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We will enter from the Bengal Rowing Club side. Immediately after entering the lake through the iron gate, you will find a pathway on the right entering the lawn. Take this pathway leaving the tar road. 15 steps on this path on your right (next to a small temple like structure) you will find a tree which is labeled as soap tree (Alphitonia excelsa ). Actually it is Batino tree (Alstonia macrophylla) A slender tree, introduced from south-east Asia, a close relative of our Chaatim or Saptaparni. Leaves are simple, 4-12'' X 2-3'' widest at the middle, in a whorl of 3-4 leaves. Flowers small, tubular with 5 while petals. Fruit thing dangling beans in clusters, initially green that turns into brown. GPS: 22.50912,88.35561. Note there one more (slightly smaller) tree of this species in Dhakuria Lake between Padma Pukur and Andersen lake zone (now no longer, it died in a cyclone).
Batino (Alstonia macrophylla)
Coming back to the tar road, if you take 85 steps, you will find another pathway on your right. This leads to an artificial pool with a small bridge at a distance. After reaching the nearest corner of the pool continue another 15 steps keeping the pool on your left. On your right (around 20 feet away) you will find a Palaash Tree (Butea monosperma, Flame of the Forest), the epitome of Indian spring color. GPS: 22.50915N, 88.35605E.
Flame of the forest / Palaash Tree in full bloom (End Feb)
Continue for 22 steps keeping the pool on your left, you will find an Ashok Tree (Saraca asoca), another legendary and sacred Indian tree close to the small bridge. Ashok is marvelous during spring with its orange-red flowers. When both these two tress (ashok & Palaash) bloom (in Late February - Early March) this area becomes heavenly. Unlike Palaash, Ashok flowers are fragrant, adding to the dimension of its beauty.
Ashok Tree (Saraca asoca) in bloom (Early March)
Ashok Tree (Saraca asoca)
Ashok Tree (Saraca asoca)
Coming back to the tar road, if you walk another 22 steps on your left there is a Mulberry Tree. This tree is a native of China and Japan but is cultivated in Indian since ages. There are many Mulberry tress in this section of lake.
Another 45 steps ahead you will find a Chakwa Tree (Anogeissus acuminata, Button Tree) on your left(GPS: 22.50936N,88.35848E). A large tree with a heavily fissured slightly slanting bole. This is an Indian tree (found in the moister areas of Indian subcontinent, Myanmar, Indo-China region) with drooping branches small, pointed oval leaves.
Chakwa Tree (Anogeissus acuminata)
The road bifurcates after 100 steps or so. Left the left road and after walking 16 steps on your left you will find guest tree (Kleinhovia hospita), an exotic tree of south east Asia origin. Leaves are heart shaped flowers are pink small and grow in clusters. The small fruits are somewhat like miniature deflated football bladders.
We will continue on the tar road for 60 steps and then take a left diversion. Once on the path we will take a right turn and continue. On this path if you continue for 90 steps a path will join the tar road that we left. Right in the middle of this path there is a monkey jack tree. We covered this tree in the north-west part but mentioning here as it is a relatively rare tree and this specimen is located quite conspicuously and difficult to miss.
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