Bodhi Tree Linked to Buddha’s Enlightenment Thrives in Lahore Park
Punjab Horticulture Authority (PHA) Director General Ahmad Usman Javaid stated on Sunday, October 4, 2026, that a Bodhi tree, held sacred by Buddhists, has reached full foliage at the National Bank Park in Lahore.
According to Javaid, the tree, commonly known as the "Buddha tree," was planted by the PHA to preserve and highlight the city's historical, cultural, and botanical heritage. In Buddhist tradition, Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment while meditating under a Bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya in India, subsequently becoming known as the Buddha, or the "Awakened One."
Javaid noted that the original tree at Bodh Gaya no longer exists, while the tree at the Mahabodhi Temple is believed to be its direct descendant and remains a highly revered Buddhist site. Buddhist sources indicate that a branch of the Mahabodhi tree was taken to Sri Lanka in 236 BC by the children of Emperor Ashoka. Its descendant, the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, still stands there.
A scion of this tree was presented to then-President Ayub Khan during his visit to Sri Lanka in December 1963. The sapling was subsequently planted by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, then foreign minister, at the Taxila Museum in January 1964.
The PHA director general explained that Buddhists hold religious relics, including the Buddha’s bodily remains, in high regard and similarly revere the Bodhi tree as a living symbol associated with the Buddha and his enlightenment. "Buddhists treat the tree as an individual in its own right and approach it with piety," he said.
The PHA maintains Bodhi trees at three Lahore parks: Lawrence Garden, National Bank Park, and Racecourse Park. Javaid stated that the species generally develops new foliage during late summer and autumn, particularly from September to November in Pakistan, and thrives in full sunlight.
"The Buddha tree is more than an ornamental plant. It carries history, and we wanted Lahore’s green spaces to carry it too," he said.
Javaid emphasized that Pakistan's rich Buddhist heritage, ranging from Taxila to Gandhara, is an essential part of the country's cultural heritage. He expressed the PHA's commitment to maintaining the trees and encouraged families and students to visit them to learn about their historical and cultural significance.
Meanwhile, the Bahawalpur Horticulture Agency celebrated Pilkan Day by planting saplings of the indigenous tree. Known locally as Pilu or Paki, Pilkan is traditionally associated with the Rohi, or Cholistan, region. The tree and desert landscape also form part of the cultural and natural heritage linked to renowned Sufi poet Khwaja Ghulam Farid, whose poetry extensively reflected the landscape, flora, and culture of the Rohi.