Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday inaugurated the Almond Bloom Festival – 2025 at the historic Badamwaeri Garden in Srinagar’s old city, marking the official start of the valley’s spring tourism season.
The event, jointly organized by the Departments of Tourism and Floriculture, drew a large crowd of visitors, officials, and artists to celebrate the vibrant bloom of almond trees against the backdrop of the ancient Hari Parbat Fort.
Gracing the inaugural ceremony were Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Chowdhury, National Conference Chief Spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq, senior tourism officials, and local dignitaries.
The highlight of the festival was a spellbinding musical extravaganza that began at 3 PM, featuring celebrated Kashmiri artistes Noor Mohammad, Aayan Sajad, Irfan Bilal, and Zaid Sikandar.
A short glimpse from the Almond Blossom Festival 2025 at Badamwaeri — celebrating spring as Kashmir blooms in beauty and fragrance! pic.twitter.com/ZVTvTYP4UL
— Office of Chief Minister, J&K (@CM_JnK) April 4, 2025
Taking to social media, CM Omar Abdullah shared that, “The festival celebrates the breathtaking bloom of almond orchards. With blossoms in full glory, their fragrance fills every corner, marking the arrival of spring in Kashmir.”
Spread over 300 Kanal, Badamwaeri Garden has become a seasonal magnet for tourists. Restored in 2008 by J&K Bank, the garden is now one of the prime attractions in the region, not only for its natural charm but also for its rich heritage. Features like the Waaris Khan Chah well and the intricately designed dome add layers of cultural depth to the experience.
Photographers and nature lovers throng the garden during this season, hoping to capture the fleeting yet magical bloom that transforms the space into a dreamscape.
Following last year’s record-breaking tourist numbers, officials are hopeful that the Almond Bloom Festival will once again spark a prosperous tourism season.
