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Historic 600 Year Old Island in Shambles
By Islomaniac | September 18, 2007
India’s Lake Wullar, is Asia’s largest freshwater lake and is home to the historic Zainalank Island. This beautiful and mysterious island is dedicated to communal harmony and is a place where a temple and mosque were built by Sultan Zainulabidin in the 14th century. However, after many years of neglect the islands structures has been left in ruins, with only stone and medieval brick remaining of these once great structures.
How did this happen and where did these structures come from? Spread over two acres of land, there are many versions behind construction of the quadrangular island, which till few decades ago was a major tourist attraction. Noted historian Prof Fida Hasnain says that during prehistoric times, Wullar was a populated city ruled by King Padma Naga. Quoting a legend, he says the city got submerged under water as the people had become wicked. Later, the Buddhist king built an artificial island in middle of the lake
The king called for swimmers and divers, who went down under the water and found two small golden idols. The king recovered the statues and decided to build an island with temple and mosque at the site. For it, he got engineers from the south India who built a very large wooden ark, which was loaded with stones and earth and dumped at the site, which is known as Zainalank. The king also got built a very magnificent palace for his use on the Island, ruins of which are still visible,
According to some scriptures, after labourers employed by Zainulabidin failed to make foundation of the Island despite filling it, the king made a huge ship of logs. Later he got it filled with tons of stones and soil, making foundation of the Island which many believe is floating.
With the passage of time, the palace, its terraces and boundary walls gradually degraded into ruins, giving it a look of a ghost town. Failure of successive regimes to undertake its beautification further deteriorated its condition.
Taking into consideration the island’s historical importance, the Wullar and Manasbal Development Authority, which was formed last year, formulated a comprehensive plan to restore its beauty and recently submitted a project report to government for sanction. It is anticipated that the island will be restored to a place where locals and tourists can come to share a part of their rich heritage.
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