Oldest accurately dated Banyan found in Munger, Bihar

A banyan tree in Munger, Bihar, estimated to be around 700 years old, has been identified as the oldest accurately dated banyan tree, Ficus benghalensis, using radiocarbon dating, a method that relies exclusively on scientific evidence rather than historical records or local lore

Banyan trees, with their intricate root and branch networks, provide habitats for a variety of wildlife, including birds and insects. They have also played a significant role in Indian social and cultural life for centuries. Traditionally, estimating their age relied on folklore, local stories or historical records, which were often inaccurate.

When Dr. Trina Bose from the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, Lucknow, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), was invited by the Bihar Forest Department to investigate and determine the age of the Munger Banyan tree, she recognised the limitations of conventional dating approaches for tropical broadleaf species. To address this challenge, she initiated the development of a new scientific approach for age determination. Dr. Bose led a research team comprising Dr. Mayank Shekhar and Dr. Akhilesh K. Yadava, who collaboratively developed and applied an innovative methodology to establish the age of the tree.(UPDATED ON 3RD JULY 2026)