{{Short description|Island in Dal Lake, Srinagar, India}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}} {{Use Indian English|date=April 2018}} {{Infobox islands | name = Char Chinar | image_name = Char_Chinar-_Dal_Lake.jpg | image_size = 240px | pushpin_map = Jammu and Kashmir#India | coordinates = {{Coord|34.1004|N|74.8663|E|display=inline,title}} | location = Dal Lake }}
'''Char Chinar''', also sometimes called '''Char Chinari''', '''Ropa Lank''', or '''Rupa Lank''', is an island in Dal Lake, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. The island located on the Lakut Dal (small Dal) is known as Roph Lank (Silver Island) and is marked with four Chinar trees growing at the corners, thus known as Char Chinari (Four Chinars).<ref>{{cite journal |journal=The Geographer |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=twRLAAAAYAAJ&q=%22char+chinari%22+-wikipedia |volume=41 |page=24 |year=1994 |title=The Geographer }}</ref><ref name="Sharma2008">{{cite book |title= India - A Travel Guide |last1= Sharma |first1= Shiv | year=2008 |publisher= Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd. |isbn= 9788128400674 |pages=816 }} </ref> A second chinar island, known as Sone Lank (Gold Island), is located on the Bod Dal (Big Dal) and overlooks the shrine of Hazratbal.<ref name="Sharma2008" />
== History == Murad Baksh, brother of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, constructed the Roph Lank.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.kashmirmonitor.in/Details/128226/the-lost-charm-of-char-chinari|title=The lost charm of Char Chinari|access-date=2018-06-17|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618002859/https://www.kashmirmonitor.in/Details/128226/the-lost-charm-of-char-chinari|archive-date=18 June 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== Chinar == {{main|Platanus orientalis}} Chinar trees characteristically grow in Western Himalayas. Their botanical name is ''Platanus orientalis.'' They have been an important part of Kashmiri tradition, in that, a Chinar tree is found in almost every village in Kashmir. These trees have survived for ages, because Chinar is basically a long-living tree. It spreads wide across a region of cool climate with sufficient water. The tree has several properties - leaves and bark are used as medicine, the wood, known as lace wood, has been used for delicate furniture and the twigs and roots are used for making dyes.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/thread/reflections/article7892357.ece|title=The speaking tree of Kashmir|last=Ashiq|first=Peerzada|date=2015-11-19|work=The Hindu|access-date=2018-06-17|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
== Decline and restoration == Chinar all over Jammu and Kashmir have been affected due to various reasons such as indiscriminate tree felling and floods. Three of the four trees have shown signs of drying up. Some locals blame construction on the island, whereas others blame recent floods and climate change.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://kashmirreader.com/2017/07/27/dying-chinars-enchant-no-visitors-char-chinari/|title=Dying Chinars enchant no visitors at Char Chinari|work=Kashmir Reader|access-date=2018-06-17|language=en-gb|archive-date=18 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618011608/https://kashmirreader.com/2017/07/27/dying-chinars-enchant-no-visitors-char-chinari/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/jammu-kashmir/kashmir-s-famed-char-chinari-island-dying-a-slow-death/448603.html|title=Kashmir's famed Char Chinari island dying a slow death|date=8 August 2017|work=The Tribune}}</ref>
The floriculture department of Jammu and Kashmir is making efforts to restore the island and have also planted more Chinar trees on the island.<ref name=":0" />
== Gallery == <gallery mode=packed heights="150px" style="text-align:left"> File:Char Chinar.jpg File:Char Chinar at Dal Lake 1.jpg File:A view of Dal Lake with Chinar islands.jpg File:Char Chinar - panoramio.jpg File:Char Chinar at Dal Lake 2.jpg File:India - Srinagar - 019 - Char Chinar Island on Dal Lake.jpg </gallery>
==References== {{portal|Islands}} {{reflist}}{{Commons category|Char Chinar}}
Category:Islands of Jammu and Kashmir Category:Srinagar Category:Lake islands of India Category:Islands of India Category:Uninhabited islands of India