MAGNIFICENT TULIPS OF SRINAGAR – Here is my fifth blog in the armchair travel series.
While humans may have been greedy, insensitive and intrusive towards nature, the good news is that there has been no change in nature’s behavior towards us. While our movements and ‘freewill to travel’ has come under scanner during these days, nature has remained comforting by all its means. It has continued to shower us with love. And let us consider that while mankind is using this time to be with loved ones, nature is using the hiatus to heal itself and flourish, some things and places are doing just what they are best at. Flowers continue to inspire us in all shapes, sizes and colours. And one such place which is full of flowers these days is Asia’s largest tulip garden. The tulips of Srinagar are shining bright and beautiful, as always. April is the month when people from all over the world travel to see 1.3 million tulips in the city, which is mostly visited for its endearing shikaras and delightful Dal Lake.
Also read, Srinagar and Gulmarg!
Recently, when I saw the pictures on the internet, I couldn’t hold myself from reminiscing those splendid memories of my visit there in the year 2018. The Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden flourishes in the foothills of Zabarwan Range and makes for a magnificent sight, especially during this time of the season. April is the time for the tulip festival. The flowers do not last forever. They have a season and very soon they will wither away with the change in temperature.
The gardeners, the authority, the tourism board, local journalists and photographers were really saddened this year as no visitors were allowed to see the spectacle of nature this year. Ofcourse, we know why. The virus and social distancing have tied us. But I have some amazing memories from there which cannot be put under any lockdown. I can never forget the colour riot of the flowers. Let us hope that next year we all travel and get to see it in its true form. For now, you may rejuvenate from the comforts of your couch.
Just because we cannot take those holidays to exotic locations, we are not able to visit those picturesque hills/golden beaches or we are not able to post those “view from my room” pictures on Instagram, this doesn’t mean we have to stop talking about travel or start questioning its future. We will travel soon! Until it resumes, let us keep reminiscing about our past travels and keep using this time for everything else that we have always wanted to do.
