From cold desert to floral hub: Ladakh launches India's highest Lilium field

New Delhi: The Administration of the Union Territory of Ladakh has launched the development of India's highest commercial Lilium cultivation field at Choglamsar in Leh, with the first bloom projected for early September.

Situated at an altitude of 3,265 metres along the Sindhu River, the 93,000-square-metre park surpasses the country's previous altitude record of 3,200 metres, held by a field in Mana, Uttarakhand, establishing Ladakh as an emerging hub for high-altitude floriculture.

Following the foundation stone laying by Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on June 22, 2026, agricultural teams planted over 50,000 premium Lilium bulbs across the site.


Implemented with technical and scientific support from the CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT), Palampur, the project capitalises on Ladakh's naturally cold climate, where the bulbs thrive in temperatures ranging from -4°C to 4°C. The initiative is highly cost-effective, as the bulbs naturally multiply after three years, increasing future yields without requiring additional capital investment.

"Ladakh's climate, which is often seen as a challenge, is in fact one of our greatest strengths," Lieutenant Governor Saxena said, highlighting the strategic vision behind the initiative. "By introducing commercial cultivation of Lilium, we are opening a completely new avenue of income for our farmers, women and youth."

Aligned with Union Home Minister Amit Shah's "Sahkar se Samriddhi" vision, the project adopts a cooperative model to generate sustainable local employment.

The UT Agriculture Department will oversee development and initial marketing during the first year. When the flowers bloom in September, the department will hand over the fields to selected local self-help groups (SHGs) and cooperative societies while providing marketing support to help maximise sales. From the second year onward, the cooperatives will independently undertake commercial cultivation, harvesting and value addition, supported by continued training in scientific floriculture.

Financially, the project is expected to provide access to lucrative floral and hospitality markets, where premium Lilium cut stems fetch between ₹150 and ₹200 each in the domestic market. Beyond its agro-economic objectives, the sprawling Choglamsar flower park is also expected to emerge as a major eco-tourism and recreational destination for visitors to the frontier territory.