Opening of Kashmir tulip garden delayed due to snowfall

The opening of the Asia's largest tulip garden here has been delayed due to recent heavy snowfall across Kashmir but Floriculture department is making preparations to welcome visitors early next month.
The drop in temperature due to recent snowfall has led to delay in blooming of the tulips at Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden on the banks of Dal Lake, an official of the Floriculture department told PTI.
"As soon as the day temperature will start to rise, the tulips will start to bloom. A decision on opening of the garden will be taken on March 26," the official said.

Last year the garden was thrown open to public on March 26 as more than 45,000 tourists visited the Garden in the four-week period of tulip bloom.
More than 20 million tulip bulbs have been planted on the 12-hectare tulip garden as the Floriculture department has added some new varieties to the existing ones, said the official.
The average life span of the tulip flower is three to four weeks but heavy rains or too much of heat can destroy them.
The authorities are using hi-tech poly-houses, which helps the tulips to bloom even in harsh weather conditions.
The idea of tulip garden was conceived by former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad in 2007 to advance the tourism season in Kashmir by two months. The garden was inaugurated in 2008 and has been a hit with tourists as well as locals since then.