Chrysanthemum Garden Adds Colour to Kashmir’s Autumn
A dazzling spread of chrysanthemums has turned Srinagar’s Nehru Memorial Botanical Garden into a radiant autumn spectacle, reviving tourism and local pride.
The Chrysanthemum Garden at the Nehru Memorial Botanical Garden (NMBG) in Srinagar has blossomed into Jammu and Kashmir’s newest autumn spectacle, sparking excitement among tourists, gardeners, and city residents alike. Launched on October 25, 2025, as Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood, this vibrant attraction is not just a celebration of flowers, but a testament to the region’s renewed push to enhance off-season tourism and lift local spirits with colour and fragrance after a challenging travel year.
Unique Autumn Attraction
Chrysanthemums, locally known as “Gul-e-Dawood,” now cover well over 100 kanals of reclaimed and landscaped land at NMBG, adding a distinct charm to Srinagar’s famed Dal Lake shoreline. The garden’s inception was the vision and execution of the Department of Floriculture, Gardens & Parks, Jammu & Kashmir—a point emphasized by officials to clarify that reports of institutional collaborations or joint ventures were incorrect. Every aspect, from planning, plantation, to landscaping, was undertaken by departmental officers and technical teams working under government development programs.
A New Chapter in Valley’s Tourism
The garden was officially inaugurated by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who lauded the initiative as “a floral celebration that adds a new chapter to Kashmir’s tourism story,” directly addressing the long-standing gap in autumnal tourist attractions previously left after the closure of the world-famous Spring Tulip Garden. Abdullah recalled laying the foundation stone a year prior, expressing confidence that the Chrysanthemum Garden would mirror the role of the Tulip Garden, but for autumn, offering tourists a reason to visit during the otherwise lean period.
Scale, Variety, and Community Impact
The garden features a vibrant spectacle of chrysanthemum blooms in yellow, red, pink, and purple—a palette carefully curated to maximize visual impact and photogenic appeal for visitors. In addition to massed plantings, the garden also serves as an exhibition space, hosting lavender, ornamental, and other floral varieties supported by local growers and floriculturists. The government invested ₹1.86 crore in the project, reflecting a serious commitment to both beautification and economic revival. With expectations to attract two to three million visitors in its debut season and generate as much as ₹500-700 crore in tourism-related revenue, its economic impact is projected to be significant, particularly vital in a year where the region’s tourism industry experienced a severe setback due to security-related cancellations in spring.
The Department’s Vision and Exclusive Credit
Officials have strongly reiterated that the Chrysanthemum Garden was conceived and delivered exclusively by the Department of Floriculture, Gardens & Parks, without involvement from other agencies, MoUs, or collaborations, correcting any public misconceptions. Their message is clear: credit for this autumnal landmark is reserved for the department’s own horticultural vision and the dedicated staff who designed and nurtured the display. Local growers, field staff, and floriculturists were commended for their essential roles in making the garden possible.
Tourism Recovery and Social Resonance
The opening of Kashmir’s largest chrysanthemum collection comes at a critical time for the valley’s tourism sector, which is rebuilding after cancellations and disruptions caused by a deadly terror incident in spring 2025. By extending the tourist calendar further into autumn, NMBG’s Chrysanthemum Garden is anticipated to help sustain local livelihoods and showcase Kashmir as a safe, resilient, and diverse destination. The garden’s success is modeled after the Tulip Garden, which welcomed a record 8.55 lakh visitors last spring and set a new benchmark for regional floral tourism.
Future Prospects and Cultural Celebration
Beyond immediate economic benefits, the initiative symbolizes a broader vision—making Jammu & Kashmir an all-season floral destination and broadening access to green public spaces. Officials have reaffirmed a commitment to developing more unique attractions under regional ownership, underscoring the pride and identity associated with Kashmir’s evolving garden heritage. As a centrepiece of the ongoing Autumn Flower Festival, the garden is already drawing large crowds of residents, students, photographers, and travelers, all keen to experience the valley’s signature autumnal light filtered through a canopy of rare blooms.
In sum, the Chrysanthemum Garden at NMBG stands as a beacon of renewal, beauty, and resilience—a product of clever planning, public investment, and a passionate belief in Kashmir’s potential as one of Asia’s premier destinations for floral, cultural, and nature-based tourism.
