The view is breathtaking. You have just clambered through thorny bushes on the top of this rocky outcrop that could perhaps be the highest natural point of Central Ridge in New Delhi’s Chanakya Puri. Assorted thorns, vegetation and seemingly velcro-clad seeds stick to your clothing and shoes. Last time you saw something similar was when you had climbed the Lal Kot (Delhi’s First City built by Tomars) ramparts in the South Central Ridge.
Palash or Dhak
or Tesu (Butea monosperma) is a medium sized deciduous tree that belongs to
family Fabaceae. Because of its country-wide presence, it has been lovingly given different names in different languages. The genus Butea
refers to beautiful appearance of the flowers. The specific name monosperma means “one seeded or fruit
with one seed”. There has been widespread use of Palash in the traditional
medicine. Palash is described in Veds, Upanishads, Caraka Samhita (ancient
Sanskrit text on Ayurved or Indian traditional medicine) and Susruta Samhita
(ancient Sanskrit text on medicine and surgery).
The Satavahan King Hala offers a unique take on the Palash flowers in the Prakrit anthology Gaha Sattasai:
The 12th century poet Jayadev, author of perhaps the finest Sanskrit poetry work, was also enthralled by the Kinshuk flowers. Barbara Stoler Miller translates a stanza where Jayadev describes the flowers as red nails of Kamdev or Cupid with which he wounds the hearts of lovers:
Mukesh Pandey Chandan, a friend from Orchha goes mushy with these lines:
While looking for quotes on Palash, you come across this beautiful poem by Neha Chatterjee:
You were introduced to the magnificent sight of Palash blooms through these photos shared on social media. The photos set in rural Purulia in West Bengal showed moments in the lives of tribal communities. And in every backdrop there were these trees loaded with gorgeous red flowers. The blooming trees had turned the landscape into joyous colour drenched scenes. The lit-up branches seemed to have put smiles on faces and spring in the feet of all dwellers.
A group outing is advised. The place does not seem safe though you did not encounter any one. The tracks fork every now and then and you got to just keep going. You possibly saw a pack of jackals who could have been wild dogs. If going alone, it is advised to carry a stick. Phone signals anyway are weak in New Delhi and you will not be able to use GPS. Despite all this, the experience is thrilling and everyone should experience the real Delhi. This is how Delhi looked before Lutyens created New Delhi in this scrubland.
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| दहके हैं डाल पर अंगार या सुमन, सुलगा पलाशवन (Caption Courtesy - Jaishree Khamesra) |
However, this
time the view is to die for. Interspersed among the mostly bare keekar trees
are the glowing orange blooms of Palash trees. For the first time you realise why
Palash is called the Flame of the Forest. Before this you had seen your Delhi’s
first and lone Palash tree in Nehru Park. As you run your gaze over the forest,
it does feel like sporadic flames are licking over the now brown landscape.
Delhi has again surprised you. On Holi you could actually mistake
the Palash blooms as Holika Dahan bonfires!
There is something surrealistic about the Palash blooms. The branches seem to have lit up with these bright orange flowers. Stand under a tree and gaze upwards at the spell binding sight. Shaped like the beaks of parrots and therefore also called Kinshuk (resembling parrot’s beak), it is not surprising that the blooms attract parrots the most, who are probably fascinated by the resemblance. Purple Sunbirds flit among the flowers feasting on the nectar of the Raktapushp (red flowers). Squirrels can't believe their luck as they run dazed among the flowers playing peek-a-boo. Flowers drop around you. You never imagined that Delhi will treat you with Palash Hanami. This is heaven.
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Palash Blooms in Delhi's Central Ridge
A Haiku by Gitanjali Mohanty
The Ridge's caught fire
That burning desire..
