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Rabindra Sarovar (which I'll refer as RS in this site), also known as Dhakuria lake, the lungs of south Kolkata, which transports us to a green heaven amidst the grey that dominates us every day, is our first destination of tree spotting. I hope this guide will assist you in identifying the trees of Dhakuria Lake so that you will take far less time to spot and identify interesting trees than I did. I have divided lake area into four smaller zones. The north east zone is first zone we will cover. It is shown by the red border in the below map.
Figure - The four zones of Dhakuria Lake for our understanding
As per this demarcation, this north east zone starts from the Dhakuria gate / Buddha Temple side and continues till where the main road takes an almost 90 degree left turn at the end of the lotus pond (in fact there is a 4 road crossing here, 3rd road leads you to the Lions safari Park and to the Gate no 10 of RS which is Vivekananda Park side of RS. fourth one is not shown in the above google map). While walking in this zone the main lake will be on your left and on your right, across a tar road, you will find two smaller lakes, Anderson club tank & Padma pukur (Lotus pond).
This zone is a most diverse and interesting zone of lake for tree lovers.
False white teak / Tumri (পিটালি)
False white teak / Tumri (পিটালি)
GPS
Male: GPS: 22.51105N, 88.36508E
Female: GPS: 22.51105N, 88.36508E
Right after entering through Dhakuria gate side, you will find a small slanting tree with elongated heart shaped leaves almost overhanging the gate from left. This tree is called “false white teak”. People tend to confuse this with “gamhar” which is known as white teak. (Gamhars are also present in this zone which we will come to later). Interestingly, false white teak tree has a sex; an individual tree is either male tree or female. I guess the one overhanging the gate from left is a male tree as I did not find any fruits in this tree
Dhakuria Lake as seen from the Dhakuria / Buddha Temple side gate
There is another tumri/pitali tree growing diagonally opposite to this one . This one is a female tree. There are other, much larger tumri trees in lake and I believe most of these are not planted but self grown.
Details of this species is here
Tumri, Female tree (Trewia nudiflora) along with male(left) and female(bottom) flowers
Kanak Champa
Kanak Champa
GPS: 22.51101N,88.36464E
If we go straight from the entrance (ignoring the left and right tar roads) we will find three pathways. Farthest from the water is a tar road, a red colored path is closest to the water and a cement colored one between the previous two. We will take the cement colored one (marked in the picture above with an up arrow). After going 15-20 steps along this, on your right you will find Kanak Champa. The large leaves are Palmately lobed(lobes are deeper in young branches) and underside is very whitish. Deliciously fragrant white flowers bloom in March splitting the golden flower buds into five slender segments. Kanak means gold, probably originating from the color of these flower buds.
Details of this species is here
Kanak Champa (Pterospermum acerifolium)
Wild almond Tree (জংলি/বাক্স বাদাম)
Wild almond Tree (জংলি/বাক্স বাদাম)
40 steps from Kanak Champa, and on your right there is a wild almond tree with tall branch-less trunk up to quite some height. Leaves are semal-like (Digitately compound) the common leaf stalk is conspicuously long. Tree flowers in Feb almost at the same time when the new leave emerge. Flowers are small, grow in clusters red and yellow. Fruits are boat shaped around 5’’ and grow in small clusters become red and finally dark brown from initial green. The tree is native of western India and probably not naturally occurring in Kolkata.
This one is a young tree (but it has started to yield fruits). Adult tree can be very tall. There are much larger wild almond trees in RS, which I am leaving to you to discover.
Details of this species is here
Earpod Wattle (আকাশমনি / সোনাঝুরি)
Earpod Wattle (আকাশমনি / সোনাঝুরি)
GPS: 22.51101N, 88.36419E
22 steps from wild almond tree and on your left there is a large earpod wattle tree with leathery, sickle shaped rather bamboo-like leaves and dark, heavily fissured bark. Native of northern Australia and New Guinea, it has been introduced in India not long back. Yellow flowers grow in 3-4’’ spikes mostly in Sep-Oct. Pods twisted, initially green, ripens in Feb-Mar. Given the enormous size of this specimen and the fact of its recent introduction, I guess this may be among the earliest planted specimens in Kolkata.
