Mango trees planted by Tipu still bear fruit

Mangoes from three surviving trees planted by warrior king Tipu Sultan more than 225 years ago in the Lalbagh Botanical Gardens in Bangalore are still bearing fruit.

Displaying the mangoes in Bangalore, Karnataka’s Additional Director (Fruits), Horticulture Department, S V Hittalamani said the mangoes, which have come to acquire a heritage value, would not be available for sale. But, the general public visiting the annual Mango Mela, which starts from June 1 at Botanical Gardens, can taste the mangoes from these trees.

Out of the four trees planted by Tipu Sultan in Lalbagh, three have stood the test of time. “The more than 225-year-old mango trees still bear fruit, putting to shame many younger ones in the garden. Each tree yields over two tonnes of mangoes every year”, Hittalamani told reporters.

But, the mangoes, which have a royal past, are not for sale. “No price can match its taste and quality”, he said.

Though there is no scientific name for the species of mango trees planted by Tipu Sultan, who had a taste for greenery and acquired a huge collection of plant species from France, China and Turkey, Hittalamani said the mangoes from trees planted by erstwhile ruler had a distinguishable yellow colour and a taste of light cumin (jeera ).

Though one of four trees planted by Tipu Sultan succumbed to pests and termites and collapsed a few years ago, Hittalamani is confident that the remaining three trees will live for another 25 to 30 years. “They will continue to produce sweet and juicy mangoes even for the next generation to enjoy”, he added.

Superintendent of Lalbagh Botanical Gardens Krishnam Raju said the officials and the staff of Horticulture Department in Lalbagh have an emotional bond with the trees planted by Tipu Sultan and the fruits they bear.

“These trees might have been brought here from Arcot during Tipu’s regime”, Krishnam Raju said.