https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Tiny J&K Village Could Become The Proud Owner of World’s Largest Cedar Tree

A Cedar tree found in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir could be the largest and oldest in the world Given the mammoth trunk size, FSI team will soon conduct research Officials and local people now want the Cedar to be declared as a heritage tree
Indian Masterminds Stories

Just few days back, Chanti Bala, a small village in the Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir, suddenly became news for mainstream media. The reason is, a huge tree of Cedar (Deodar), in the village is now believed to be the world’s largest and oldest Cedar tree. With its trunk at 54 feet near the ground and breast diameter at 35 feet, the tree was discovered in the Bhaderwah Forest Division of Doda district.

As the forest officials told the villagers living nearby that it could be the largest and the oldest Cedar tree in the world, there was much excitement all around. A public representative announced Rs. 10 lakh for the beautification of the area around the tree. The people are also demanding that it should be declared as a ‘heritage tree’.

Indian Masterminds interacted with DFO of Bhaderwah, Mr. Chander Sheikher, to get more details.

THE TREE SIZE

One of the largest and famous Cedar trees in the world can be found in Himachal Pradesh. The ‘Kanasar Giant Deodar’ has a 6.35 meters breast diameter, and has been registered as a landmark tree of India.

While the Cedar found in J&K has a 10.5 meter (34 feet) diameter. So, Kashmir’s name can be registered in the special forest wealth category for having the oldest thick trunk Cedar. Silviculture parameters were adapted to measure the trunk’s thickness.

The thickness of the stem was found to be 55 feet very near the ground, but under silviculture, its stem was found to be 33 ft and 4 1/2 ft above the ground.

This tree was found in compartment number 57 of the Forest Department. Encouraged by this discovery, the Department is now going to conduct research on it. Officials believe that it is one of the thickest trunked Cedar trees in not only Asia, but in the world.

Mr. Sheikher said, “Since this is a preliminary survey, we have not officially declared it as the largest and oldest yet. We will take this up with the Forest Survey of India (FSI). They will send their team here and only then, we will announce. But, given the thickness and the size of the tree, it seems the largest.”

The moment forest officials’ eyes felt on it, they knew the tree was extraordinary. An expert team was called for its measurement. When the team members tried to form a human chain around the trunk of the tree, it took 16 persons to do it, that too by standing close to the trunk.

IS IT THE OLDEST?

The gigantic tree, located on the eastern hill of Gandoh, is 124 km from the Doda district headquarter. The tree has also religious significance for the Nag devotees. It has been worshipped for centuries by the local people.

DFO Sheikher further said that if the people are to be believed, then 12 generations have been worshipping the tree till now. That is why, it is believed to be centuries old.

On the possibility of the tree being the oldest in the world, he said, “The average life of a Cedar tree is 200 to 250 years. But, this tree could be 500 years old or more. We will confirm it after the FSI survey.”

He further explained that a Cedar tree has a remarkable longevity of up to 1,000 years due to its great height and the way its branches droop.

The sarpanch of Chanti Bala added to the mystery of the tree with his words. Sarpanch Sansar Chand said, “Our forefathers told us that when someone tried to cut the branches of the tree, blood and a milk-like fluid started oozing out of it and ever since then, no one has dared to harm the tree.”

BEAUTIFICATION

Whether it will be ultimately declared as the oldest or not, there’s no denying the fact that the tree has become an asset for the district. Villagers are happy and excited about the prospects that the huge largest cedar tree can bring as it will draw tourists to their area to see it. The area is one of the most backward areas in Jammu & Kashmir.

Hence, apart from the local people, the Panchayat Raj Institution (PRI) members have also demanded that the location be brought under the tourism map.

While the forest department has decided to conserve the area near the tree and also built a park there.
Informing that the work will start soon, DCC (District Development Council) member Changa Nadeem, who has sanctioned Rs. 10 lakh for the beautification and lighting of the site around the tree, said, “As public representatives, we will try our best to showcase the glory of this unique asset of nature to the outer world. We hope the government, especially the Forest Department will do the needful at the earliest.”


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Mahanadi River
Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai Assures Odisha of Consideration on an Amicable Solution to Mahanadi Water Dispute
MP News
Madhya Pradesh CM Dr. Mohan Yadav Pays Tribute to Pt. Ravishankar Shukla on His Birth Anniversary
ONGC_resized
ONGC Sets Record Date for Rs1.25 Final Dividend for FY25; Strengthens Shareholder Returns- Check Details
CM Pushkar Singh Dhami
PM Modi Releases 20th PM-KISAN Instalment; CM Pushkar Singh Dhami Thanks Centre for Supporting Over 8 Lakh Farmers in Uttarakhand
ips  Sonali Mishra and Binita Thakur
Two IPS Daughters Rewrite History: Sonali Mishra and Binita Thakur Leading India’s Security with Courage and Vision
Mohan Yadav CM
Madhya Pradesh CM Dr. Mohan Yadav Announces Rs. 2,000 Crore Industrial Push for Sehore, Calls It a Model for ‘Bharat First’ Vision
vandalised house
IAS Manjusha Rai Appeals for Justice After Vandalism at Her Bhopal Residence Amid Property Dispute - Know the Matter
IAS Pawan Kumar Gangwar
Strict and Dedicated: Meet IAS Pawan Kumar Gangwar, the New District Magistrate of Mirzapur
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Karn Satyarthi
How IAS Karn Satyarthi Transformed Gumla Through Empathy and Innovation
Ananth Rupanagudi IRAS
IRAS Ananth Rupanagudi’s Take on Corruption, Reform, and Duty
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-26 at 13.16
What Most Indians Don't Know About Jim Corbett
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
BPSC Bihar police
From Lantern Light to Police Uniform: How Praveen Kumar from a Small Bihar Village Cracked BPSC to Become SDPO
From a lantern-lit village in Bihar to becoming an SDPO, Praveen Kumar's journey is a testament to resilience,...
IAS Priyansha Garg
Why Mindset Matters: IAS Priyansha Garg’s Mental Health Mantra for UPSC
After two failed prelims, Priyansha Garg cracked UPSC with AIR 31 in her fourth attempt, proving how...
Ashish Akshat
From Setback to State Topper: How Ashish Akshat Topped JPSC While Working Full-Time
Ashish Akshat from Dhanbad topped JPSC 2023, proving that resilience, discipline, and family support...
Social Media
Mudumalai Tiger Reserve
Mudumalai Tiger Reserve: From India’s First Sanctuary to a Tiger Conservation Success Story | International Tiger Day Special
IAS Supriya Sahu Hails Mudumalai's Role in Tiger Conservation on Tiger Day. Declared in 1940, Now Among...
Mangroves
Mangroves: Nature’s Shield Against Disasters, Says Officer Parveen Kaswan on Mangroves Day - Watch His Post Here
Mangroves, with their dense, interlaced root systems, form a mesh-like structure that serves as a buffer...
Retired IPS Inderjit Singh Sidhu
Purpose Doesn’t Retire: How 88-Year-Old Retired DIG Becomes Chandigarh’s ‘Quiet Warrior’ of Cleanliness
Inderjit Singh Sidhu’s Dawn Patrol Earns Applause, Mahindra’s Praise for a Man Who Chose Action Over...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Mahanadi River
Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai Assures Odisha of Consideration on an Amicable Solution to Mahanadi Water Dispute
MP News
Madhya Pradesh CM Dr. Mohan Yadav Pays Tribute to Pt. Ravishankar Shukla on His Birth Anniversary
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Karn Satyarthi
Ananth Rupanagudi IRAS
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-26 at 13.16
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT