The Great Banyan (Ficus benghalensis:Moraceae) : One of the world’s largest trees, the Great Banyan of Calcutta ‘s Howrah Botanical Gardens is a famous landmark and tourist attraction. [West Bengal : Calcutta : Calcutta Botanical Gardens in Howrah]

Tabo Ancient Corner Poplar (Populus ciliata:Salicaceae) : In the soaring high desert landscape of Spiti Valley, this sacred and ancient Poplar tree is linked to the earliest days of the Tabo Monastery, famed for its Buddhist murals [Himachal Pradesh : Tabo : At the Tabo Monastery]

Vasugi Nag Narayani Cedar (Cedrus deodara:Pinaceae) : One of the wonderful ancient cedar trees at a sacred grove near Kullu Valley [Himachal Pradesh : Kullu Valley : In a roadside sacred grove]

Bom Jesus Rain Trees (Samanea saman:Fabaceae) : At the Bom Jesus Basilica in Old Goa, two giant Rain Trees rival the huge Portuguese cathedral for sheer size. [Goa : Old Goa : At the Bom Jesus Basilica in Old Goa]

Ancient Nallur Tamarind (Tamarindus indica:Fabaceae) : This botanical marvel, almost one thousand years old with root sprouts, lightning scars, rooting branches, and strange hollows, is likely the gnarliest, twistiest, strangest tamarind tree on the planet. [Karnataka : Bangalore : At Nallur Grove, off NH 207 SE of Devanahalli NE of Bangalore ]

The Bodhi Tree (Ficus religiosa:Moraceae) : The world’s most famous tree, this tree marks the location where the Buddha attained enlightenment, and is the destination for the Buddhism’s most important pilgrimage. This individual is from the 1800s, a fourth generation of cutting from a Sri Lankan sapling of the original [Bihar : Bodh Gaya : All paths lead to this tree in Bodh Gaya]

Bonsai National Park Pilkhan (Ficus virens:Moraceae) : Tucked away in a corner of Lodhi Gardens in Delhi is the Bonsai National Park, and this sixty year old tree is one of the most impressive of the diminutive trees there [Delhi NCR : Delhi : In Lodhi Park, in Bonsai National Park]

Tansen’s Tree (Ziziphus mauritiana:Rhamnaceae) : The tomb of Tansen, a famous musician in Akhbar’s court, is marked by a now-dead jujube tree, whose leaves were said to make one’s voice sweeter and more melodious. [Madhya Pradesh : Gwalior : At the tomb of Mahammed Ghas]

Nehru’s Shade Tree (Cassia fistula:Fabaceae) : Prime Minister Nehru Ji loved to sit in the shade of this Laburnum tree in the back yard of his residence at Teen Murti Bhavan [Delhi NCR : Delhi : Rear garden of Teen Murti]

Kallemullah’s Mango Masterpiece (Mangifera indica:Anacardiaceae) : Kalleemullah, a mango cultivator near Lucknow, has produced a masterpiece with this one mango tree, upon which an astounding 312 varieties of mango have been grafted onto one stem. [Uttar Pradesh : Malihabad : At Abdullah Nursery orchard on the right side of the road from Lucknow immediately before Malihabad]

The Mori Pine (Pinus roxburghii:Pinaceae) : At a sandy river bank along the Tons River, this champion sized pine is now in pieces after it succumbed to fungal decay [Himachal Pradesh : Mori : On the shores of Tons River]

Adi Shankara’s Ancient Mulberry (Morus serrata:Moraceae) : The Hindu reformer Adi Shankara meditated beneath this spectacularly large mulberry tree, in the steep valley of Joshimath beneath the soaring Himalayan peaks. [Uttarakhand : Joshimath : In Joshimath town]

Naggar Climbing Cedar (Cedrus deodara:Pinaceae) : At the Forest Rest House in Naggar, a mature cedar tree makes for a great introduction to climbing the deodars [Himachal Pradesh : Naggar : At the Forest Rest House]

Kamakshi Ekambaram (Mangifera indica:Anacardiaceae) : When the purportedly 3500 year old One (Ek) Mango (Ambaram) at Kanchipuram died, a new one was planted and worship continues where Kamakshi was ceremoniously married to Lord Shiva [Tamil Nadu : Kanchipuram : Center of the temple complex]

Hadimba Grove Magnificent Cedars (Cedrus deodara:Pinaceae) : The largest and most notable of the giant cedar trees of the ancient Hadimba grove in the center of Manali [Himachal Pradesh : Manali : Hadimba Grove]

Lodhi River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis:Myrtaceae) : At the green and spacious Lodhi Gardens in the heart of New Delhi, a huge Murray River Red Gum from the interior of Australia spreads its branches out wide. [Delhi NCR : Delhi : In Lodhi Gardens, near Bara Gumbad]

Nalanda University 8-Date (Phoenix sylvestris:Arecaceae) : A strange, eight-branching mutant date palm can be found at the ruins of one of the world’s first universities, the Buddhist school of Nalanda [Bihar : Nalanda : Near the middle of the three largest temples, at the ruins of Nalanda University]

Uppangala Giant Dipterocarpus (Dipterocarpus indicus:Dipterocarpaceae) : A colossal Dipterocarpus tree (one of India’s largest tropical tree species) marks the entrance to a long term research site deep in the Karnataka jungles. [Karnataka : Subramanya : Deep in the jungle]

Diu Rukhda Baobab (Adansonia digitata:Malvaceae) : A superbly squat, elderly, and elephantine baobab is hidden in the woods near Nagoa beach. [Gujarat : Diu Island : Nagoa Beach]