In today mechanized age, where life has become very busy and fast-paced, man has also been surrounded by innumerable problems and difficulties. In such a situation, tourism and recreational activities are very important to keep the health and mind fresh. So, in this regard, our tourism team from time to time visits various beautiful and charming valleys, snow-capped mountains, deserts, plains and caves of Pakistan.
She continues to visit other beautiful places and enjoy the fascinating scenery of these areas. This time our 20-member tour team planned a tour of the world’s largest man-made artificial forest, Changa Manga.
We first reached Lahore from Rawalpindi to reach this wildlife park located in Kasur district. Then booked a coaster from there to Changa Manga and immediately after breakfast proceeded to the forest. After a difficult two hour journey we were at the main entrance of the forest. A few yards after entering the gate, there is a large board displaying the history and brief information of Changa Manga.
Along with this, a complete map of the forest and various locations have been marked. There is also an ancient steam engine in the nearby tram station. We were just inspecting this ancient forest when an official of the forest department came forward and introduced himself. And provided useful information about Changa Manga. He said, “During British rule, the main purpose of this artificial forest was to supply fuel wood to the steam engines of that time.”
For this purpose, a plantation project was started here in 1865 and supply of cheap wood for steam engines running between Lahore, Amritsar and Karachi was started. Later, Mr.B.Ribbentro made its initial plan in 1871. In 1881, the regular process of cutting trees started.
Then in 1888, cultivation was started to obtain Parshesham wood in a large area. It is actually a story of two brothers, one named Chhanga and the other named Manga. Both of them were thieves and used to hide in these forests at night to avoid the British authorities. The stories of these brothers were on the tongue of the children that they used to distribute the looted wealth from the rich among the poor.
Both the brothers were patriotic and fought against the British. After being declared traitors by the British, they went into hiding in the forest. The local people used to give him the status of “Hero”, after these brothers the forest was named “Changa Manga”, which is still known by their name and this name is also part of the official records. “
Changa Manga forest was initially just a nameless forest, where the trees of chandir, berry and vin etc. grew naturally everywhere. Then in 1865, the foundation of this grand forest was laid on an area of 780 acres after the successful experiment of artificial forest for wood supply in the suburbs of Lahore.
Plantation in Changa Manga was formally started in 1866 and felling of trees started in 1881. Later, after canal water facility was provided, a program of regular canal system was started here in 1886. In 1888, a large area was constructed. A large number of trees were planted to obtain sheesham wood and in just two decades, sheesham trees began to meet the growing needs of Punjab for fuel and building wood.
At that time, wood was supplied daily by tram. In 1888. After the discovery of a coal mine at Jhelum District, Dangdut, the availability of large quantities of coal made alternative wood available for powering railway engines, and the development of the said forest was temporarily interrupted. However, by this time the demand for timber had increased throughout the Punjab.
As the importance of timber for other purposes also cannot be denied, plantations of various types continued. Among them, shesham and mulberry have special importance. The shesham here is famous throughout Pakistan as its wood is considered very strong and valuable. Spread over an area of 12,510 acres, there are many types of trees in this forest, including sambal, mulberry, birch, poplar, paper, mulberry, falahi. , Sars, Tun, Peeples, Kekar, Gul Nishtar, Silveroak, Mango and Bananas besides there are extensive mulberry trees all around.
In this regard, the official told us that “Actually, the birds that temporarily migrated here from the cold climates of Siberia, who came here to eat mulberry, because of their eggs, mulberry trees spread around here.” Even today, most of the wood used in sports equipment in Sialkot is obtained from mulberry trees here. Apart from this, wood is supplied to the match factory from the sapwood trees grown here. While the wood of poplar and sambal trees is used for sewing, plywood and paper. Also, cotton is also obtained from the sambal tree, which is used to make pillows, mattresses and sofa seats, etc.”
Regarding the felling of trees and procurement of wood, the official said, “During a year. About five to six hundred acres of trees are harvested, after harvesting the wood is transferred to the depot. Thus, after a period of about twenty years, it is the turn of re-harvesting of the first part. The areas that are harvested are replanted. At first, the distance between the plants is kept short, then after every five years, the dead and weak trees are cut and their distance is increased. All this process continues under a regular and organized plan.
