J&K: Sonia inaugurates Tulip gardens

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi has dedicated Asia's first and the biggest Tulip garden nestled in the foot of Zarbarwan hill to the people.

The event also saw christening of the sprawling Tulip expanse after the late prime minister and Sonia's mother-in-law Indira Gandhi.

Though the garden will be thrown open for public next week, yet the locals and the tourists have started flocking the place, sporting Tulips patterned after the famous Tulip gardens of Netherlands.

Sonia took a flight to Srinagar to inaugurate the garden which had been the idea of the state chief minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad, who has been taking personal

interest in its fruition.

Addressing the inaugural function, Sonia said country's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had great love and affection for Kashmir.

She recalled the "memorable holidays she spent with her family in Kashmir." "With the improvement in overall situation, more and more people will visit Kashmir," she said.

The garden according to local officials will be in full bloom later next week.

The early-blooming Tulips have already sprouted, lending colour to the garden, with almond trees in full bloom in the background, adding to the rash of colours', making the place idyllic.