The fall of Kashmir’s mighty chinar trees

“It was a moment of panic for the tourists,” says Fayaz Ahmad, the head clerk of Shalimar Garden, recalling the incident when a 300-year-old Chinar tree toppled over in September 2024. “Fortunately, there was no physical damage to anyone.”

That is the period when the leaves of the magnificent Chinars turn a brilliant red, at the onset of fall – a major tourist attraction.

Typically, a Chinar grows to 30 metres (98 ft) or more and is known for its longevity and spreading crown. It takes around 30 to 50 years for the trees to reach their mature height and around 150 years for them to grow to their full size.

The Chinar tree population in Kashmir has declined, according to a 2021 booklet from Kashmir’s Forest Department. Some estimates put the number at 42,000 in the 1970s. Current estimates range from 17,000 to 34,000. There is an ongoing census, the coordinator of which says there are estimated to be 32,500 Chinars in Kashmir.

“Based on my 15 years of experience, I estimate that over 100 Chinars have fallen in Shalimar alone,” said Ahmad.

“Chinars are impacted from environmental changes, this can stress these iconic trees and disrupt their natural growth cycles,” says Sami Ullah Bhat, an Assistant Professor in Ecology and Environment at Kashmir University.

Along with changing…

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