Rajpipla: Ektanagar is home to the world’s tallest statue, the Statue of Unity, which has been visited by over 1.75 crore tourists so far. Additionally, the area is rich with more than 65,000 Kesuda trees, which blossom with the arrival of spring. Keeping this in mind, the administration has decided to initiate the Kesuda Trail at the Statue of Unity.

Three different routes have been prepared for the Kesuda Trail. Tourists will be able to immerse themselves in nature and enjoy the wildlife heritage of Kesuda, as well as the Vindhyachal Range. Tourists will be taken by bus from Shrestha Bharat Bhavan to the ancient forest spread across Vindhyachal, which has thick forests of Palash. They will trek for about 3-4 km along the valleys and ravines, witnessing the world of pollen and their association with Kesuda flowers.

Time slots and ticketing details:

• Tour Pickup Point: Shrestha Bharat Bhavan (SBB)
• Tour End Point: Shrestha Bharat Bhavan (SBB)
• Tour Timings: 07:00 AM to 10:00 AM and 04:00 PM to 07:00 PM (Visitors can book slots as per their convenience.)
• Tickets can be booked online at www.soutickets.in.

On this trip, visitors will be accompanied by expert foresters and trained bhomia (guides) who will introduce them to nature’s structure and rich forest.

Significance and Uses:

Cultural Significance: Leaves of this tree are used to make plates and bowls. The festival of colors “Dhooleti” has an age-old tradition of using the colors of its flowers. “Gulal” is also made with the color of its flower. In India, this tree is associated with the spring season. This tree is considered sacred in South India.

Medicinal Properties: It is an important medicinal tree, and its different parts are used in traditional medicine systems like Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani to treat various diseases. It is the best medicine for a newborn baby. Boiling Kesud