Shindoor Trees, Kanha National Park

Zone: All Zones (More likely in Kanha Zone)

The "Sindoor Trees" in Kanha National Park are the Raktachandan trees (Saxifera Rostrata), which also are known as the Red Sandalwood. These groups of trees are scattered throughout the Kanha National Park, but they prefer to grow profoundly in deciduous forest areas with a moist and shady environment. Thus the trees are found in abundance in the core zones where there is the Banjar River, Haldi River, and Sukha Nala, all of which provide the necessary moisture for these trees.

The long Sindoor trees, with their glossy, elliptical leaves edged in graceful serrations, create a majestic canopy on both sides of the forest path. The morning sunbeams filtering through their ten-meter heights create the beautiful and heart-soothing Tyndall effect. This picture-perfect panorama is a photographer's dream and enormously admired by nature lovers.

To the fact, the redwood of these trees is the source of the sindoor powder used in Hindu religious ceremonies and as a cosmetic adornment. Tribal communities in Kanha have traditionally extracted the wood and processed it into sindoor. The process involves cutting branches or small trees, peeling off the bark, and grinding the redwood into a fine powder. But, due to its use in sindoor production, the Raktachandan tree is susceptible to overexploitation and, thus is now a protected tree species in the park.

Tips for finding Sindoor trees in Kanha National Park :

• Ask your guide or park rangers for specific locations where these trees are known to grow.
• Look for areas near rivers or streams, as these provide the most moisture.
• Keep an eye out for small evergreen trees with glossy, elliptical leaves and reddish-orange fruit.