Record 2.18 lakh people visit parks, gardens on Eid-ul-Adha

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Valley’s public parks and gardens, especially in Srinagar, witnessed a ten-fold increase of visitors – over two lakh people – in the four days of the Eid-ul-Adha festival.

A senior official at the Floriculture Department said that during the Eid festival, the valley’s parks and gardens recorded a rush of 2.18 lakh visitors, which is ten times higher than the normal footfall.

“During the Eid festival, especially Eid-ul-Adha, people visiting parks and gardens is normal, but this year, the footfall is much higher,” he said.

According to the department’s officials, the paid parks and gardens in south Kashmir recorded a footfall of over 94,000 people during the Eid days, while last year, it was around 74,000.

Of the approximate footfall of visitors in south Kashmir, 85,000 were locals while over 9,600 were from other states of the country, an official said. “In South Kashmir, Kokernag recorded a footfall of around 16,000 followed by 15,000 visitors at nine parks and gardens of Pahalgam. Achabal and Verinag recorded over 9,000 and 8,000 respectively.”

As per the officials, Srinagar’s paid parks and gardens recorded a footfall of over 1.20 lakh people, including both locals and tourists. They said 30,000 people visited Nishat, Shalimar, Harwan, Chesmashahi, and Pari Mahal on Sunday.

Among the paid gardens and parks in Srinagar, Nishat recorded around 39,000 visitors during the Eid holidays, the highest number among all the gardens in Srinagar, with 13,000 people visiting the park on Sunday.

The famous Badamwari garden in the heart of Srinagar city’s downtown area, as per the officials, recorded over 8,000 visitors with a majority of them from the valley only, while Iqbal Park and Children’s Park also recorded a sizable footfall of local visitors on the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha.

The officials said they had placed all arrangements for visitors including the convenience facility, drinking water facility, availability of dustbins, wheelchairs for the specially-abled, etc.

There are many parks and gardens in the valley under the supervision of the Floriculture Department where public entry is free. (KNO)