Ganderbal, Jun 30: A sprawling lavender farm in Nunner village of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district is fast emerging as one of the Valley’s newest seasonal tourist attractions, drawing visitors, photographers and nature enthusiasts eager to witness its vibrant purple bloom.
Developed under the CSIR-Aroma Mission, the lavender fields have reached peak flowering this week, transforming the landscape into a sea of purple against the backdrop of the Sindh Nallah and the snow-clad Haramukh mountains. From the early hours of the morning, tourists and local residents flock to the farm for photography, social media reels and leisurely walks amid the fragrant blossoms.
The growing popularity of the site received a major boost recently when Chief Minister Omar Abdullah inaugurated the Lavender Festival organised by the Agriculture Department Kashmir at the Model Floriculture Centre (MFC), Nunner. During the visit, he also laid the foundation stone and inaugurated several agriculture infrastructure projects aimed at strengthening the medicinal and aromatic plants sector and improving farmers’ livelihoods.
Drawing comparisons with internationally renowned lavender destinations, the Chief Minister said the scenic lavender fields of Ganderbal have the potential to become a major attraction for travellers heading to Sonamarg. He said such initiatives could generate new livelihood opportunities for local communities while promoting rural tourism in the region.
Local farmers said the farm has witnessed a steady rise in footfall, with many travellers halting along the Srinagar-Sonamarg highway to explore the fields and capture photographs.
“This is better than any garden in Srinagar. The whole valley looks painted purple, and the scent is calming,” said Ayesha Khan, a tourist from Mumbai who visited the farm on Saturday.
With the annual Amarnath Yatra and the peak summer tourist season underway, officials and residents believe the lavender fields could emerge as an attractive offbeat destination for pilgrims and tourists travelling to Sonamarg.
“We came for Kheer Bhawani at Tullamulla. A local told us about the Nunner lavender fields. It’s Kashmir’s best-kept secret,” said Ritesh Kumar, a devotee from Jammu.
The Agriculture Department is encouraging more farmers in Ganderbal to adopt aromatic crop cultivation by providing free lavender saplings and facilitating buyback arrangements for lavender oil through CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), making the transition economically viable.
Agriculture experts said aromatic and medicinal plants offer significant economic potential and can play a key role in diversifying Kashmir’s agricultural economy. They said commercial cultivation of these high-value crops, coupled with greater participation of educated youth, could provide sustainable livelihoods and improve the financial security of farming families.
Experts also highlighted the environmental benefits of lavender cultivation, noting that the crop requires relatively little pesticide, improves soil health and attracts bees, thereby enhancing pollination of neighbouring crops.
Officials said Kashmir’s thriving tourism industry offers a ready market for ornamental and floriculture products. They added that the department is intensifying efforts to encourage more farmers to diversify into ornamental, medicinal and aromatic plant cultivation to tap both tourism and commercial opportunities.
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