Earpod Wattle (Acacia auriculiformis)
Black bean tree / Moreton Bay Chestnut
Black bean tree / Moreton Bay Chestnut
GPS: 22.51100N, 88.36418E
15 step from earpod wattle tree on your right we will find a tall slender tree. Leaves are feathered (pinnate) with 6-8 pair of dark green glossy leathery leaves with a terminal leaf. The bark is smooth grey with some black patches. This Australian black bean tree also known as Moreton Bay chestnut. This is quite a rare tree in Kolkata. I have not seen the beans growing yet, but it flowers in March. The orangish pea-like flowers are beautiful but not conspicuous as they are often hidden by the foliage.
Black Bean Tree (Castanospermum australe)
Cannon Ball Tree (নাগ লিঙ্গম / নাগ কেশর)
Cannon Ball Tree (নাগ লিঙ্গম / নাগ কেশর)
GPS: 22.5110N, 88.36418E
Around 26 steps from the black bean tree on your right you will find a tree of substantial girth with cannon ball like fruits and (sometimes) flowers dangling from its trunk. This is an exotic species from tropical south America, called cannonball tree. Has been named after Hindu mythology (Nag Lingam/ Nag Keshar etc.). It flowers multiple time in a year and even new leaves grow more than once a year after all the existing leaves are shed.
Cannon Ball Tree (Couroupita guianensis)
Takoli (চাকেমদিয়া)
Takoli (চাকেমদিয়া)
GPS: 22.51111N, 88.36375E
Around 30 steps from the cannon ball tree, on your left you’ll find a tree - buttressed pale trunk with roundish peel off marks. The branches are slender, drooping - leaves feathery compound. Leaflets are small, oval, often with a notch at the tip. This graceful tree looks spectacular in May when mauve colored pea-like flowers grow in great profusion in small one-sided spikes. A native of India, this tree is very rare in Kolkata. More
Here is a short video that we prepared on this tree:
Takoli / Chakemdia (Dalbergia lanceolaria ssp. lanceolaria)
(Spanish) Mahogany
(Spanish) Mahogany
GPS: 22.51119N, 88.36380E
If you stay exactly at the point from where you noticed Takoli on your left, to your right, close to the tar road there is mahogany; the famous timber tree with a stout trunk and grey-brown flaky bark. Leaves are feather compound with 2-5 pair of leaflets. They are roughly of the size of neem, but unlike neem not toothed and are much darker green. During March-April, when new lighter green leaves emerge, this otherwise somber looking tree gets a gay look . Flowers and fruits are inconspicuous.
This is the "original" mahogany, also known as Spanish / American mahogany. There is another variety, also present in lake, known as Honduras mahogany which has larger and even darker green leaf.
Mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni)
Rain Tree (বিলাতি শিরিষ)
Rain Tree (বিলাতি শিরিষ)
GPS: 22.51111N, 88.36375E
Around 20 step from takoli/mahogany , on your left you will find a rain tree with a short thick bole and a very wide spreading canopy. Leaves are twice feathered, and flowers are pinkish and like small powder puff. Pods are 6-8 inches long, narrow, flat and becomes black when ripe. Originally from Brazil and adjoining area, this tree has been planted for more than a century in India (but may be around1930's in Kolkata as Benthal writes in 40's that there is not a single mature tress in Kolkata). Of late many rain trees are dying in Kolkata probably due to mealybug infestation. There are quite a few dead trees in lake itself. The name "Rain Tree" apparently came from a fact that in some places it is infested by Cicadas, which discharge moisture in form of tiny droplets that fall somewhat like rain from tree (from Benthal, ToC).
Rain Tree (Albizia saman)
Longan (আঁশফল)
Longan (আঁশফল)
GPS: 22.51107N, 88.3634E
If you walk 32 steps from the Rain Tree (and crossing a Palmyra Palm tree / তালগাছ right at the middle of the path), on you left you will find a small longan tree. Earlier I misidentified this as soapnut. However there is a variety of soapnut in Rabindra sarobar.