Getting tangarine tainted
That the flaming Palash has painted
|
There is something surrealistic about the Palash blooms. The branches seem to have lit up with these bright orange flowers. Stand under a tree and gaze upwards at the spell binding sight. Shaped like the beaks of parrots and therefore also called Kinshuk (resembling parrot’s beak), it is not surprising that the blooms attract parrots the most, who are probably fascinated by the resemblance. Purple Sunbirds flit among the flowers feasting on the nectar of the Raktapushp (red flowers). Squirrels can't believe their luck as they run dazed among the flowers playing peek-a-boo. Flowers drop around you. You never imagined that Delhi will treat you with Palash Hanami. This is heaven.
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| The most improbable place for some Palash Hanami - On Delhi's Ridge |
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| Dhak - The few Palash or Dhak Trees in Delhi's Ridge, seem to be drowning in the sea of Vilayati Keekar, a pest now |
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| In the search of Tesu Your co-adventurers - it's possible that without their company you wouldn't have been to able to walk these tracks |
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| Palash Tree - A Palash making its presence felt in an inexorable grip by Keekars |
But all is not well with Palash here in Delhi. Vilayati Keekar (Prosopis
juliflora) introduced by the British on the ridge has become a pest that has
caused the extinction of most native trees. It is heartening to see the few
Palash trees holding out. You can’t help drawing an analogy here. The Palash
trees of the Ridge are like the monuments of Delhi. And the keekars are the
ever increasing people and development of Delhi. As the exploding population
and development pressures edge out the monuments from the landscape, the
keekars infesting the ridge are similarly slowly elbowing out the original
inhabitants like Palash, Dhau and Peelu.
Everyone loves Palash
 |
| The parrot and since its beak resembles the blooms, the flowers are also called Kinshuk |
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| The squirrels can't seem to believe their luck as they gobble up the Palash blooms |
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| The Purple Sunbird flits among the flowers getting high on Palash nectar |
Right now you want to savour the sights. While the vegetation here in
Delhi’s driest scrubland is wilting, the bright flowers wrapped around on the
crooked branches of an unattractive tree is truly nature’s miracle. It is just
not the parrots, sunbirds, squirrels and assorted bees that seem to be enamoured
of the flowers; poets and writers too have serenaded the flowers with glowing
words.
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| Palash - The kneeling Buddhist Monks |
The Satavahan King Hala offers a unique take on the Palash flowers in the Prakrit anthology Gaha Sattasai:
The Palash flowers resembling
Parrots’ beaks,
Strewn on the forest floor;
Are like a congegration of monks,
Paying homage to the Buddha.
Now that you
notice, the palash flower does look like a kneeling Buddhist Bhikshu – what an
observation!
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| Wont it be wonderful to have Palash lined roads in Delhi?! |
The 12th century poet Jayadev, author of perhaps the finest Sanskrit poetry work, was also enthralled by the Kinshuk flowers. Barbara Stoler Miller translates a stanza where Jayadev describes the flowers as red nails of Kamdev or Cupid with which he wounds the hearts of lovers:
Tamala tree's fresh leaves absorb strong scent of deer
musk.
Flame tree petals, shining nails of love, tear at young
hearts.
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| Palash Magic that made Rabindranath Tagore rapturous |
Smitten
with their beauty, Rabindranath Tagore sang during the Spring festival at
Shantiniketan:
"A
little touch? Feel, a few words? Hear with what? Write my spring- song in my
mind. Some ecstasy of Palash."
 |
Olive green branches
Flaunt vibrant crimson blossoms
Seasonal bright bloom
The fire of flaming palash
Burns the dark contours of gloom..
|
Mukesh Pandey Chandan, a friend from Orchha goes mushy with these lines:
तेरी यादों में सर्द हो गया था चाँद
हमने जलाई पलाश की अंगीठी
पर तेरी यादें बर्फ सी जम चुकी थी
मुहब्बत की गर्माहट भी काम न आयी
आज भी कुछ अधूरा सा था
मेरा प्यार, चाँद, याद या पलाश
- चन्दन
हमने जलाई पलाश की अंगीठी
पर तेरी यादें बर्फ सी जम चुकी थी
मुहब्बत की गर्माहट भी काम न आयी
आज भी कुछ अधूरा सा था
मेरा प्यार, चाँद, याद या पलाश
- चन्दन
While looking for quotes on Palash, you come across this beautiful poem by Neha Chatterjee:
The tree stood tall and proud,
spreading it's arms to meet the sky.
