Srinagar: Autumn in Kashmir, though beautiful because of its colours, always sounds depressing for locals because it announces the arrival of winter, which too is beautiful, but given the electric power scenario, is torturous for ordinary Kashmiris.
The two seasons, autumn and winter, that are celebrated elsewhere, are a pain in the neck for locals here. Electric power supply remains curtailed; people are forced to light candles in the absence of electric supply. The people here too love the golden leaves of Chinars in autumn and snowflakes in winter, but not while they are shivering because there is no electricity supply to warm their rooms.
However, looking beyond shivers and power shortages, the Floriculture Department has developed the Chrysanthemum Garden as a major autumn attraction, with around 3.5 lakh plants planted this year and flowering expected to continue until December 5 or 6.
Director Floriculture, Gardens and Parks, Kashmir, Mathoora Masoom, while talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function here, said the garden stands improved with expanded flower beds, a colourful plaza, water features, pergolas, selfie points and better visitor amenities to enhance the overall experience.
“We want the importance and popularity of our Chrysanthemum Garden to be exactly the same as our Tulip Garden. We don’t want any season of our Kashmir to be bad. So your Spring is with Tulip and your Autumn will be with Chrysanthemum,” she said.
The Director said the department has increased the flower-bed area and planted around 3.5 lakh Chrysanthemums this year, while also improving the garden’s layout and facilities.
Masoom said a beautifully decorated plaza and water features have been added to make the garden more attractive, besides pergolas, selfie points and improved pathways. “We have tried to make this garden a very wonderful experience,” she said.
She said the Chrysanthemum Garden was distinct because it was a theme-based garden dedicated to autumn flowering, with Chrysanthemums forming its central attraction. The surrounding plantation, including chinar, maple and ginkgo trees, have been planned to complement the flowers and enhance the autumn colours.
“It is a theme garden. You will see only autumn flowers. And in autumn flowers, you see only one flower, Chrysanthemum,” she said.
The Director said the garden was expected to fill a seasonal gap in Kashmir’s tourism calendar, particularly for visitors who traditionally travel to the Valley in autumn to witness the changing colours of chinar trees.
She said the department has already been receiving queries from visitors and people outside the country about the garden’s opening, while the Botanical Garden has witnessed increased footfall from people keen to experience the autumn colours.
“Now they will come because they want to see the Chrysanthemum,” Masoom said, expressing hope that the new attraction would give a further boost to tourism in Kashmir.
Acknowledging the challenges posed by changing weather conditions during preparations, she credited the department’s officers, gardeners and other staff for working together to complete the arrangements. “There were a lot of difficulties because of the weather, but our people worked very hard. And by staying together, we made that difficulty easier,” she said.
Masoom said the flowers could remain in bloom for at least one-and-a-half months after the garden’s opening, with the display expected to last until December 5 or 6, depending on weather conditions.
