Banyan Trees are closely associated with Hinduism. Reference
of them are found in the Vedas and are used to explain important philosophical
teachings. A huge 500-year-old Banyan Tree at Sakhibata in Kendrapara District
in Orissa along with a 200-year-old Hindu Temple was recently given recognition
by the Orissa government. Both the Banyan Tree and the temple had withstood the
Super Cyclone Phailin of 1999.
The Huge Banyan Tree is spread across 1.3 acres of land with
about 600 trunks and sub-trunks.
No pictures of the Banyan Tree at Sakhibata in Kendrapara
District in Orissa is currently available.
The Indian Express reports
The gigantic tree, spread across 1.3 acres of land with about 600 trunks and sub-trunks, has been granted the tourist spot status by the state government following visits of tourists in the area throughout the year, District Tourist Officer Bijoy Kumar Mohanty said today.
Funds have been sanctioned for building tourism infrastructure. A project has been permitted to have good road connectivity to the place. Besides a tourist cottage is being built, Mohanty said.