Standing at the far corner,
All alone with might.
Like the mesmerising flames against the darkness,
It's reddish-orange blooms engulf your moments.
The fallen palash are not disgrace but,
enchants you into the lore of Nature.
Once green, now covered in velvety Red,
the Earth now soothes your inner conflict.
The calling cuckoo beckons you to stay rooted.
Hummingbird humming to the breeze,
suckles the honey of the Flame of the Forest.
The squirrels diving into the sea of red,
squeks delightedly at the tree.
Surrounded yet secluded, Palash stood aloof in this world of spree.
Engulfed in the bedeck of it all I stood there enthralled.
The sky wears it's darker clothes today,
An ominous storm on the way.
spreading it's arms to meet the sky.
Standing at the far corner,
All alone with might.
Like the mesmerising flames against the darkness,
It's reddish-orange blooms engulf your moments.
The fallen palash are not disgrace but,
enchants you into the lore of Nature.
Once green, now covered in velvety Red,
the Earth now soothes your inner conflict.
The calling cuckoo beckons you to stay rooted.
Hummingbird humming to the breeze,
suckles the honey of the Flame of the Forest.
The squirrels diving into the sea of red,
squeks delightedly at the tree.
Surrounded yet secluded, Palash stood aloof in this world of spree.
Engulfed in the bedeck of it all I stood there enthralled.
The sky wears it's darker clothes today,
An ominous storm on the way.
You don’t
remember but there was a show on Doordarshan called ‘Palash ke Phool’ produced
by Asha Parekh. And here is the beautiful title song:
मेरा ख्याल है यह,हकीकत सी हो जाना तुम,
मेरी बाहों में आ कर सो जाना तुम.
अपनी खुशबू से मेरे घर को मखाना तुम,
फूल पलाश के चुन लाना तुम.
मेरी बाहों में आ कर सो जाना तुम.
अपनी खुशबू से मेरे घर को मखाना तुम,
फूल पलाश के चुन लाना तुम.
दुनिया के नजारे स्वीकार नही,
अपनी मुस्कराहट से मुझे बहलाना तुम.
सुर्ख हो जाये जब ज़िंदगी की फिजा,
फूल पलाश के चुन लाना तुम.
अपनी मुस्कराहट से मुझे बहलाना तुम.
सुर्ख हो जाये जब ज़िंदगी की फिजा,
फूल पलाश के चुन लाना तुम.
मौसम बसंत का जब भी आएगा,
अपने आँगन में खुशबू लाएगा,
चह चहाती चिडिया सी गाना तुम,
दूर गगन में कहीं उड़ जाना तुम,
फूल पलाश के चुन लाना तुम.
अपने आँगन में खुशबू लाएगा,
चह चहाती चिडिया सी गाना तुम,
दूर गगन में कहीं उड़ जाना तुम,
फूल पलाश के चुन लाना तुम.
जब भी हो जाये उदास मन मेरा,
मीठी सी बातों को होठों पे रख लाना तुम.
आँगन में उड़ते सूखे पत्तों को,
अपने आँचल में समेट लाना तुम,
फूल पलाश के चुन लाना तुम.
मीठी सी बातों को होठों पे रख लाना तुम.
आँगन में उड़ते सूखे पत्तों को,
अपने आँचल में समेट लाना तुम,
फूल पलाश के चुन लाना तुम.
मेरे सपनो को तोड़ कर न जाना तुम,
अपने अटूट रिश्ते का विश्वास,
मेरे बेताब दिल को दे जाना तुम,
फूल पलाश के यूँ ही हर बार चुन लाना तुम.
अपने अटूट रिश्ते का विश्वास,
मेरे बेताब दिल को दे जाना तुम,
फूल पलाश के यूँ ही हर बार चुन लाना तुम.
