Woman Plants 385 Trees Along Karnataka Road

Why this is here: Thimmakka and her husband carried water from distant wells to nurture the banyan saplings, demonstrating a remarkable commitment to their long-term vision.

Saalumarada Thimmakka, born in 1911 in Karnataka, India, planted 385 banyan trees along a 4.5 kilometer stretch of highway between Hulikal and Kudur. Facing hardship and remaining childless, Thimmakka and her husband, Chikkayya, began planting trees in the 1950s. They dug pits, carried water, and protected the saplings from animals.

Their work created a green corridor providing shade and habitat. Thimmakka also tended to roughly 8,000 other trees throughout Karnataka. She received the Padma Shri award in 2019 and was named among the BBC’s most influential women.

Though widely recognized later in life, the full extent of her impact on local biodiversity and soil health requires further study. Saalumarada Thimmakka passed away in November 2025, but her trees continue to flourish. Her legacy suggests dedicated individuals can transform landscapes.