Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood is Kashmir's chrysanthemum garden in the Botanical Garden at Cheshma Shahi, Srinagar. The 2026 show opened on 23 October with 3.5 lakh plants and 70+ varieties: when to go, how to reach, what to pair it with.
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Quick Answer: Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood is Kashmir's chrysanthemum garden, inside the Botanical Garden at Cheshma Shahi in Srinagar, beside the Tulip Garden. Its 2026 show opened on 23 October with about 3.5 lakh locally grown plants in more than 70 varieties across 100 kanals. Visit from late October through November, ideally in the morning.
Last updated: 4 November 2026. By Kashmir Pulse Editorial. Kashmir Pulse is Via Kashmir's editorial channel, written by locals.
For years, Srinagar's flower season ended when the tulips faded in April. Then, in October 2025, the slopes of the Botanical Garden at Cheshma Shahi filled with chrysanthemums, which Kashmiris call gul-e-dawood, and the city gained an autumn bloom to match its spring one. Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood, the garden of chrysanthemums, is now in its second season, and on a clear November morning, with the chinars turning red above the Dal, it is one of the loveliest places in the valley.
This guide covers what the garden is, when to go, how to reach it and how to fit it into an autumn day in Srinagar. Kashmir Pulse is written by people who live here, and we have walked these beds ourselves.
Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood at a glance
| What | Detail |
|---|---|
| Where | Botanical Garden, Cheshma Shahi, Srinagar, beside the Tulip Garden on the Zabarwan foothills |
| What | Kashmir's chrysanthemum garden; gul-e-dawood is the local name for the chrysanthemum |
| 2026 show | Opened 23 October 2026 by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, the garden's second season |
| Size | About 100 kanals, roughly 3.5 lakh plants, more than 70 varieties |
| Colours | Yellow, red, pink, purple and white |
| Best time | Late October to November, mornings for soft light and fewer people |
| Run by | Department of Floriculture, Parks and Gardens, Jammu and Kashmir |
What is Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood?
Gul-e-dawood (also written gul-e-daudi) is the name for the chrysanthemum in Kashmir and across much of north India, so Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood simply means the garden of chrysanthemums. It was developed inside the Botanical Garden at Cheshma Shahi and opened as Kashmir's first chrysanthemum-themed garden in late October 2025.
The idea is simple and, for Kashmir's tourism, important: the Tulip Garden draws crowds at the start of the season, and Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood gives the end of the year its own flower show. At the 2026 opening, the Chief Minister described it as a way to extend the tourism season, and noted that the bulk of the plant material is grown locally rather than imported.
A line worth remembering: the tulips open Kashmir's year, and the chrysanthemums now close it.
Related reading: Gulmarg Weather in June: Temperature, Snow and What to Pack
What will you see in the 2026 show?
- ✓About 3.5 lakh plants in more than 70 varieties, with nearly 12 million blossoms, according to the figures announced at the opening.
- ✓Beds in yellow, red, pink, purple and white, laid out on the terraced slopes of the Botanical Garden.
- ✓New this year: expanded flower beds, floral displays, water features, selfie points and better visitor facilities.
- ✓The setting: the Zabarwan hills behind, chinars and poplars turning gold and red in November, and glimpses of Dal Lake below.
When is the best time to visit Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood?
The chrysanthemum show runs through the autumn: the 2026 edition opened on 23 October and the blooms usually carry on into November, until the nights get cold enough to finish them. Early to mid-November is a good balance of full beds and autumn colour on the chinars.
- Go in the morning, roughly 9 to 11 am, for soft light and quieter paths.
- Pick a clear day; colours look flat under heavy cloud.
- Late in November, check before you go, because a cold spell can end the show early.
- Wear comfortable shoes: the garden is on slopes and terraces.
Related reading: Khelo India Winter Games Gulmarg: Dates, Events and Planning a Visit
How do you reach Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood?
The Botanical Garden is on the Cheshma Shahi road above the Boulevard, next to the Tulip Garden and below Pari Mahal, roughly 20 to 30 minutes by road from Dal Gate depending on traffic. Any Srinagar cab or auto knows it; ask for the Botanical Garden at Cheshma Shahi. Entry tickets are sold at the gate, and timings and fees are set by the Floriculture Department, so confirm them on the day.
Local tip: combine the garden with Cheshma Shahi and Pari Mahal, which are a few minutes away, then drop down to Nishat for the chinars and finish with a sunset shikara on Dal Lake.
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Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood vs the Tulip Garden
| Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood | Tulip Garden | |
|---|---|---|
| Flower | Chrysanthemum (gul-e-dawood) | Tulip |
| Season | Late October to November | Late March to April |
| Location | Botanical Garden, Cheshma Shahi | Next door, at the foot of the Zabarwan hills |
| Mood | Autumn colour, chinars turning, quieter | Spring, peak crowds |
| First opened | 2025 | 2008 |
If you missed the tulips, Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood is the reason to come back in autumn. For spring, see Tulip Garden Srinagar dates and tickets.
A perfect autumn day in Srinagar
| Time | Plan |
|---|---|
| 9:00 am | Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood, about an hour |
| 10:30 am | Cheshma Shahi spring and Pari Mahal terraces |
| 12:00 pm | Lunch, then Nishat Bagh under the chinars |
| 2:30 pm | Shalimar Bagh or a walk on the Boulevard |
| 4:00 pm | Sunset shikara on Dal Lake, with kahwa back at your hotel |
For the full list, see our top places to visit in Srinagar and where to see the chinars.
Coming to Srinagar this autumn? We plan the gardens, chinars and a shikara around your dates.
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Frequently asked questions
Where is Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood?
Inside the Botanical Garden at Cheshma Shahi, Srinagar, beside the Tulip Garden on the Zabarwan foothills above Dal Lake.
When does Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood open?
The 2026 chrysanthemum show opened on 23 October 2026. The blooms usually last into November; check before visiting late in the month.
What does Gul-e-Dawood mean?
Gul-e-dawood is the local name for the chrysanthemum, so Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood means the garden of chrysanthemums.
How big is Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood?
The 2026 show covers about 100 kanals with roughly 3.5 lakh locally grown plants in more than 70 varieties.
Is there an entry fee for Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood?
Tickets are sold at the Botanical Garden gate, and the rate and timings are set by the Floriculture Department, so confirm them on the day.
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