Ramayana era tree cover for mandir campus

Lucknow: Plan to plant Ramayana era trees in the vicinity of the upcoming Ram Mandir in Ayodhya is taking a final shape. After identification of species and go-ahead from the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, finding the apt site for plantation is the next step.

“It is now for the trust to identify the site for plantation,” said DFO, Ayodhya, Manoj Khare. The Forest department has planned to plant trees that find mention in Ramayana around the upcoming Ram Mandir to recreate the aura of the Tetra Yug.

There are at least 89 species of trees which are vividly mentioned in Ramayana, and can be planted for being shrubs or medium-height species and have a significant presence in the story of Lord Ram and Sita. Many of these tree species are now no longer planted by the forest department in its annual plantation drives and may not be available in the forest nurseries.

The trees include Deodar, Mango, Rakt Chandan, Chandan, Saal, Nagkesar, Dhaak, Peepal, Banyan, Ashok, Parijaat, Sita Ashok, Lodh and Agar besides other.

Some of them may have to be brought from other states.