Longan Tree (Dimocarpus longan) in flower
Sisham (শিশু)
Sisham (শিশু)
GPS: 22.51110N, 88.36346E
After 12 steps walk from the rain tree on your left we’ll find Sisham tree with vertical furrows. Leaves are roundish small (1-3’’) with prominent tip. Because of the zigzag common leaf stalk, the 3-5 leaflets often look like simple leaves. Flowers in Feb-Mar, just after the beautiful pale green new leaves appear in drooping branches. Flowers are yellowish-white, fragrant but not prominent. This is an Indian tree found from Himalayan foothills. Sisham is one of the finest timber trees from India. Of late (2023) this tree is showing signs of decay and is probably dying.
Sisham Tree (Dalbergia sissoo)
Weeping/Java Fig (পাকুড়)
Weeping/Java Fig (পাকুড়)
GPS: 22.51111N, 88.36345E
Just 10 steps from the sisham tree on your right you will find java fig tree with leaves somewhat similar to sisham, but simple leaf, larger deeper green, and shiny. There are quite few varieties of this tree and also few hybrids and cultivars as this is a popular tree for bonsai, indoor planting and landscaping. This one is of variety comosa. This grows orange-yellow figs in Mar-May with another “crop” in Aug. Though it is found in wetter part of India, it is probably not natural in Kolkata.
Weeping Fig (Ficus benjamina var. comosa)
Casuarina (ঝাউ)
Casuarina (ঝাউ)
Location: 22.51127N, 88.36293E
45 steps from the Java fig you'll find a casuarina on your left. A slender tree with drooping needle-like leaves (which are actually twigs!). Originally from south east Asia and Australia, this tree is planted widely in India, especially in coastal towns. Male flowers thin yellowish brown spikes at the end of twigs. Female flowers, usually in separate tree, are in axils 1/2'' long wide with reddish threads.
Casurina (Casuarina equisetifolia)
Karanj (করঞ্জ)
Karanj (করঞ্জ)
GPS: 22.51128N, 88.3629E
Take 18 steps from Casurina and you’ll find a Karanj tree on your right with crooked bole, bark full of warts (this is peculiar to this individual, Karanj trunks are generally smooth), dark green glossy feather compound leaves having 2-3 pairs of leaflets and a slightly larger terminal one. Karanj is a native of India and usually found beside water courses. It’s quite popular as both roadside and compound planting. Leaves fall in Mar-Apr and soon light colored beautiful new leaves emerge followed by clustered pea-like lilac flowers in April-May. Fruit is a flat oval pod (to me they look like flattened baby mango) that matures in next spring. Unfortunately most mature leaves are infested and disfigured by leaf borers but that apparently does not harm the tree.
Indian Beech Tree (Pongamia pinnata)
Freshwater Mangrove (হিজল)
Freshwater Mangrove (হিজল)
GPS: 22.51131N, 88.36272E
Just 15 steps from Karanj tree, on your right you will find freshwater mangrove tree, with a dark brown vertically fissured bark, leaves wider near the tip and clustered near the end of the branches. Tree flowers in Apr-May, flowers are deep scarlet, in 16’’ long pendulous clusters. Fruit 1’’, smooth drupe quadrangular in section. This tree has a wide distribution from Afghanistan to Australia including most part of India including Kolkata. The tree grows usually near river and marsh banks. So, it is a local tree and I have seen a few self grown young trees in lake.
Freshwater Mangrove (Barringtonia acutangula)
White teak / Gamhar (গামার)
White teak / Gamhar (গামার)
GPS: 22.51135N, 88.36269E
From hijal if you walk farther 18 steps, on your left you will find a gamhar tree whose bark is pale yellowish grey leaves heart shaped with a long stalk and distinct whitish under part. Flowers in Feb-Apr, flowers are yellow and trumpet shaped. New leaves also appear around this time. The timber of gamhar is valued for many purposes and due to the light color of the timber is known as white teak. This is an Indian tree widely distributed in India but nowhere very common.
