A Tree Walk by Nizhal at Kalakshetra, Chennai

Nizhal-Tree-Walk-Kalakshetra

A Tree Walk was organized by an organization called Nizhal, at Kalakshetra (Tiruvanmayur, Chennai) as a part of the Madras day celebrations. While we might know that Kalakshetra is a popular institution established by Ms. Rukmini Devi Arundale to teach and showcase Indian classical dance, music and other art forms, we may not know that the campus is home to a wide variety of native and exotic plant/tree varieties, across its 99 acre campus.

Nizhal-Tree-Walk-Kalakshetra-Big-Tree

The Tree Walk is a unique initiative by this organization to sensitize people about the importance of trees/plants and encourage them to grow/conserve trees in their respective localities. Among other activities, they conduct tree walks where one of their volunteers show, give info and explain about various trees, their importance, their use, etc. at certain locations. The tree shown in the above photo is the Pupil tree (Bodhi maram, Arasa maram). It seems this tree produces a lot of oxygen and if people/horses rest under it for sometime, they will become refreshed!

Nizhal-Tree-Walk-Kalakshetra-Diff-Leaves

We were shown Magizham trees whose flowers emanate fragrance and are used to make perfumes. The fruits of this tree are edible and it also freshens the mind off its stress. We saw Elumbotti trees whose parts can fix cracks in bones, we saw Nuna/Noni tree that can increase memory power. There was a tree called as Netlinga (Polyalthina, mast tree) which could absorb sound and hence is sometimes planted all along a campus wall.

Nizhal-Tree-Walk-Kalakshetra-Banyan-Tree

Yes, the above tree is a banyan tree. I had earlier written about one of the biggest banyan trees in the world at the Adyar Theosophical society campus. Did you know that the banyan tree is our national tree? That’s because, it signifies joint families/extended families (various offshoots) and hospitality (to various living beings it sustains). We saw the Vanni maram whose roots go very deep and it seems these were the only tree species to survive a severe drought in Rajasthan once upon a time. We also saw the Vaagai tree (used to cure leukemia) and copper pod tree (used to make dyes).

Kalakshetra-Nizhal-Tree-Walk

Did you know that the Mango Tree is called as Prajapathi (King of all) as each and every part incl. fruits, seeds, bark, flowers, etc. are useful and have medicinal value? Did you know that the Tamarind Tree (Puliya maram) is not a native of India? It was brought from South Africa by Arabian traders long time back and there was no mention of ‘puli’ in the Sangam literature (an old Tamil literature) as it was not there in TN during that time. We saw a Brazilian wood tree whose wood sinks in water and Mayflower/Gulmohur tree with its beautiful flowers, used in making mehandi.

Nizhal-Tree-Walk-Kalakshetra-Thoongumunji-Maram

The leaves (shown above) will fold/shrink if someone touches it. I remember seeing this plant in our flats – we used to play with it! I forgot its name though. We saw the Pungam/ Pungan tree which is native to TN and is an excellent air-coolant. It can also be used to make bio-diesel, it seems. We saw cashew nut trees which can protect sand-dunes from spreading in coastal areas (and hence prevent salt water mixing with fresh water), apart from giving us cashew nuts. We saw Then-poochi maram which can purify the air and the Punnai/Thunnai maram (Alexandria Lawrence) that cures leprosy, has fragrant flowers.

Nizhal-Tree-Walk-Kalakshetra-Leaf-Insects

The above insects (they are smaller than what is visible in the photo) live on this tree and it is easy to mistake them for small fruits! We saw the Nocchi/Nucchi trees that can relieve body-pain if one takes bath in hot-water soaked with their leaves, we saw the Gooseberry tree (amla/nellikaai) and Malabar tamarind tree. We saw the Badam tree whose fruit is rich in proteins and its leaves were once used as plates!

The volunteers pointed out the lessening greenery in cities and explained the importance of saving trees from being cut. Trees are useful in various forms and hence people should not have a don’t-bother attitude when trees are cut mindlessly in their locality.

Destination Infinity

PS: I am coming across many trees for the first time and hence I may have made some mistakes with their names. If you can identify any, let me know in the comments section.

