Srinagar, September 23, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A Chinar tree estimated to be around 650 years old in Chattergam village of Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam district is among the oldest of its species in Asia, the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly was informed on Wednesday.
The information was provided by the Forest, Ecology and Environment Department in response to a question raised by Budgam MLA Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi.
The department said some old and dried branches of the heritage tree had fallen naturally, while the remaining portion continues to remain green.
To protect its root system, an iron fence has been installed around the tree’s critical root zone to prevent soil compaction and root suffocation. The measure also restricts vehicular movement around the heritage tree.
Under existing protection measures, even cutting a single branch of a Chinar requires prior permission from the local administration. Hammering nails into trees, attaching signboards, carving on the bark and damaging their bark or roots are also prohibited.
The government said the decline in Chinar numbers across Kashmir has been attributed to natural ageing, diseases and pest attacks, felling for developmental activities, shrinking availability of land and population growth.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration has undertaken several measures to protect and preserve Chinar trees across the Union Territory, including a comprehensive census and geo-tagging exercise. Tens of thousands of Chinar trees have been geo-tagged and assigned unique digital identities to facilitate monitoring of their health and preservation.
The Chinar, scientifically known as Platanus orientalis and locally called “Booni”, is regarded as an iconic living heritage of Jammu and Kashmir and is the Union Territory’s state tree. Known for its expansive canopy and striking red foliage in autumn, the tree can grow up to 30 metres tall and develop a massive trunk.
Chinars were widely planted and popularised in the Kashmir Valley during the Mughal period, particularly under emperors Akbar and Jahangir. The trees are closely associated with historic sites, shrines and Mughal gardens, including Srinagar’s Naseem Bagh, and have featured prominently in Kashmiri art, literature and traditional crafts.
A Chinar generally takes around 150 years to attain full size. Its protection remains important amid threats including urbanisation, illegal logging, disease, pest attacks and climate-related changes.
Cutting or felling a Chinar without formal permission from the district administration is prohibited, while even routine branch pruning requires technical oversight and appropriate treatment of the cut surface.
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