Asia's largest Tulip garden opened to visitors

Asia's largest Tulip garden on the banks of Dal Lake here was thrown open to visitors today, marking the beginning of the new tourism season in the Valley.
The 15-hectare garden in the foothills of Zabarwan Range was officially opened to visitors by Minister for Floriculture Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed.
A large number of people including tourists thronged the garden immediately after its opening to enjoy the myriad view of tulips, officials said.
The state Floriculture department said a total of over 1.5 million tulips, of over 80 varieties are presently in bloom at the garden.
The department has added 3.24 lakh more bulbs of 24 new varieties this season to make the garden more attractive.

"The bulbs have been imported from Holland and have been introduced in the Valley for the first time," officials said.
Formerly known as Siraj Bagh, the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip garden was opened in 2008 by the then Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.