compiled BY LONDON SWAMINATHAN

Post No. 12,249

Date uploaded in London – –  9 July , 2023                  

Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com

Pictures are taken from various sources for spreading knowledge.

this is a non- commercial blog. Thanks for your great pictures.

tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com

https://www.pustaka.co.in/home/author/london-swaminathan

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I have written about banyan trees in Kolkatta, Adyar (chennai), Thimmamma Marrimanu in Kadiri Andhrapradesh, Bhagavad Gita banyan tree in Kurukshetra,Cholti klan village (in Punjab )banyan tree etc. Now one more tree very near Bengaluru has come to my knowledge when I started writing about 108 temples in Karnataka in Tamil

Another famous Peepal Tree (Asvaththa) is also in Karnataka which is older than Buddha’s odhi tree.

Banyan tree (Ficus bengalensis) is found in Rig Veda as Maha Vriksha and Peepal Tree (Ficus religiosa) is found in Indus -Sarasvati River Civilisation seals. Both the trees along with Udumbara (Ficus glomerata) are given as Vishnu’s names in Vishnu Sahasranama.

In Tamil Banyan tree is Aala maram; Peepal tree is Arasa maram.

Now let us move on to newer information.

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Following is from bangalore tourism website

Dodda Alada Mara: Bangalore’s 400  year old Banyan Wonder.

One of the main tourist attractions in Bangalore is Dodda Alada Mara. Approximately 28 kms from the city, you can spot this magnificent giant tree just a little off the main road to Mysuru.

Dodda Alada Mara or The Big Banyan Tree, is a ginormous 400-year-old banyan tree (Ficus benghalensis), located in the village of Kethohalli in Bangalore. Dodda Alada Mara boasts of being the second largest banyan tree in India.

This massive tree is characterised by aerial prop roots that have matured into thick, woody trunks, identical to the main trunk with the passage of time. Using these prop roots, the Big Banyan Tree has spread laterally over an area of 3 hectares. After the primary trunk had succumbed to disease in the 2000s, it now appears like a grove of trees, with prop roots interlacing with each other.

Located on the Bangalore-Mysore Highway, Dodda Alada Mara stands tall as a symbol of bygone era in the present times. If you are someone who appreciates flora and fauna in their natural habitat, the Big Banyan Tree is the perfect place to unwind yourself. You can soak in nature’s beauty at this place. It offers you an opportunity for an impromptu trip with friends or even solo.

Spiritual Visit: As the tree itself is holy to the Hindus, a lot of devotees visit Dodda Alada Mara to pray amidst its calm and peaceful surroundings. There is also a small temple dedicated to Lord Muneshwara in the lap of this giant tree.

How to reach the Big Banyan Tree or Dodda Alada Mara

You can reach Dodda Alada Mara by travelling approximately 7 kms off the road at the Kumbalagodu Junction on Bangalore-Mysore Road. Buses are available from Majestic (Kempegowda) Bus Station to Kengeri and from Kengeri to Dodda Alada Mara.

You can find direct buses from KR Market, Bangalore to Dodda Alada Mara as well.

Nearest metro railway stations are RV College metro station and Kengeri Metro Station, from where one can hire a taxi or even take autorickshaws to Dodda Alada Mara. You can also hire a private cab from top car rental companies in Bangalore to reach Dodda Alada Mara easily.

Best Time to Visit Dodda Alada Mara

The best time to visit Dodda Alada mara is after the monsoon and just before summer in the months of January to April. Weather around these months is pleasant and less humid, offering visitors a peaceful day to enjoy the natural beauty of the Dodda Alada Mara.

One can visit Dodda Alada Mara on all days of the week, throughout the year.

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(following is from Be on the Road Website)

Dodda Alada Mara (which literally translates into Big Banyan Tree) is a 400 year old Banyan tree that is located in the village of Ketohalli, a little distance away from the busy Mysore road. Over the years, this single tree, which is still growing has spread itself to an area of 3 acres, making itself one of the largest of its kind.

There is no entry fee and the place is open all days between 8 AM and 5 PM. The only thing to worry about are the monkeys who steal food packets and fruits from the visitors. As long as you are not carrying any open food, you should not have any trouble from the monkeys. There are a lot of chairs in the campus for you to sit there and soak in its relaxed aura.

How to get there: Head straight on Mysore road and when you come to the traffic light next to Raja Rajeshwari Dental and Medical College, turn right to a small road that leads you directly onto a railway crossing. Dodda Aladamara is about 7 kms away from this railway crossing. There are a lot of nurseries located on this road and it might be a great place to stop by if you are interested in gardening.

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Oldest Peepal Tree (Aswatha Vriksha)

Oldest Peepal Tree (Aswatha Vriksha) with Huge Importance (from Trip Advisor)

Review of Viduraswatha by 79lakshmans,bengaluru

Reviewed 24 February 2017

After visiting Ghati Subramanya Temple, we went to Holy place of Viduraswatha by road which took almost an hour by private vehicle. People mostly visit this place for religious reasons. The place is developed all around a large ‘Peepal tree’ with innumerable ‘naga’ (serpent) idols. It’s believed that one affected by ‘Sarpa dosha’ based on horoscope, when ‘naga prathistapana’ is done at this place, such a person will be relieved of that ‘dosha’ completely for one’s life. This is the reason that you will find so many ‘naga’ idols installed at every bit of this place.

Vidurashwatha Temple history dates back to Dwapara Yuga (say 5000 years+) and it is associated with Vidura of Mahabharata. The peepal tree there was planted during the Dwapara Yuga by Sage Maitreya. The worship of the ‘Aswatha Vriksha’ (Peepal tree) was taken over by Vidura after the war of Mahabharata and hence the temple got the name Vidurashwatha Temple.

The temple is dedicated to Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva and the ‘Aswatha Vriksha’ is believed to represent these 3 Lords by the 3 parts of the tree viz. Bottom portion including roots by Brahma, middle Trunk portion by Vishnu and the top portion of the tree by Shiva and therefore this tree is called the King of all trees (‘Vriksha Raja’). A ‘sloka’ (verse line) to this effect is written on the main temple wall in Kannada. Apart from the above, the temple is also noted for numerous idols (murtis) of snake gods (Naga Devathas) as informed above.

Jallianwala Bagh of the South

Vidurashwatha is also known as the “Jallianwala Bagh of the South”. As recorded, on April 25, 1938, as a part of the freedom struggle of India, a group of villagers had congregated to organize a Satyagraha. Similar to that happened at Jallianwala Bagh, police fired indiscriminately at the group, resulting in the death of around 35 people. A memorial has been erected in this location to mark as a respect to the martyred people.

We had Lords’ darshan, moved around the place and felt blessed.

Tourist amenities available are practically scanty and the state government should do a lot in this regards to promote tourism.

Date of experience: February 2017

Xxxxx subham xxxxx

Tags —Banyan tree, peepal tree, near Bengaluru, Jallianwala Bagh of south,