Dodda Alada Mara, Ancient banyan tree near Ketohalli, Karnataka, India

Dodda Alada Mara is an ancient banyan tree located near the village of Ketohalli in Karnataka state. The crown spreads across an area of roughly 1.2 hectares and is supported by hundreds of aerial roots that descend like columns to the ground.

The tree has been growing at this location for more than four centuries, developing new connections to the ground over time. In 2000, it lost its main trunk but survived through the network of secondary trunks formed by the roots.

Local legend says a farmer's stake used for threshing ragi sprouted overnight; the owner then had a dream of Muneshwara, who said he would reside there. A stone shrine to Muneshwara stands within the root network, and the tree is protected as a heritage tree.

The tree stands 28 km from Bengaluru on the Bengaluru–Mysore Road; direct BMTC buses from K. R. Market (routes 227 A, B, E, F, K, L, N, S) stop beside it, and route 227 P runs from Kempegowda bus station. A large troop of monkeys lives in the branches, so keep food, water and camera bags closed. Drinking water is available on site.

A small temple stands at one end of the root network, marking the boundary of the tree. Visitors can walk beneath the intertwined branches, as if entering a natural forest.