You could take
in the views all day. The bunch of kids who have come to see Malcha Mahal, and
who, you have dared to go deeper into the forest with you, are feeling restless.
Selfies over, we slowly make our way out. But it is not easy. The track splits
every now and then and you have to take a call which way to turn. The bonus is
that you see more of Palash trees and some of rare native trees of Delhi.
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Love in the Times of Palash
Its not only in India that Palash
finds so much love. The 12th Century poet Jayadev likened the Palash
flowers to the red nails of Kamadev with which he wounds the hearts of lovers.
In neighbouring Thailand, the
heart-broken lover on seeing the Tong Guao (Palash) blooms, remembers the
broken promises of an unrequited love. She asks the flowers to take her message
and tell him that she is still waiting by the Palash blooms.
Have you heard anything so
heartachingly beautiful?
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Palash is so loved across the country that the tree
has names in most of the languages: Palash, Dhak and Tesu in Hindi, Palas in Marathi, Pangong in Manipuri, Kesudo
and Khakda in Gujarati, Moduga in Telugu. And it is the state flower of
Jharkhand
|
 |
| A View to Palash - You could take in the views all day |
You were introduced to the magnificent sight of Palash blooms through these photos shared on social media. The photos set in rural Purulia in West Bengal showed moments in the lives of tribal communities. And in every backdrop there were these trees loaded with gorgeous red flowers. The blooming trees had turned the landscape into joyous colour drenched scenes. The lit-up branches seemed to have put smiles on faces and spring in the feet of all dwellers.
The pictures
seemed exotic and of lands faraway. You were not sure if you would ever be able
to visit those places. You had no idea that Delhi too offers these incredible
sights of Palash flowers ablaze in a forest. Until Purulia happens, Delhi has
again smiled on you.
Travel Advice
A group outing is advised. The place does not seem safe though you did not encounter any one. The tracks fork every now and then and you got to just keep going. You possibly saw a pack of jackals who could have been wild dogs. If going alone, it is advised to carry a stick. Phone signals anyway are weak in New Delhi and you will not be able to use GPS. Despite all this, the experience is thrilling and everyone should experience the real Delhi. This is how Delhi looked before Lutyens created New Delhi in this scrubland.
What
else to See / Do on the Ridge
There
are several dargahs inside the forest that you can visit
You
can circumambulate the impeccable lawns of the Polo Ground listening to the birds
From
one of the dargahs you can spot the Earth Station’s huge antennae dishes that
look like a spaceship. Looking at them gives a spooky feeling – as if you are
on the sets of a movie set in the future. You half expect aliens to walk out of
the spaceship.
You
were trying to make it to the now uninhabited Malcha Mahal. The last occupant
Prince Ali Raza (Cyrus), a descendent of the last Nawab of Awadh, Wajid Ali
Shah died in Jan 2018. His mother and sister too had died as recluses in the
spooky Mahal. This time you could not locate the palace. You will give it another
try next time.
Listen
to birds chirping, breeze whistling and of course some bird spotting
On
your way out, stop at the entrance to witness monkey feeding. Though the
red-bottomed Rhesus Monkeys are usually wicked but here feasting on tandoori rotis, tomatoes and bananas has made them comparatively civilized. You can photograph
papa monkeys, mama monkeys, baby monkeys and then the alpha monkey as they go
around doing monkey business.
Getting
There
On Sardar Patel Marg
opposite Malcha Marg follow the sign indicating Earth Station. Drive on the
track as it winds through canopies of Keekar trees until you see a clearing on
the right. Park your car and take one of the dirt tracks. The adventure starts.
One track goes northwards when you hit the Polo Ground. A little before the
Polo Ground, turn right until you see the rocky outcrop on the right.
Note: Some photos are of the lone Palash tree in Nehru Park, Chanakya Puri, New Delhi
References:
Some Youtube Links:
Baranti in Purulia - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsUsd3YAC5I
Related Posts on this Blog
In search of Palash - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJMqRCrL--Y
Baranti in Purulia - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsUsd3YAC5I
Related Posts on this Blog
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