There’s more to your city than just that ‘concrete jungle’ it’s known to be. Even today, canopies of green trees stand beside concrete monstrosities. The greens are on the wane, axed on the altar of development. Mumbai Mirror reported last week about a 100-year-old Banyan cut to make way for redevelopment of Pali Market, Bandra. Here’s a quick breeze of an ancient-tree-spotting tour…
Two Baobabs, a Mahogany, an old Banyan... stand as quiet witnesses to the city’s transformation. Despite endless deforestation, they’ve stood the test of time, standing tall as the city’s natural heirlooms.
From Africa to Bandra
The Baobabs were brought into the city by the Portuguese from East Africa. One of them is seen opposite Bhabha hospital, Waterfield road. Perhaps the oldest tree in the city, (it is 450 years old); it occupies an entire pavement and is known for its unique stout trunk. It was adjudged 'Best Tree' by the National Society of Friends of Trees (FoT), whose founder member is the father of Indian nuclear energy programme, Homi Bhabha.
Unfortunately, the tree's stately beauty is lost in the squalor which surrounds it - countless food stalls and the garbage they generate. But the Baobab is a strong tree which can live up to 3,000 years.
Aroma by the Zoo
The second Baobab is difficult to miss. Looming above all others, it stands right next to the ornate gate of Jijamata Udyan in Byculla. Its branches are decked with bell-shaped and fragrant white flowers.
The tree is particularly known for its hollow trunk which can hold up to 100 litres of water. It is said that till about 50 years ago, Africans used to cut a hole into the trunk and keep bodies of their dead inside it for mummification.
The trees, which are pollinated by fruit bats, are not being pollinated anymore. "The tree's survival is now at stake and its saplings are not available in nurseries," said Dr Ashok Kothari, secretary, Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and author of ‘ A Celebration of Indian trees'.
City’s oldest mahogany
The Mahogany tree was planted by explorer David Livingstone in 1865, writes James Douglas in his book, ‘Bombay and Western India’. Shimmying in long pinnate green leaves, it stands opposite Hornbill House (BNHS), Rampart Row, possibly the oldest Mahogany in the city. “There are many Mahogany trees in and around Fort and Dadar, all over 100 years old,” says Dr Kothari. Their smooth, auburn timber is much sought after for home decor.
Shades of a century
A Banyan tree that's over 100 years old guards the entrance of Horniman Circle Garden. "Horses were kept tied to the tree," said Dr Kothari, adding that advertisements of the Bombay Courier newspaper of 1805 indicate that there would be auctions of horses and carriages nearby at Tamarind lane.
Merchants used to do brisk business under its shade, which is how the name `Banyan' from the Gujarati word `Banya' was coined by Englishmen during the colonial rule. Today, the wide canopy of the tree serves as a cool shelter.
Its trunk nestles idol and pictures of Hindu gods and the tree is partially surrounded by earthen and copper tumblers filled with water. Hariram Patel, a merchant, claims to have been serving drinking water for more than a decade to anyone who passes by.
Two Baobabs, a Mahogany, an old Banyan... stand as quiet witnesses to the city’s transformation. Despite endless deforestation, they’ve stood the test of time, standing tall as the city’s natural heirlooms.
From Africa to Bandra
The Baobabs were brought into the city by the Portuguese from East Africa. One of them is seen opposite Bhabha hospital, Waterfield road. Perhaps the oldest tree in the city, (it is 450 years old); it occupies an entire pavement and is known for its unique stout trunk. It was adjudged 'Best Tree' by the National Society of Friends of Trees (FoT), whose founder member is the father of Indian nuclear energy programme, Homi Bhabha.
Unfortunately, the tree's stately beauty is lost in the squalor which surrounds it - countless food stalls and the garbage they generate. But the Baobab is a strong tree which can live up to 3,000 years.
Aroma by the Zoo
The second Baobab is difficult to miss. Looming above all others, it stands right next to the ornate gate of Jijamata Udyan in Byculla. Its branches are decked with bell-shaped and fragrant white flowers.
The tree is particularly known for its hollow trunk which can hold up to 100 litres of water. It is said that till about 50 years ago, Africans used to cut a hole into the trunk and keep bodies of their dead inside it for mummification.
The trees, which are pollinated by fruit bats, are not being pollinated anymore. "The tree's survival is now at stake and its saplings are not available in nurseries," said Dr Ashok Kothari, secretary, Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and author of ‘ A Celebration of Indian trees'.
City’s oldest mahogany
The Mahogany tree was planted by explorer David Livingstone in 1865, writes James Douglas in his book, ‘Bombay and Western India’. Shimmying in long pinnate green leaves, it stands opposite Hornbill House (BNHS), Rampart Row, possibly the oldest Mahogany in the city. “There are many Mahogany trees in and around Fort and Dadar, all over 100 years old,” says Dr Kothari. Their smooth, auburn timber is much sought after for home decor.
Shades of a century
A Banyan tree that's over 100 years old guards the entrance of Horniman Circle Garden. "Horses were kept tied to the tree," said Dr Kothari, adding that advertisements of the Bombay Courier newspaper of 1805 indicate that there would be auctions of horses and carriages nearby at Tamarind lane.
Merchants used to do brisk business under its shade, which is how the name `Banyan' from the Gujarati word `Banya' was coined by Englishmen during the colonial rule. Today, the wide canopy of the tree serves as a cool shelter.
Its trunk nestles idol and pictures of Hindu gods and the tree is partially surrounded by earthen and copper tumblers filled with water. Hariram Patel, a merchant, claims to have been serving drinking water for more than a decade to anyone who passes by.
