Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood, Srinagar’s chrysanthemum theme garden, is open to visitors for autumn 2026. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah opened the Chrysanthemum Show 2026 on 23 October, and the garden is open to the public from 24 October 2026. It sits inside the Botanical Garden at Cheshma Shahi, next to the Tulip Garden, and this year shows about 3.5 lakh chrysanthemum plants of more than 70 varieties. Here is what to expect, when to go, and how to combine it with the chinars and Mughal gardens in one day.
Quick answer Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood is Kashmir’s chrysanthemum garden, spread over 100 kanals in the Botanical Garden at Cheshma Shahi, Srinagar. The 2026 show opened on 23 October with about 3.5 lakh plants and nearly 12 million blooms in yellow, red, pink and purple. Go in the morning, and pair it with Pari Mahal, Nishat and Shalimar gardens while the chinars are still red.
At a glance
Chrysanthemum Show 2026
Opened 23 Oct 2026100 kanals
- About 3.5 lakh plants
- More than 70 varieties
- Nearly 12 million blooms
- Yellow, red, pink and purple
Where
Botanical Garden, Cheshma Shahi
Next to the Tulip GardenAbove Dal Lake
- Run by the Department of Floriculture, Parks and Gardens
- Second year of the garden (first opened October 2025)
- Water features, selfie points and new flower beds this year
What is Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood?
Gul-e-Dawood (also written Gul-e-Daudi) is the Urdu name for the chrysanthemum, so Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood means “garden of chrysanthemums”. The Department of Floriculture, Parks and Gardens created it inside the Nehru Memorial Botanical Garden to give Kashmir an autumn flower attraction, much as the Tulip Garden draws visitors in spring. It opened for the first time in October 2025. For 2026 the garden has more flower beds, floral displays, water features, selfie points and better visitor facilities, and most of the plants are grown locally.
Chrysanthemum Show 2026 in numbers
| Detail | 2026 show |
|---|---|
| Opened | 23 October 2026, by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah; open to the public from 24 October |
| Location | Botanical Garden, Cheshma Shahi, Srinagar |
| Area | 100 kanals (about 5 hectares) |
| Plants | About 3.5 lakh |
| Varieties | More than 70 |
| Blooms | Nearly 12 million |
| Theme | “Enriching Autumn with New Colours” |
| Managed by | Department of Floriculture, Parks and Gardens |
Figures as announced at the opening of the 2026 show. Entry fee and timings are set by the Floriculture Department; check at the gate before you go.
When to visit
Chrysanthemums are an autumn flower, so the garden is at its best from late October into November. Go in the morning for soft light and fewer people, and on a sunny day for the brightest colours. Late October and the first half of November are also the best weeks for the chinar trees, so you can see both on the same trip. Read Kashmir in November for the weather and what else is open.
How to reach Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood
The garden is inside the Botanical Garden on the Cheshma Shahi side of Dal Lake, beside the Tulip Garden, a short drive from the Dal Lake boulevard. The easiest way is a taxi with driver, who can wait while you walk around and take you on to the Mughal gardens. Our Kashmir taxi with driver costs from ₹2,000 a day for an Etios (non-AC), with fuel, tolls and driver included, and pickup from your hotel, houseboat or Srinagar Airport costs the same. See also how to reach the Tulip Garden, which uses the same road.
A Srinagar autumn gardens day
Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood fits neatly into a one-day loop of Srinagar’s gardens. A comfortable plan by taxi:
Morning
Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood
Chrysanthemums in the Botanical Garden, then Cheshma Shahi spring next door.
Afternoon
Nishat and Shalimar
Mughal gardens under red chinars, then a Dal Lake shikara ride.
For chinar spots and timing, see our chinar colour calendar and the chinar autumn story. Want more days? The Kashmir Autumn Gold package covers Srinagar, Pahalgam and Sonamarg in autumn.
Tips for your visit
Frequently asked questions
Where is Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood in Srinagar?
Inside the Botanical Garden at Cheshma Shahi, on the Dal Lake side of the Zabarwan hills, next to the Tulip Garden.
When did Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood open in 2026?
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah opened the Chrysanthemum Show 2026 on 23 October, and the garden is open to the public from 24 October 2026.
How many chrysanthemums are there?
About 3.5 lakh plants of more than 70 varieties, with nearly 12 million blooms, as announced at the 2026 opening.
What does Gul-e-Dawood mean?
Gul-e-Dawood (or Gul-e-Daudi) is the Urdu name for the chrysanthemum, so Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood means the chrysanthemum garden.
Is it the same as the Tulip Garden?
No. The Tulip Garden is a separate garden next door that opens in spring. Bagh-e-Gul-e-Dawood is the autumn chrysanthemum garden in the Botanical Garden.
How do I get there?
By taxi from anywhere in Srinagar. Our taxi with driver costs from ₹2,000 a day, and you can combine the visit with Pari Mahal, Nishat and Shalimar gardens.
I'm Ahmad Suhail, born and raised in Srinagar. In 2022 I founded Kashmir Tour Packages Taxi — a licensed taxi and tour operator registered with the Jammu & Kashmir Tourism Department — because I saw too many visitors arrive in Kashmir with bad information, unreliable drivers, and no idea what was actually worth seeing.
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