Hi friends! I am back with one of my visit to the most interesting spots in Bangalore and it is also only 28km from Bangalore. Let me talk about my visit to Dodda Allamara, what I read in the notice board there and what other things I saw.
Yesterday, the March 11, 2021, a Thursday, was a holiday (on account of Shivarathri) and my dad said that let’s go and visit a place that is one of the best proofs about hanging roots. Having recently learnt in our Science class about roots that not go deep into the earth but also hang from the top of trees, I was curious to see the same.
We arrived at the location and was greeted by the sign “World Famous Largest Banyan Tree” and from the notice board Iearnt that it was 4th largest banyan tree (#1 in Andra Pradesh, #2 in West Bengal and # in TamilNadu) in the world. This tree is 400 years old and spreads over 12,000 square meters (3 acres)!
Initially, I was sad to learn that the main trunk of this banyan tree died and has been removed. But then I realized the beauty of the banyan tree – all the branches of the trees had roots dropping from the top into the ground and enabling the branches to become independent before becoming a tree by itself. In fact, at one point, in the absence of the main trunk, I was confused whether some of them were individual trees or the branches from the old tree.
There was a temple in the middle. The priest explained as to why the banyan tree is considered sacred – it symbolizes progress and growth as well as provides food and shelter to numerous animals and birds. I saw plenty of monkeys, squirrels, dogs as well as birds like parrots, mynahs, crows and sparrows.
This trip to Dodda Alladamaara was enlightening. I saw a few branches which took the support of branches to grow, few of them were growing horizontally, few were looking like bridges and/slides. I have never seen a tree with many branches in such shapes.
Friends, if you are keen to see hanging roots, I do strongly recommend that you visit this world famous and renowned Dodda Alla Mara on Bengaulru – Mysuru Highway.
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