There’s more to your city than just that ‘concrete jungle’ it’s known to be. Even today, canopies of green trees stand beside concrete monstrosities. The greens are on the wane, axed on the altar of development. Mumbai Mirror reported last week about a 100-year-old Banyan cut to make way for redevelopment of Pali Market, Bandra. Here’s a quick breeze of an ancient-tree-spotting tour…
Two Baobabs, a Mahogany, an old Banyan... stand as quiet witnesses to the city’s transformation. Despite endless deforestation, they’ve stood the test of time, standing tall as the city’s natural heirlooms.
From Africa to Bandra
The Baobabs were brought into the city by the Portuguese from East Africa. One of them is seen opposite Bhabha hospital, Waterfield road. Perhaps the oldest tree in the city, (it is 450 years old); it occupies an entire pavement and is known for its unique stout trunk. It was adjudged 'Best Tree' by the National Society of Friends of Trees (FoT), whose founder member is the father of Indian nuclear energy programme, Homi Bhabha.
Unfortunately, the tree's stately beauty is lost in the squalor which surrounds it - countless food stalls and the garbage they generate. But the Baobab is a strong tree which can live up to 3,000 years.
Aroma by the Zoo
The second Baobab is difficult to miss. Looming above all others, it stands right next to the ornate gate of Jijamata Udyan in Byculla. Its branches are decked with bell-shaped and fragrant white flowers.
The tree is particularly known for its hollow trunk which can hold up to 100 litres of water. It is said that till about 50 years ago, Africans used to cut a hole into the trunk and keep bodies of their dead inside it for mummification.
The trees, which are pollinated by fruit bats, are not being pollinated anymore. "The tree's survival is now at stake and its saplings are not available in nurseries," said Dr Ashok Kothari, secretary, Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and author of ‘ A Celebration of Indian trees'.
City’s oldest mahogany
The Mahogany tree was planted by explorer David Livingstone in 1865, writes James Douglas in his book, ‘Bombay and Western India’. Shimmying in long pinnate green leaves, it stands opposite Hornbill House (BNHS), Rampart Row
possibly the oldest Mahogany in the city. “There are many Mahogany trees in and around Fort and Dadar, all over 100 years old,” says Dr Kothari. Their smooth, auburn timber is much sought after for home decor.
Shades of a century
A Banyan tree that's over 100 years old guards the entrance of Horniman Circle Garden. "Horses were kept tied to the tree," said Dr Kothari, adding that advertisements of the Bombay Courier newspaper of 1805 indicate that there would be auctions of horses and carriages nearby at Tamarind lane.
Merchants used to do brisk business under its shade, which is how the name `Banyan' from the Gujarati word `Banya' was coined by Englishmen during the colonial rule. Today, the wide canopy of the tree serves as a cool shelter.
Its trunk nestles idol and pictures of Hindu gods and the tree is partially surrounded by earthen and copper tumblers filled with water. Hariram Patel, a merchant, claims to have been serving drinking water for more than a decade to anyone who passes by.
Two Baobabs, a Mahogany, an old Banyan... stand as quiet witnesses to the city’s transformation. Despite endless deforestation, they’ve stood the test of time, standing tall as the city’s natural heirlooms.
From Africa to Bandra
The Baobabs were brought into the city by the Portuguese from East Africa. One of them is seen opposite Bhabha hospital, Waterfield road. Perhaps the oldest tree in the city, (it is 450 years old); it occupies an entire pavement and is known for its unique stout trunk. It was adjudged 'Best Tree' by the National Society of Friends of Trees (FoT), whose founder member is the father of Indian nuclear energy programme, Homi Bhabha.
Unfortunately, the tree's stately beauty is lost in the squalor which surrounds it - countless food stalls and the garbage they generate. But the Baobab is a strong tree which can live up to 3,000 years.
Aroma by the Zoo
The second Baobab is difficult to miss. Looming above all others, it stands right next to the ornate gate of Jijamata Udyan in Byculla. Its branches are decked with bell-shaped and fragrant white flowers.
The tree is particularly known for its hollow trunk which can hold up to 100 litres of water. It is said that till about 50 years ago, Africans used to cut a hole into the trunk and keep bodies of their dead inside it for mummification.
The trees, which are pollinated by fruit bats, are not being pollinated anymore. "The tree's survival is now at stake and its saplings are not available in nurseries," said Dr Ashok Kothari, secretary, Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and author of ‘ A Celebration of Indian trees'.
City’s oldest mahogany
The Mahogany tree was planted by explorer David Livingstone in 1865, writes James Douglas in his book, ‘Bombay and Western India’. Shimmying in long pinnate green leaves, it stands opposite Hornbill House (BNHS), Rampart Row
possibly the oldest Mahogany in the city. “There are many Mahogany trees in and around Fort and Dadar, all over 100 years old,” says Dr Kothari. Their smooth, auburn timber is much sought after for home decor.
Shades of a century
A Banyan tree that's over 100 years old guards the entrance of Horniman Circle Garden. "Horses were kept tied to the tree," said Dr Kothari, adding that advertisements of the Bombay Courier newspaper of 1805 indicate that there would be auctions of horses and carriages nearby at Tamarind lane.
Merchants used to do brisk business under its shade, which is how the name `Banyan' from the Gujarati word `Banya' was coined by Englishmen during the colonial rule. Today, the wide canopy of the tree serves as a cool shelter.
Its trunk nestles idol and pictures of Hindu gods and the tree is partially surrounded by earthen and copper tumblers filled with water. Hariram Patel, a merchant, claims to have been serving drinking water for more than a decade to anyone who passes by.