In this regard, a plant has also been installed here, where the wood is dried at a certain temperature, it does not create any cracks in the wood, it is called “seasoning” and in this way the wood is very strong. It happens. Administratively the forest is divided into five different blocks and each block is headed by a Forest Block Officer, who is accompanied by five Forest Guards.
Residential colonies of Beldars have also been built in the forest premises for irrigation, felling and watering of trees. There is also a dispensary for employees and a primary school for children within the forest premises.
The forest of Changa Manga is not only an excellent source of firewood, but it is also famous throughout the country as an excellent tourist resort. A national park was built here in 1960, after which millions of domestic and foreign tourists started coming here every year for the purpose of tourism. Mehtab Lake, zoo, swimming pool, boats, swing bridge, Mehtab Mahal, model of Minar-e-Pakistan, grassy plot, cricket lawn, children’s park, open sheds and benches etc.
have been provided for the entertainment of tourists. Apart from this, there is a proper arrangement of rest houses for accommodation. Apart from this, a steam train is also run to entertain the tourists. A canal branch lowers through the middle of Changa Manga Jangal, which irrigates the entire forest.
There is also a beautiful lake, which complements the beauty of the forest. In view of the beauty of the lake, it has been named “Mehtabi Lake”. Boats plying here are a special attraction for tourists. A ‘swing bridge’ has been constructed to reach the other side of the lake.
Not more than eight people are allowed to pass on it at a time. Then in the middle of the lake, on the banks of the two-storied “Mehtab Mahal” standing in the water, the beautiful scene of touching the water of the lake through the branches of evergreen trees is related to seeing.
The “Department of Wildlife Conservation” plays a vital role in the conservation and beautification of the forest. A breeding center has been established adjacent to the lake for the breeding of wild life, including Nile cows, deer, bears and vultures. Other animals are housed, animals are provided as wild an environment as possible.
The Department of Wildlife Conservation has raised about two hundred wild chickens and released them freely in the forest to increase the population of pheasants. Apart from this, there are plenty of rabbits, pheasants, partridges, quails and peacocks. Visitor birds flock here in large numbers from Asia Minor in Talwar, March and April. Apart from valuable types of falcons, bats of large size are also seen jumping around. However, any kind of hunting is prohibited in the forest.
While walking in different parts of the forest, we had come out quite far and at that time we were standing in a grove of bamboo trees, looking at the tall trees talking to the sky, due to which there was semi-darkness everywhere. Dry bamboo leaves were spread far and wide, passing through which the sound of shrapnel shrapnel created a strange fear in the air.
During the walk, there was a fear that we might not get lost in the forest and then the evening was getting darker. were left to see. However, as the evening set, our tour team took the way back with a lot of information and beautiful memories, thinking that if life is faithful, we will come again.
The skillful use of wood. . . .
The general climate of the forest is similar to that of Lahore due to its proximity to the city of Lahore. However, in summer, afternoon humidity increases here and evenings become quite pleasant. The annual rainfall is 400 mm.
Various small compartments have also been made here to store wood, which are 232 in number, and the area of one compartment is 50 acres on an average. The special thing about the forest is that the use of wood is seen everywhere. Be it concrete building, shelters, bridges or other objects, wood has been used in every construction with great skill and skill.
Four thousand maunds of raw silk.
The government is working on various schemes here. The Sericulture Department has successfully experimented with growing Japanese mulberry, which is an excellent source of leaves for rearing silkworms. Japanese mulberries begin fruiting early in the spring. The surprising thing is that in six to seven weeks silk worth about two crore rupees is supplied to various factories.
Apart from this, people living in Changa Manga and its surroundings are also engaged in rearing silkworms. In the forest there are innumerable mulberry trees, on the leaves of which silkworms are reared, and according to a conservative estimate, about four thousand maunds of raw silk are obtained here. Apart from this, baskets are also made from mulberry twigs.
A 24 km long canal has also been built to wash timber and fuel from the entire forest. Wood and fuel are transported by rail. Diesel or steam powered engines carry up to 35 tons of wood in a carriage consisting of 25 trolleys.
