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| Char Chinari loses sheen | | | Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Early Times Report
Srinagar, July 22: The Char Chinari, which once used to be a major tourist attraction is losing its glory with each passing day, causing concern among the tourism players.
Located in the "Bod Dal" and often called "Ropa lank", it is marked with the presence of four majestic Chinar trees at the four corners.
Chinar tress, characteristically grow in Himalayas. They have been an important part of Kashmiri tradition as they survive for a long period of time.
A hotelier said that it was quite unfortunate to see the Char Chinari in the sorry state of affairs.
"At present, the island is having two dead chinars,two old and two new, which are quite small. The base has been badly affected by the water," he said.
While advocating renovation he said Char Chinari should be brought into its original form.
John Mohammad, a travel agent said that Char Chinari has become a "dead wood".
"In our child hood, we used to take shikara, stop at the island, take tea and then go to Hazratbal shrine to offer prayers," he said.
Terming it as an important part of heritage, he said that tourists in good number used to visit it.
"When it was in good condition, number of tourists used to visit it but now, hardly any tourist makes it way. It is one of the major tourist attractions in the Srinagar city and needs to preserve. It should be renovated on the modern lines," he said.He said that the authorities have failed to preserve it.
"The authorities should replace the dead trees, give Charchinari a facelift. They should bring it into its past glory. Without Charchinari, Srinagar city has no identity," Ali Mohammad a local said.
He asked for promotion of tourism at highest level."Recently, we had a meeting of tour operators at Mumbai. The state was represented by a deputy director. Instead of him, a higher official or tourism minister should have made it to the meeting," he said.
A tourism official said that they have been maintaining the Char Chinari."Charchinari comes under Floriculture department. Biotiolets and outer walls were managed by us. Two Chinars are damaged and two are in a good condition. We recently constructed decks, landing point and take off point," he said.While a floriculture official said that they have been planting the saplings. |
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