Deep Sharma
Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir’s gardens, parks and landscaped lawns have generated ₹62.76 crore in revenue between 2021–22 and November 2025 through entry tickets, permissions for videography and film shooting, and the sale of plants, with annual earnings reaching a high of ₹23.71 crore in 2024–25.
Official figures show a steady rise in revenue over the four completed financial years, from ₹6.70 crore in 2021–22 to ₹13.46 crore in 2022–23 and ₹14.35 crore in 2023–24. The department recorded ₹23.71 crore in 2024–25, while revenue stood at ₹4.54 crore up to November in the ongoing financial year 2025–26.
The figures highlight the economic contribution of the gardens maintained by the Horticulture Department, many of which are among Kashmir’s major tourist attractions. Their landscaped lawns, seasonal flowers, historic architecture and scenic settings draw visitors throughout the year.
The department maintains 278 gardens, parks and lawns spread across 10,628.30 kanals in Jammu and Kashmir.
These include the world-famous Tulip Garden and the historic Mughal gardens of Nishat, Shalimar, Pari Mahal and Chashma Shahi, along with Verinag and Achabal gardens. The department also maintains botanical gardens, including those at Chashma Shahi and Kokernag, as well as lawns at important government institutions.
Visitor numbers have remained high, with the department’s gardens and parks recording 60.48 lakh visitors in 2022–23 and 65.74 lakh in 2023–24. The footfall stood at 61.38 lakh in 2024–25, while 48.01 lakh visitors were recorded up to the end of November in 2025–26.
The figures underline the importance of these gardens in Kashmir’s tourism economy, particularly during the spring flowering season, when the Tulip Garden attracts large numbers of visitors.
The department’s work also extends to commercial floriculture. According to official data, 11,889 growers are registered with the department in Jammu and Kashmir, of whom 2,270 are engaged in commercial flower cultivation. The total area under commercial floriculture stands at 356.41 hectares.
To diversify flower tourism beyond spring, the department opened its first chrysanthemum garden, Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood, to visitors in October 2025. Featuring more than 50 varieties of chrysanthemum, the garden is intended to create an additional attraction during autumn.
While the Tulip Garden remains a major draw in spring, the chrysanthemum garden seeks to extend the flowering season and encourage tourist visits later in the year.
The revenue generated from entry tickets, filming permissions and plant sales, alongside sustained visitor numbers, reflects the growing significance of these gardens as both tourism assets and sources of income for the department.
