For a spring outing from Srinagar, Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden is a seasonal flower garden spread across hillside terraces above Dal Lake. Its annual Tulip Festival marks the onset of spring in the Kashmir Valley, so check the season’s dates and visitor arrangements before planning a visit.
- Location: At the foothills of the Zabarwan Range, overlooking Dal Lake.
- Season: The Tulip Festival is held annually at the onset of spring.
- Scale: The Srinagar district administration describes it as Asia’s largest tulip garden, covering about 30 hectares.
Where the Tulip Garden is
Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden lies at the foothills of the Zabarwan Range in Srinagar, with views over Dal Lake. Formerly called Model Floriculture Center, it opened in 2007 to promote floriculture and tourism in the Kashmir Valley.
The garden covers about 30 hectares and follows sloping ground across seven terraces. Alongside tulips, you can find hyacinths, daffodils and ranunculus. The Srinagar district administration gives its distance as 22 km from Sheikh ul Alam International Airport, 18 km from Srinagar Railway Station and 8 km from Lal Chowk.
When the garden and festival are open
The Tulip Festival is an annual celebration held at the onset of spring in the Kashmir Valley. The garden is seasonal, so its opening dates can vary; don’t treat dates from a past season as a schedule for a future one.
Opening hours
- Monday to Sunday: 9:00–19:00
Last checked November 2026. Hours can change on holidays and for special events.
There are no current-season opening hours or ticket prices on the Srinagar district administration’s page. Check the official site before you go, and confirm the garden’s opening dates and practical details for your travel period. For broader seasonal context, this guide to Srinagar’s seasons, gardens and festivals can help you plan dates.
Tickets, entry and visitor access
Confirm ticketing and entry arrangements for the season you plan to visit. Check current booking methods, entry rules and accessibility arrangements before setting out rather than relying on older reports.
The garden’s seven sloping terraces and several flowering varieties give you distinct areas to see, so leave your schedule flexible rather than planning around a fixed visit time.
What can you combine with the garden?
Pari Mahal is a nearby visitor attraction, making it a possible addition to a day around the garden and the lake. Kashmir Tourism gives the distance from Pari Mahal to Dal Lake as 5 km; this is the distance from Pari Mahal, not from the tulip garden.
If you are arranging a broader day in the city, a Srinagar route from Lal Chowk to Dal Lake provides another itinerary to consider alongside the garden visit.
How do you get to the garden?
From Hotel Meridien, the garden is about a 30-minute drive; a hotel about a 30-minute drive from the tulip garden. Pari Mahal is described above as a nearby visitor attraction that you could pair with the garden.
The garden is 8 km from Lal Chowk. A traffic plan reported for one year advised approaching by Lal Chowk–Dalgate–Boulevard/Gupkar Road and returning via Nishat–Foreshore–Habak–Dargah–Khanyar. That was a year-specific arrangement, not a permanent route rule, so check current directions and local traffic arrangements before travelling.
FAQs
What was the garden formerly called?
It was formerly known as Model Floriculture Center.
How many terraces does the garden have?
The garden is laid out across seven terraces on sloping ground.
What flowers grow there besides tulips?
The garden also includes hyacinths, daffodils and ranunculus.
When is the Tulip Festival held?
It is an annual celebration at the onset of spring in the Kashmir Valley. Garden opening dates and visitor arrangements can vary, so confirm them before your trip.