Parijaat tree, Kintoor, Heritage tree in Kintoor, India
The Parijaat tree at Kintoor is an ancient specimen in Uttar Pradesh that produces white flowers at night which fall to the ground by sunrise. It reaches about 45 feet (14 meters) in height with a spread of roughly 50 feet (15 meters) and forms a wide canopy with dense foliage over a flat surrounding area.
Radiocarbon testing in 2019 dated the tree to approximately 793 years old, placing its origin in the late medieval period. This determination makes it one of the oldest living trees on the Indian subcontinent and a botanical witness to several centuries of history.
The name Parijaat comes from Sanskrit and means night flower, referring to the white blossoms that open after dark and fall to the ground before dawn. Visitors can view the tree during the day, while devotees often gather in the early morning to collect the fallen flowers for prayers and ceremonies.
The white flowers must not be picked directly from the branches, so visitors collect them from the ground, especially in the early morning hours after the nightly bloom has fallen. The best time to visit is during the flowering season when fallen petals become visible around the trunk and the air carries a light fragrance.
Despite its advanced age, this specimen has never successfully reproduced through seeds or cuttings, making it an isolated botanical example throughout India. Scientists have repeatedly attempted to grow offshoots, but none of the experiments led to viable new plants, underscoring the singular nature of this tree.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
