Dhakuria Lake(North-West)

The diamond structure in memory of the people who died in the tragic fire in Dhakuria AMRI is our landmark in this zone. We would love to believe that their souls peacefully reside synthesizing themselves with the color of nature. With a silent prayer for the deceased we will start from the point shown in the below picture. The rain tree and the memorial will be exactly on our right. Take 10 steps and on your right you will find

Indian Almond Tree (কাঠ বাদাম / जंगली बादाम)

The first tree in this zone that we will spot is the Indian almond tree marked in the picture above. This one is not yet fully grown. A tall deciduous tree with a characteristically whorled branches. (which means many branches emerge from the same levels forming "stories"). Leaves are fairly large 6-10'', glossy and wider at the bottom. They take a fine red shade in winter before falling. New leaves emerge in Feb. flowering (a whitish spike smaller than the leaves) starts in Mar-Apr and a couple of further flushes in Jun-Jul and towards end of rains. Fruits, which are smooth and shaped like flattened egg with two ridges at the two sides ripen from May onward. Its a native from Malayan peninsula, Andaman. Planted widely in India and other tropical counties, especially the ones that are not too far from coast.

Gulmohar (কৃষ্ণচূড়া)

If you take 28 steps from the Indian almond tree there is a takoli tree on your left. Though we covered Takoli in the previous (north-east) section, mentioning it here as this is rare tree. If you take another 20 steps from the Takoli tree, on your right you will find Gulmohar or Krishnachura, a very familiar ornamental tree famous for its showy red flowers. All the leaves are shed early in the hot season and flowers starts to bloom in April often in the leafless tree. Soon the new leaves appear alongside the flowers. Pods are flat, up to 2 feet long that turn brown and remain in the tree for a long time. This is a native of the Madagascar but this has all but disappeared in the wild.

Maulsari (বকুল​)

21 steps from Gumohar and on your right there is a Maulsari/Bakul tree with glossy simple leaves which are wavy at the edges and pointed at the tip. Flowers are dull white, strongly yet beautifully scented blooming during summer to rains (Mar-Jul). Fruit is a 1'' drupe that turns orange when ripe. Native to Western Ghats, from time immemorial this tree has been planed in gardens and roadsides for its ornamental foliage, shape of canopy and fragrant flowers.

Arjun

You need to walk some distance (65 steps) from Bakul to find an Arjun tree on your left almost bordering the path. This individual in deformed, perhaps due to injury arising out of extraction of bark. Bark is pinkish grey or whitish and peels off in thin flakes. Leves are 3-6'' long, grow closely in drooping branchlets. Flowers are creamy yellow spikes appear in late April to May. Fruit 2'' long egg shaped with 5 ridges running along the length. Its natural home is central and south Indian forests where it almost invariably grows beside water courses. A very common avenue tree all over India.

(the second picture is take from the Calcutta Cricket Coaching Center ground which is just a few hundred feet ahead. This tree is large and handsome)

Mahua

GPS: 22.51168N,88.35895E

33 steps from the Arjun tree, on your right there is a Mahua tree with grey brown, slightly rough bark, straight but short bole and a rounded crown. Leaves are simple, oval 5-8'', with 1-1^1/2'' petiole, clustered towards the end of the branchlets. Leaves are shed in winter and new leaves appear in Mar-Apr, often with beautiful sheds of red. fruit is 1'' berry that ripens in July and take an orangish color.

A very important forest tree of central india, it is natural from Gujarat till western districts of west bengal which are collectively called jungle mahal. In Kolkata it is not native but planted here and there. It is not at all common here, though as an avenue tree also it is an excellent tree.

Putranjiva

If you cover 60 steps from Mahua, on your right there is a young Putranjiva tree. Putranjiva is a beautiful evergreen tree with leaves similar to Debdaru / Asoka tree but much smaller in size (2-3''). Inconspicuous flowers appear in Mar-May. Fruit small (1/2 - 1'') roundish. This is a native tree of India, mostly from the submontane Himalayan forests up to 1000 meters. It is cultivated all over India for its ornamental foliage.

