The “Wharf” Story.

Jogi Lankar wharf(zu-Lankar in kashmiri) a hub of boats situated near the banks of Dal lake, just 6kms away from lal chowk at present is on the verge of its extinction.
Inaugurated by the then ruler of Kashmir Maharaja Pratab Singh, the wharf now is cursed with pollution covering most of its area with polythene bags and other wastes caused by human “civilization”.
Boatmen now sold there boats and constructed houses in the areas of Mehjoor Nagar and Batamaloo and are dealing with fruit business there. The wharf now no longer serves as the Jogilankar “wharf”.
“We used to visit our relatives by boats via this wharf and thus created an important point for embarkation and disembarkation of boat transportation” said the resident of the area Ghulam Hassan Dar.
Naid kadal, Bohri kadal, Saida kadal, Daulatabaad, Nowpora, Habba kadal and Byari nambal being the main routes from Jogi Lankar were connecting boats from different places to the wharf. Besides selling fruits and vegetables on boats by boatmen coming from Dal lake, Jogi Lankar wharf was also the main point for business establishments as most of the trade was done through here.
“Boats were the main source of transportation and were carrying grass for cattle to this zu-lankar ghat(wharf)”quoted the nowpora resident Mohammad Khalil Qazi.
The wharfs importance can be traced by the following comments “This was an important place and the wharf played very important role in the places economical development” Ghulam Hassan Dar said.”Till the times Kashmiri pandits were residing here boats were used as the main source of transportation” he added on.
In mid 80s a mini-bus service was started from here,which provides its service to people even now,and as compared to the age old boat transportation is quickest and cheaper mode of transportation. Scope of water transport by the bus service was narrowed and boatmen were in difficult times. The wharf is now deserted and thus no hope of seeing the place full of boats is seen.
Adding, a bridge is now constructed by Rashid Mir from Jogi Lankar to Nishat blocking that option also.