Transforming Chamba: A Solo Mission to Make Himachal Pradesh a Chinar Tourism Hub | Shimla News
CHAMBA: Driven by the cultural significance and aesthetic beauty of Chinar trees, a man from Chamba is on a passionate solo mission to introduce Chinar tree plantations and promote the hill district as a hub for Chinar tourism.
However, his mission faces opposition from the local administration, which maintains that Chinar trees are not native to Chamba.
In 2019, environmentalist Navneet Chowfla purchased over 200 Chinar saplings from Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, and planted them in Chamba. He claims that over 83 have survived and are flourishing. He also noted that around 15 Chinar trees, aged four to five decades, are already growing in the Chamba region.
“On the Saho highway, over twenty Chinar trees are flourishing gracefully, and two Chinar trees each can be found near the DC office and TB hospital. A Chinar tree growing near the Rani Sunama grave at Malonna Hills further supports the idea that Chamba’s climate is conducive to the growth of these trees,” he maintains.
Navneet is not just focused on the environmental benefits of Chinar trees but is also keen on developing Chinar tourism in the region, seeing it as an opportunity to boost the local economy. “The broad leaves and vibrant colours of the Chinar tree, particularly in autumn, could attract tourists to Chamba, creating a unique tourism niche that the area has yet to fully explore,” he said.
Though the Chamba administration acknowledges his efforts, it maintains that the Chinar tree is not native to the region and that no official drive for Chinar plantation is currently underway.
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Chamba, Kritagya Kumar, said that while Chinar trees are not native to Chamba, they have nonetheless suggested the avenue plantation of Chinar trees to Navneet.
On a personal note, he added, “I spoke to a friend in the Bhaderwah region of neighbouring Jammu and Kashmir, who offered to provide 100 Chinar saplings free of cost.”
However, Kumar noted that the plantation process would require significant effort. “In addition to transportation costs, the pits would need to be dug, forest soil would need to be brought in, and regular care would be essential, as Chinar plants require more attention compared to the native Deodar trees, which can grow in Chamba without the need for such extensive care. But there are no funds earmarked for the Chinar plantation,” he said.