Copper Pod

If you walk 25 steps from the Putranjiva tree, on your right you'll find a copper pod tree. The leaves are twice featured (similar to Gulmohar). Yellow flowers bloom from late March till May followed by the copper colored pods that stays for many months. A native of Sri Lanka, Andaman, south east Asia and northern Australia, it is planted extensively in tropics for its showy yellow flowers.

Gab

GPS: 22.51169N,88.35825E

30 steps from copper pod and on your right there is a Gab tree with almost black bark, long shiny leaves and a dense and low crown. New leaves are beautiful red in Mar-Apr. Tree flowers in Apr-May, fruit is a ball sightly bigger than a ping pong, yellow, covered with brownish powder like coating. It is native to most part of India.

Here close to water there are three Tumri/Pitali trees and a full grown Hijal (slightly away from water). Among Tumri trees, the one which is closest to Hijal is a female tree,other two are male.

Jarul & Amaltas

Just 12 steps from the Gab tree, there are two beautiful flowering trees from Indian jungle. On you left Jarul and Amaltas is on your right.

Jarul

Though Jarul grows quite tall in dense jungles, in cities it is a middle sized tree with a spreading nature. Bark is pale brown, smooth and flakes off thinly. Leaves 6- 8'' simple almost opposite. Leaves turn red in winter before falling off gradually. New foliage appear in Mar-Apr. Beautiful mauve color flowers appear in Apr and continues till Jun. Wild in western ghat, Bangladesh & north east, Kolkata is probably just outside its natural range.

Amaltas

Another iconic flowering tree from Indian jungle, Amaltas is a small to medium sized tree with a yellowish generally smooth bark (except very old trees where it becomes rough). Leaves are feather compound, 15'' long with 4-8 pairs of leaflets. Leaves are gradually shed from winter to spring. Then in April, when the the tree is leafless, large bright yellow flowers appear in graceful drooping clusters. Pods are pipe-like 2-3 feet long

We will not find new trees till some distance here. So to keep us engaged (and reset the step counting!) lets spot some tress which we have covered earlier. You will find another Gab tree on your right after walking 34 steps. Another 31 and you will find a Karanj tree on your right. Another 39 will take you next to a large Indian almond tree which will be on your left. Just after this, that is 10 steps from Indian almond tree you will find a tree on your right, partially uprooted and leaning on a tree. This is Chikrassy or the Indian Mahogany.

This tree can grow real tall (there is one such specimen in Agro Horticulture Garden, Alipur). This one unfortunately got uprooted and barely surviving. It is a native of Bangladesh, North East Indian and south east Asia. Leaves are long pinnate or feathered.

Another 19 steps from the Chikrassy on your right you will find Monkey Jack or Lakucha Tree, a close cousin of Jack Fruit tree. Leaves are simple, large, hairy. Once upon a time this tree used to be cultivated in orchards mainly for its fruits which used to be used in making Chutneys.

45 Steps from the Monkey Jack on your right you will find a sandpaper tree (শ্যাওড়া) right from the root zone of a Gulmohur Tree. This is a small tree of Indian origin.

Covering 18 Steps you will find a freshwater mangrove on your left (we covered this in earlier section)

If you walk 53 steps you will find a Quick Stick (Glircidia) Tree on your right. Trunk is pale and leaved are pinnate/feathered with a terminal leaf. Here you can cross the tar road and appreciate a large Arjun tree around 10 feet inside the cricket ground (picture at the end of the page).

Continuing on the tar road you will find another Chikrassy (Chukrasia tabularis) on your left around 37 steps ahead.

Another 80 steps will take you next to a dying rain Tree which will be on your left.

35 Step from the rain tree and on your right you will find a Monkey Pod (dekoni babul in Bengali) .

If you walk 80 step on your right you will find Pink tabebuia tree (GPS: 22.51242N, 88.35493E) which in spring becomes lovely with pink flowers.

After this there is not much to spot in this section. However, in the north west corner of the lake, there is a large Buddha Coconut Tree. The best way to approach this is to come out of the lake through the iron gate in front of you and take a right turn and walk till you are close to Southern Avenue. Here at the corner of the park you will find a tall large tree with large heart-shaped leaves.