The Adyar banyan, the giant tree in the middle of the Theosophical Society campus, is about 450 years old and its canopy of offshoots covers an estimated 40,000 square feet, according to the Society’s own page on the tree. Its original main trunk collapsed in a severe storm in 1989, yet the tree survived, held up by the aerial roots that had already turned into trunks of their own.
The catch for anyone hoping to see it is access. The Society’s campus is not open to visitors without prior permission, which has to be requested online, according to its headquarters page. Here is the tree’s story and how to plan a visit.
How big is it, really
Sources differ, partly because a banyan has no single edge. The Theosophical Society calls it the second largest banyan in India and puts the spread at 40,000 square feet. The Tamil Nadu Forest Department’s coffee-table book Heritage Trees of Tamilnadu, which lists 50 notable trees across the state, records the Adyar banyan, or Maha Ala maram, at about 62,000 square feet and 15 metres high, aged over 450 years. A Madras Musings piece published in March 2026 suggests the tree could be close to 500 years old.
All agree on the essentials: this is a Ficus benghalensis, India’s national tree, and it is one of the oldest living things in the city. The Society notes that the tree came with the land when it bought the property; its founders first arrived at Adyar in 1882.
The 1989 storm and after
Banyans grow outward by dropping roots from their branches. When those roots reach the ground they thicken into pillar trunks, and over centuries the tree becomes a grove joined overhead. That is what saved the Adyar banyan. Its main trunk was badly damaged in the 1989 storm and later fell; the Forest Department’s book notes that the rotted trunk was removed and the aerial roots now carry the tree. The Society’s page says the tree has continued to survive and even thrive since.
Today the tree has no single centre; you walk under a ring of pillar roots of different ages.
The tree also anchors one of the greenest pieces of land in south Chennai. Madras Musings describes the campus as home to other old trees too, including cannonball trees whose flowers are called nagalingam because of their shape. The heritage tree survey discussed below lists a mahua, a putranjiva and an elephant ear tree on the same grounds, each estimated at well over a century old.
Recognition as a heritage tree
In June 2025 the Chennai forest division announced that 104 trees across the city had been identified as qualifying for heritage status, in a survey carried out with botanist Prof D. Narasimhan and the Nizhal Trust, IANS reported. The Adyar banyan was named as one of the most iconic. Tamil Nadu does not yet have a separate law for heritage trees; the designation is meant to bring signboards, a database and closer monitoring.
Visiting the Theosophical Society grounds
The campus covers about 250 acres between the Adyar river and Besant Nagar, according to Madras Musings. Its rules are strict, and the Society says permission is not guaranteed.
- Request permission online. Use the form on the Society’s website. It can take two to five working days, and requests may not be processed at weekends. Email info.hq@ts-adyar.org with questions.
- Choose your gate. The Main Gate is near the Adyar Bookshop by the Adyar bridge, opposite Malar Hospital; the Green Gate near the library opens towards Besant Nagar, according to the visitor FAQ.
- Follow the campus rules. Keep quiet, stay on paved roads, do not pick flowers or leaves and do not disturb wildlife. Pets are not allowed, and there are no guided tours.
- Photography. Personal photos and phone videos are fine. DSLRs and professional gear are not allowed, nor are pre-wedding or party shoots, and publishing photos needs written permission.
- Wear good shoes. The grounds are large and the banyan is in the middle of the campus.
The Adyar Bookshop at the Main Gate is open to the public from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm and 2.30 pm to 5.30 pm, Monday to Saturday, without a campus pass. During the monsoon, avoid standing under any large tree in strong winds, this one included.
Quick answers
How old is the Adyar banyan tree?
About 450 years, according to the Theosophical Society and the Tamil Nadu Forest Department.
Can I visit the banyan tree without permission?
No. The Theosophical Society campus requires prior permission through its online request form.
What happened in 1989?
A severe storm damaged the main trunk, which later had to be removed. The tree lives on through its aerial-root trunks.
Is it the largest banyan in India?
The Society describes it as the second largest in the country.
Information checked against official sources on 18 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.
Sources
- The Great Banyan Tree (Theosophical Society, Adyar)
- Adyar Headquarters (Theosophical Society, Adyar)
- Visitor FAQ (Theosophical Society, Adyar)
- Heritage Trees of Tamilnadu (TN Forest Department, via TN Biodiversity Board)
- Chennai launches ‘Heritage Trees’ initiative to protect rare, endangered species (IANS, via Morung Express)
- Theosophical Society, Adyar: an oasis of brotherhood and tranquility (Madras Musings)