28 thoughts on “A Tree Walk by Nizhal at Kalakshetra, Chennai

  1. Vaish

    OMG! I think this is the best Botony lecture ever! So much of information about trees. I’ve not even heard of some of the trees – if they even exist. I love magizhampoo’s smell.

    1. Rajesh K

      Yes, it’s the flowers that make the Maghizham tree fragrant. It was nice…

      Destination Infinity

  2. Rakesh Vanamali

    What a brilliant post this is! It is quite a regret for me to not have been able to visit this wonderful place while in Chennai.

    1. Rajesh K

      Well, there is always a next time. Just remember… 🙂

      Destination Infinity

  3. Bikram

    I have not even heard of some of these trees , and those insects look cute 🙂

    Greenery indeed is diminishing …

    Good one DI thanks for sharing all this info.

    1. Rajesh K

      Most of them were new to me as well. The crowd (which came with me) was talking botanical names, and what not! They were quite informative. So, I just kept quiet in order to hide my ignorance 🙂

      Destination Infinity

  4. Jas

    I love DI the fact that you put so much of research in your posts. Wonderfully informative post.

    1. Rajesh K

      I just gave some information from what I was able to gather during the Tree walk. During the actual walk, they give even more info…

      Destination Infinity

  5. sm

    informative post .
    the plant is called as touch me not also.
    nice pictures like the virtual walk to the trees.

    1. Rajesh K

      Yes, Touch-me-not was the name we used. During this walk, they called this plant using some other name. The Thamizh name is Thottasinungi, I guess.

      Destination Infinity

  6. Nita

    That banyan tree is amazing, and a beautiful photograph. My first instinct on seeing that was to climb it!

    1. Rajesh K

      I realize that now – It’s quiet possible to try to climb this tree. But the organizers of the walk wouldn’t have been cordial to this idea I guess… 😉

      Destination Infinity

  7. Reema

    Blogging from work and flickr is blocked here so unable to see the photos. But the idea of a Tree Walk is so innovative!

    1. Rajesh K

      Yes, the concept is innovative and informative. People in cities should go on such tree walks and try to at least grow a couple of trees each in their home.

      Destination Infinity

      1. viji

        could u please advise how to go about “tree-walk”. I am quite interested.

        Thanks
        Viji

        1. Rajesh K

          This was organized as a part of the Madras Day celebrations. It happens every year. You can google it and find out this year’s schedule and when these events will be held.

          Destination Infinity

  8. Phatichar

    Nostalgic…my sister studied at Kalakshetra. 🙂

  9. rahul aggarwal

    some weird insects those were …

    the tree with many branches .. that pic is beautiful ..

  10. Susan Deborah

    I absolutely love trees. One thing: Can’t we just see trees for what they are instead of focusing too much on their utility. I guess there lies the problem – looking at how nature can be useful for man. Let them be and let us value them for themselves.

    Enjoyed this post.

    Joy always,
    Susan

    1. Rajesh K

      We can, but if the tree is put to use in someway, it’s easy to convince people to adopt it/grow it/save it.

      Destination Infinity

  11. Venkat Ramakrishnan

    Good blog with many details that we miss to observe on a daily basis – like insects.

    1. Rajesh K

      I would have missed the insects too, but the coordinator from Nizhal gave us a good presentation and included all these small details. This walk was very good.

      Destination Infinity

  12. Aparna narayanan
    Aparna narayanan says:

    The article felt like taking us through the walk..interesting information about the native and non native species..I would be very happy to be a part of the tree walk.

    1. Rajesh K

      These tree walks are conducted every year by an organization called Nizhal. Follow Madras Day website or facebook page to get more details.

      Destination Infinity

  13. Maddy

    Is tiz a tourist spot

    1. Rajesh K

      No, it’s a dance school – but there is a museum that is open for tourists inside this campus, and ppl. walk in the mornings (I have heard).

      Destination Infinity

  14. vivianlopes
    vivianlopes says:

    hey its really grt I stay so close to this campus but nver knew abt. I stdy in Satya nilayam.college of philosophy and culture, thruvanmayur, I am the ECO club coordinator hope if we can orgnisethis for us…please reply

  15. uma

    what is then-poochi maram?

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