Gamhar/White Teak (Gmelina arborea)
Pilkhan (পাকুড়)
Pilkhan (পাকুড়)
GPS: 22.51134N, 88.36259E
Around 50 steps from Gamhar and on your right (and the canopy practically all around you!) you will find a tree with short irregular buttressed yellowish grey bole with silvery wash. The crown is of enormous spread. Leaves are 3-6’’ long shiny elongated heart shaped with a small tip. White colored, pea sized, rather inconspicuous figs grow in pair at the base of leaf stalks. Old leaves are shed in winter and new ones emerge from Jan to Mar (varies from tree to tree, and ever year to year). New leaves are quite showy and they show colors from pink, copper to light green. This particular tree has shown the color show in late Oct (see below picture, taken from tar road side).
Pilkhan/PakuR (Ficus virens)
Indian Tulip Tree (পরশ পিপুল)
Indian Tulip Tree (পরশ পিপুল)
22 steps from pilkhan and on your right, close to the tar road (next to an earpod wattle/akashmani) you’ll find Indian tulip tree with rough brown cracked bark and deep green heart shaped leaf. Large tulip like yellow flowers appear almost throughout the year. Older flowers turn dull purple. This tress is native to coastal and tidal forests of Asia, Africa and pacific islands but probably not local to Kolkata.
Mock Bodhi Tree (গয়া / গাই অশ্বত্থ)
Mock Bodhi Tree (গয়া / গাই অশ্বত্থ)
GPS: 22.51134N, 88.36259E
If you continue 30 step from the tulip tree and on you right you will find a earpod wattle/ আকাশমনি getting strangulated by another, rather peepal / অশ্বত্থ like tree. This is the mock bodhi tree. Few people differentiate this from peepal / অশ্বত্থ. With careful observation you will notice that leaves are not as wide as peepal and the "tail" of the leaf is less than 1/6 of the length of the leaf. The bark is also wahiter and smoother. This is a tree of moderate size.
Mock Bodhi Tree (Ficus rumphii)
Peepal / Bodhi Tree (অশ্বত্থ)
Peepal / Bodhi Tree (অশ্বত্থ)
GPS: 22.51178N, 88.36176E
52 steps from African tulip tree will take you close to a large peepal tree. Since it is a very familiar Indian tree I am not trying to describe it here. However do try to see the leaves closely and find out how they are different from the mock bodhi tree we saw earlier.
Pipal / Ashshottho (Ficus religiosa)
Banyan Tree (বট)
Banyan Tree (বট)
The other famous fig tree, the banyan tree is another 35 step from the peepal tree. Like peepal tree I am not going to describe it as there is hardly any Indian who does not recognize this tree.
Banyan tree (Ficus bengalnesis)
Fragrant Padri Tree (padar / পারুল )
Fragrant Padri Tree (padar / পারুল )
If you take 66 steps from the banyan tree on you right you will find a tree with feathered leaves, with 3-4 pair of leaves with a terminal leave. This is a quite famous tree in Bengali / Indian literature (but extremely rare) called parul / padar. Mauve colored 1-2 '' long trumpet-shaped flowers appear in March when the tree is usually leafless.
Fragrant Pardi Tree, Parul / Padar (Stereospermum chelonoides)
This is the last tree in this section of Dhakuria lake. In another 30-40 step the path will slowly turn left. On your right you will find a four road crossing. The island of this crossing has a mid-sized mahogany. The color of the path also will change from cement color to yellow and red chequered. You will notice a white diamond sized memorial structure from far. From there the next section of our journey will start. Please go to page Dhakuria Lake(North-West)
You can find a map of this zone below. Note that as of now this map is far from perfect. I am working on it to fine tune it. But if you are map savvy, it will still give you some idea as to where a tree is and you can go directly to a specific tree rather than starting from the beginning of the trail. You can also use the GPS information give under each tree's name. Just select and search in google. Google will understand that as a location. If that does not work you can copy and paste in Google map
Google Sites
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