.6 lakh locals.
Located along the banks of the scenic Dal Lake, the garden remains a major attraction during the spring season. It was opened to the public on March 16 by Omar Abdullah, earlier than usual due to an early bloom triggered by rising temperatures.
Despite showcasing over 70 varieties of tulips with enhanced floral density, the garden saw reduced turnout this year. The bloom season concluded this week, and the garden has now been closed to visitors.
The Tulip Garden, introduced in 2008 by Ghulam Nabi Azad to boost spring tourism, has historically drawn large crowds, making this year’s dip particularly notable.
