Kashmir May Get Its First Rose Garden, Thanks to Bengal's Maestro
Building on the success of the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, this initiative aims to elevate the Valley's tourism with a new floral attraction
Kashmir is set to bloom with its first dedicated rose garden, a visionary project led by West Bengal's renowned rose breeder Pranabir Maity and supported by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
Building on the success of the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, this initiative aims to elevate the Valley's tourism with a new floral attraction.
Maity, who runs Pushpanjali Pranabir—one of India's largest rose nurseries, boasting over 3,500 varieties—visited Srinagar's Tulip Garden and noticed a gap. Despite Kashmir's ideal conditions for roses, there was no curated rose display, inspiring his bold proposal.
'Kashmir's cool nights, long daylight hours, and rich soil are perfect for roses," Maity told News18. 'It's surprising there's no dedicated rose garden here. We saw scattered roses but nothing structured. That's when the idea struck."
Maity has offered to develop the rose garden at no cost, provided the Jammu and Kashmir government identifies and allocates land. His plan includes supplying thousands of rose plants and offering expert guidance throughout the project.
'We're committed to providing the plants and expertise for a world-class rose garden," he said. 'Kashmir's unique climate is exactly what roses thrive on."
The proposal has earned a positive response from the CM, who told News18 he is seriously considering the idea. 'That's very interesting, and something I would like to pursue," the CM said. 'Let me discuss this with the Floriculture Department and see what is possible."
With Kashmir regaining stability and tourists flocking to escape the plains' soaring temperatures, a rose garden would add to the Valley's allure alongside the Tulip Garden, Mughal Gardens, and other attractions. Visitors seeking beauty and tranquillity could find the garden a perfect addition to Kashmir's growing tourism scene.
If implemented, the rose garden could extend the tourism calendar beyond the March-April tulip season. With roses blooming from May through early winter, the Valley could become a multi-season floral destination.
A TOURISM SUCCESS STORY
Srinagar's Tulip Garden, nestled at the foothills of Zabarwan overlooking Dal Lake, has been a major draw since 2008. With over 1.5 million tulip bulbs, it attracts lakhs of tourists annually. This year, it welcomed a record 4.46 lakh visitors in just 15 days.
Tourism stakeholders believe a rose garden could stretch the floral season into autumn, promoting sustainable tourism year-round.
#WATCH Jammu & Kashmir | Tourists and visitors flock to the Tulip Garden in Srinagar as they enjoy the picturesque sight of flowers amid mountains pic.twitter.com/lF8NEZVLBL — ANI (@ANI) April 8, 2022
FROM BENGAL TO THE VALLEY
Maity's nursery, Pushpanjali Pranabir in Paschim Medinipur, is renowned among India's horticulturists. Housing over 3,500 rose varieties, including hybrid teas, floribundas, miniatures, climbers, shrubs, and exotic exhibition roses, it supplies public gardens, private collectors, and export markets while championing rare and indigenous species.
'Our goal is to celebrate rose biodiversity," Maity said. 'Kashmir deserves a garden that showcases roses as heritage and art."
A GLOBAL TREND
Dedicated rose gardens are cherished worldwide as cultural and horticultural landmarks:
Queen Mary's Rose Garden in London, with over 12,000 roses, is a top UK attraction.
Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden in New York, part of the New York Botanical Garden, is known for sustainable cultivation and heritage hybrids.
Zakir Hussain Rose Garden in Chandigarh, spanning 30 acres with 1,600 varieties, hosts an annual Rose Festival drawing thousands.
Experts believe a well-designed Kashmir rose garden could rival these, placing the Valley on the global floral tourism map.
https://t.co/s1DNzfFRqc pic.twitter.com/WFKQcY007c — Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) April 7, 2025
LOOKING AHEAD
As the proposal awaits administrative approval, excitement builds among horticulturists and tourism stakeholders.
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'This is more than a garden—it's a chance to diversify tourism, promote eco-awareness, and create a living museum of roses," Maity said.
With nature, history, and the CM's support, the idea of a rose garden in Kashmir is taking root. Whether it becomes the Valley's next big attraction remains to be seen.
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