If there be a paradise on the Earth, it is this, it is this, it is this… reads one of the verses coined by Firdaus, a poet in Mughal emperor Shahjahan’s court, which praises the Kashmir Valley for its incomparable beauty.
Kashmir’s beauty is particularly enhanced during the spring season.
The enchanting scenario is attributed to the thousands of almond trees that blossom and present a surreal blanket of white and pink in the majestic mountainous landscape.
For locals, these flowers indicate the arrival of spring, a season that attracts tourists from all parts of the country and abroad.
“These flowers indicate the departure of winter and the arrival of spring. The enchanting beauty of almond flowers attracts tourists from around the world,” noted Junaid Ahmed, a resident of Nagam in Budgam district of central Kashmir.
Almond trees are among the first to bloom in the valley lending an aromatic air to the spring. The almonds from these gardens known locally as Badam are known for their superior taste and high quality.
This year due to unseasonal snowfall in the month of March, delayed blossom by few days but just improvement in weather for last three days has changed the view of valley. Which has given new hope for farmers as these spring flowers indicate the crop of season of fruit trees.
Horticulture sector is the most hit, by unseasonal snowfall in March this year as it not only de rooted plants but broke branches of fruit trees says Abdul Rehman a farmer in Chari Sharief area of Budgam district in Kashmir. But he adds that if weather conditions improve still they can hope better horticulture production this year.
Tourism and Horticulture sector are two backbones of economy in Kashmir last year devastating floods in the month of September hit both the sectors extensively and now people of Kashmir hope for better in both areas this year .
