An ancient banyan tree in Uttar Pradesh state has been declared the world's oldest.
A team of scientists from the Botanical Survey of India, Babes-Bolyai University in Romania, and a laboratory in Johannesburg, South Africa, award the prize during the floristic survey in the Upper Ganga Ramsar site in Narora town in Bulandshahr district.
With the help of radiocarbon dating, the tree's age was gauged to be between 450 to 500 years, surpassing the age of the previous record-holder, Kolkata's Great Banyan.
The main trunk of the colossal tree is supported by a mere four roots, adding to its intriguing nature.
500 YO Banyan Tree In Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr Declared 'World's Oldest'
© Photo : Twitter/Jairam_Ramesh
India also holds the record for being home to several of the world's largest banyan trees. One of them, Thimmamma Marrimanu in Andhra Pradesh, covers an impressive 19,107 square meters. This is followed by Gujarat's Kabir Vad tree which covers an area of 17,520 sq. mt., while the third largest is the Giant Banyan tree in Uttar Pradesh's Majhi district spanning 16,770 sq. mt.