SRINAGAR: Asia’s largest Tulip garden here is in full bloom and is attracting tourists in hordes with nearly 1.35 lakh visitors stopping by to witness its breathtaking beauty since it opened 10 days ago.

Ensconced between the famous Dal Lake and Zabarwan Hills, the 52.5-hectare Indira Gandhi Tulip Garden presents a colourful look with 16 lakh tulip bulbs of different hues and 68 varieties in bloom in the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir.

Tulip garden In-charge Inam-ul-Rehman said most of the visitors so far have been tourists.

“About 1.35 lakh visitors have already visited our garden. The maximum proportion, about 70 per cent, is from outside the Union territory. They are more enthusiastic,” Rehman told.

Last year, the garden witnessed 3.60 lakh visitors — the highest so far since it was first opened to the public.

Besides 16 lakh tulips, Rehman said, the garden, also known as Siraj Bagh, has other spring flowers, such as hyacinths, daffodills, muscari, and

cyclamens on display to enthral the visitors.

“This year, four new varieties of tulips have been added, bringing the total varieties to 68,” Rehman said.

The garden, which presents a riot of colours, is themed around rainbow colours as seen under the foothills of Zabarwan, Rehman said.

He said the central fountain channel has been extended to higher terraces this year. There is a high-rise fountain and waterfalls, which have added to the beauty of the garden.

“We have installed ornamental lights for the evening. Many tourists stay in the garden till late evening,” he added.

Rachna and Ayushi, who are from Mumbai and are on their first visit to the valley, fell short of words to describe the beauty of the garden.

“This is an amazing experience, and quite a change from Mumbai. The places, the weather, the people, the colours here, everything is ethereal. We have not seen such a beautiful garden. It is literally paradise on earth,” they said.

Another tourist, Devender Singh, from Rajasthan’s Jaipur, said they were “lucky” to have come to the valley while the tulips were in full bloom.

The department hopes to have a large footfall of visitors and an extended duration of the bloom, provided the weather doesn’t play spoilsport.

“The plants depend on the weather conditions. There is a forecast of mild temperatures (in the coming days), and in that case, their life will be extended. Otherwise, in scorching heats, their life will decrease. It is a weather dependent phenomenon,” Rehman said.