How the ‘Mother of Trees’ Turned a Barren Karnataka Road Into a 4.5 Km Green Corridor

Every morning, travellers passing through a dusty stretch between Hulikal and Kudur in Karnataka walked under the shade of hundreds of banyan trees — many without knowing who planted them. There were no government projects, no large campaigns, and no environmental movement behind this green corridor: just one woman, her husband, and years of quiet, unwavering care.

That woman was Saalumarada Thimmakka, who turned a barren roadside into a living legacy that continues to shelter generations.

A humble beginning amid hardship

Saalumarada Thimmakka was born in 1911 in a small hamlet in Gubbi taluk of Tumakuru district, Karnataka. Growing up in a time and place where poverty was widespread and education was a distant dream for many, Thimmakka never received formal schooling. 

She worked as a casual labourer in a quarry and, like many women of her generation, entered early marriage — tying the knot with Chikkayya, a local labourer from the nearby Hulikal village.

Despite living simply, Thimmakka and her husband shared a deep love for nature. Their lives took a poignant turn when, after years of marriage, they remained childless, a personal sorrow compounded by societal expectations. 

Instead of letting grief define her, Thimmakka found purpose in nurturing life where there was none. “We must care for trees as we care for children,” she said in later years, capturing the heart of her mission.

Planting a green legacy

What began in the 1950s with a handful of saplings soon grew into something monumental. Thimmakka and her husband decided to plant trees along the barren stretch of road between Hulikal and Kudur, a place where travellers had little respite from the sun. 

The couple dug pits, fetched water from distant wells, protected the young plants from grazing cattle, and sowed the seeds of what would become a lush green corridor.

Year after year, through monsoons and droughts, they nurtured the growing trees. Initially beginning with just a few, their effort culminated in the planting of 385 banyan trees along a 4.5‑kilometre stretch of highway — trees that today provide dense shade, support biodiversity and stand as an enduring testament to her devotion.

In addition to these iconic banyans, Thimmakka is credited with tending to thousands of other trees, with estimates exceeding 8,000 across Karnataka, as her work expanded into adjoining villages and communities.

Recognition and impact

For decades, Thimmakka’s work went largely unnoticed beyond her local environs. But as more people began to appreciate the environmental benefits of her efforts — the shade for travellers, the habitat for birds, the cooling effect on the land — her story reached wider audiences. 

She became affectionately known as ‘Vruksha Maate’ (Mother of Trees), and her approach to grassroots environmentalism became a model for community‑driven conservation.

Her contributions were formally recognised much later in life. In 2019, she was honoured with the prestigious Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian awards, for her relentless commitment to afforestation. She was also featured among the BBC’s list of the world’s most influential women, underscoring how her humble beginnings blossomed into global inspiration.

A legacy that outlives generations

Saalumarada passed away on 14 November 2025 at the age of 114, leaving behind a living legacy of green that stretches across villages and lives. 

Her trees continue to provide shade, sustain wildlife, enrich soil and inspire individuals and communities to plant, protect and preserve nature.

More than the number of trees she planted, she believes that one person’s dedication can change landscapes and lives that endure. 

In a world grappling with environmental decline, Thimmakka’s legacy reminds us that even the simplest acts of care, when sustained with love and conviction, can flourish into something timeless.

Sources:

‘From Saalumarada Thimmakka’s pain grew a forest’, by The Times Of India, Published on 15 November 2025.

‘Saalumarada Thimmakka: The Tree Woman Who Planted 8,000 Trees’ by Grow Billion Trees, Published on 31 August 2025.