India’s highest commercial lilium field launched in Leh at 3,265 metres
The development of India’s highest commercial Lilium cultivation field has commenced at Choglamsar in Leh, marking the launch of a first-of-its-kind floriculture initiative of this scale in Ladakh.
The project aims to create new livelihood opportunities for local communities through commercial floriculture.
Over the past three days, more than 50,000 premium Lilium bulbs have already been planted in the field, with the first blooms expected in the first week of September.
Lilium is one of the world’s most sought-after cut flowers, prized for its exceptional ornamental value and long shelf life. It is widely used in the floral industry and hospitality sector, with premium varieties currently priced between Rs 150 and Rs 200 per stem in domestic retail markets.
Spread across 93,000 square metres on the banks of the River Sindhu (Indus), the Choglamsar Flower Field is being developed as one of the largest organised high-altitude floriculture parks in the country.
It is located at an altitude of nearly 3,265 metres, surpassing India’s current highest flower field at Mana in Uttarakhand, which sits at 3,200 metres.
The project is being implemented with scientific and technical support from the CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT), Palampur.
Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena laid the foundation stone for the Choglamsar Flower Field on 22 June 2026.
The initiative seeks to produce premium Lilium flowers and buds that command high prices in both national and international markets, thereby creating a sustainable new source of income for Ladakh’s farming community through self-help groups (SHGs) and cooperatives.
This project aligns with the Union Minister of Home Affairs and Cooperation, Amit Shah’s vision of “Sahkar se Samriddhi,” which focuses on strengthening cooperatives to generate sustainable local employment and enhance the income of local communities, especially women and farmers.
Conceived by Lieutenant Governor Saxena, the project aims to position Ladakh as an emerging centre for premium floriculture while providing access to high-value domestic and international flower markets.
The flower field is also expected to become a new recreational destination for tourists. In the first year, the Agriculture Department will develop the flower field and, at the time of blooming, hand it over to selected Self-Help Groups and cooperative societies. The department will continue to support the SHGs and cooperatives in marketing the flowers in national and international markets to ensure maximum returns. From the following year onwards, the cooperatives will independently undertake commercial cultivation, harvesting, and value addition of Lilium flowers.
Local farmers are already receiving structured training in scientific floriculture, modern cultivation practices, and business aspects of floriculture. Ladakh offers ideal agro-climatic conditions for Lilium cultivation. The bulbs thrive in cold conditions, between minus 4°C and 4°C, making them naturally suited to the region’s high-altitude environment. A major advantage is that the bulbs begin to multiply naturally after three years, significantly boosting future production and farmers’ returns without additional investment.
