Uttar Pradesh To Nurture 948 ‘Heritage’ Trees

LUCKNOW, (IANS) – As part of its decision to preserve the state’s cultural heritage, Uttar Pradesh will nurture 948 heritage trees through the Heritage Tree Adoption Scheme. A total of 28 species of trees, each more than 100 years old, have been designated as “heritage trees.” These trees are spread across all 75 districts of the state. Varanasi has the highest number of heritage trees at 99, followed by Prayagraj with 53, Hardoi with 37, Ghazipur with 35, and Unnao with 34.

A government spokesperson announced that a ‘Heritage Tree Garden’ will be developed to grow saplings of these heritage trees. These trees, belonging to 28 species, are situated in non-forest areas and include species such as Aru, Arjun, Mango, Tamarind, Kaim, Kareel, Kusum, Khirni, Shami, Gamhar, Gular, Chitwan, Chilbil, Jamun, Neem, Adansonia, Pakad, Peepal, Peelu, Banyan, Mahua, Mahogany, Mysore Banyan, Sheesham, Sal, Semal, Haldu, and Tumal.

The heritage tree category includes trees with spiritual and historical significance, such as the mother trees of Dussehri and Langra mangoes in Lucknow and Varanasi, the Bachan Imli in Fatehpur, the Imli tree in the Imlitala temple complex in Mathura, the Karil tree in Pratapgarh, the Adansonia tree in Barabanki, the Pakad tree in Hapur and Sant Kabir Nagar, the Bodhi tree of Sarnath, the Peepal tree of Ambedkar Nagar, known as Baba Jharkhand, and the Peepal tree associated with the freedom movement at Ordinance Cloth Factory Shahjahanpur.

Special heritage trees recognized by the Yogi government include the Adansonia tree in Jhunsi (Prayagraj), mentioned by the Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang, the Peelu tree located in the Ter Kadamba temple complex, the trees in Nidhi Van of Mathura, the Akshayavat tree in the Prayagraj fort, the Banyan tree at Valmiki Ashram in Unnao district, a place popular as the birthplace of Luv Kush and Janki Kund, the Banyan tree located in NBRI Lucknow, and the Banyan tree in the Mahamaya Devi Temple Complex, Ghaziabad, associated with the first freedom struggle.