Ludhiana''s Dhak Forest a treat for nature lovers

Minna Zutshi

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 22

Not many know that Ludhiana which has earned the notorious reputation of being the ‘pollution capital of Punjab’, has some spots that are a delightful surprise for nature lovers. Less than an hour’s run from the city is the Dhak Forest, at Gurdwara Tapoban Dhakki Sahib, at Maqsudran village, Payal, in Ludhiana district. Here, dhak trees of varying ages, are a sight to behold, more so in the flowering season. The flowering is usually at its peak in the months of March and April. These months bring a riot of colour on these trees.

Dhak tree, also called Flame of the Forest, is a native tree of Punjab. An environmentalist, Dr Balwinder Singh Lakhewali, says: “Prior to the Green Revolution in Punjab, the dhak (Butea monosperma) trees were found in abundance in the state. Paddy cultivation changed the scenario. The dhak tree is a medium-sized hardy tree that likes dry soil.”

Unfortunately, as the natural spaces are shrinking and the concrete jungle threatens to engulf the flora, the dhak tree is fast becoming a vanishing species.

These trees are a whole eco-system in themselves, say experts. According to Dr Lakhewali, the dhak tree is a veritable treasure house of traditional medicine and home remedies. It is a generous host to many bird and insect species, including lac insect. The dhak leaves, with their three leaflets, have been used to make pattals (duney) for serving food. Its bark fibres are used to make cordage. Its bark is used for treating skin diseases. Gum is also obtained from its bark. The seed oil has a medicinal value. Incidentally, the dhak wood is water resistant.

At Maqsudran forest, the dhak trees, with their irregular branches, stretch almost languorously. To observe the sheer number of life forms that thrive in this forest is a humbling as well as enlightening experience, says a visitor. 

The tree finds references in historical and mythological narratives of our country. Palashi (Plassey) was the scene of the Battle of Plassey that marked the decisive victory for the British East India Company over the Nawab of Bengal. Palashi (Plassey) derives its name from palash trees.