Madhya Pradesh Spends Rs 12 Lakh A Year To Maintain "VVIP Tree"

The high-profile tree is kept in pristine condition, with local officials ensuring that even a single leaf doesn't dry up.

There is a tree like no other on a hillock in Salmatpur in Madhya Pradesh (eight kilometres from popular Buddhis site Sanchi) - it costs the state government Rs 12 lakh a year to maintain the tree. The Peepal tree, which the locals say is India's first "VVIP tree", is located five kilometres away from the Sanchi Buddhist complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, between Madhya Pradesh's capital Bhopal and Vidisha town. Four security guards are deployed for the security of the tree for 24 hours.

The high-profile tree is kept in pristine condition, with local officials ensuring that even a single leaf doesn't dry up.

The Peepal tree was planted in 2012 by then Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa from a sapling taken from the island nation. It belongs to the same Bodhi tree under which Gautam Buddha said to have achieved enlightenment.