The return of pleasant spring with flower blooms and cool breeze has rekindled hopes of tourism revival in Kashmir seven months after devastating floods wreaked havoc in the picturesque region. A fresh spell of heavy rain temporarily scared residents and prospective tourists again this week, but the downpour has come as a promise for a breathtaking party season, too.
On Monday, the famed Tulip Garden will be opened for tourists. Come Baisakhi (April 12) and the Mughal Gardens — Shalimar and Nishat — will be at their best to entice the merrymakers. “By the middle of April, Kashmir Valley would be back to the unparalleled glory when tourists will enjoy the real charm of Paradise on Earth,” said Azim Tooman, former president of Houseboat Owners’ Association. Though some Kashmir-bound tourists cancelled reservations after rumours spread on fresh floods striking the Valley, the quick calming down of the Jhelum River and its tributaries changed the scenario.
Bright sunshine on Saturday encouraged many tourists to take a shikara ride in the shimmering Dal lake filled with fresh water. The weatherman predicted clear weather for several days followed by pleasant shower, a routine in April before the arrival of the “darling buds of May.”
The opening of Tulip Garden is a riot of colours. Imagine 1.3 million tulips in a little more than one-third part of a 35 acre garden. The flower beds in terraces overlooking the Zabarwan Hills present a panoramic look. The 70 varieties of red, yellow, variegated, pink, white, orange, light blue and beige tulips craftily grown in their separated beds have a mesmerising effect. “like last year, the wet March hampered tulip blossom but if we get full sunshine for a few days, the flower magic would display for many days in April,” said gardener Gulzar Ahmad.
Tourism stakeholders ask prospective visitors to shed misgivings about Kashmir. “We request the media to reveal the heavenly face of the Valley as it appears now with our almond orchards, tulip gardens, green landscapes and a large number of other flora having blossomed full bloom to reassure tourists about the serenity and safety they could enjoy during their trip to the Valley,” said Sheikh Ashiq Ahmad, president of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI).
The response is encouraging. The inflow of tourists to Srinagar, Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Sonamarg has increased. “There were some cancellations of tourist reservations because of the word about floods. But now the situation is better. There is no flood threat,” Ahmad added.
The tourism stakeholders urged the PDP-BJP coalition Government to take all necessary measures to upgrade the drainage system to check waterlogging in the city centre (lal Chowk) and downtown areas. “We also urge the Government to take effective measures for strengthening the bunds of Jhelum, which had breached in the September 2014 floods,” he said.
Tooman hopes the inflow of tourists would increase manifold. “For seven months, we have had just two guests in our houseboats. The flood scare proved to be another repellent but we hope a pleasant spring and summer season would attract record number of visitors,” he added.
Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who holds the tourism portfolio, held a high-level meeting in Srinagar earlier this week to review tourism infrastructure and preparations for hosting a large number of tourists. “We are prepared for a bumper tourist season,” said Farooq Ahmad Shah, Director, Tourism.