Padma Shri awardee and environmental icon Saalumarada Thimmakka, renowned for planting 385 banyan trees, passed away at the age of 114 in Bengaluru.
Biographical Details
Full Name: Saalumarada Thimmakka (born as Thimmakka).
Titles: She is widely known as “Vriksha Mathe” (Mother of Trees) and “Saalumarada Thimmakka”
Birthplace: She was born in Gubbi Taluk, Tumakuru District, Karnataka.
Environmental work: Her environmental work is centered around Hulikal Village, Magadi Taluk, Ramanagara District.
Spouse: She was married to Bikkala Chikkayya, who was her partner in planting trees until his death in 1991.
Lifespan: She passed away on November 14, 2025, at the approximate age of 114 years.
The Environmental Achievements
Tree Species: She primarily planted Banyan trees (Scientific Name: Ficus benghalensis).
Location: The trees were planted along a 4 to 4.5 km kilometer stretch of State Highway 94 (SH-94) between Hulikal and Kudur
Number of Trees: She planted 385 banyan trees in this specific row.
Total Contribution: It is estimated she planted over 8,000 trees in total during her lifetime.
Methodology: She used thorny shrubs to fence the saplings and carried water pots for 4 kilometers
Major Awards & Recognitions
Cabinet Rank (2022): The Karnataka Government appointed her as the “Environment Ambassador” with the status of a Cabinet Minister.
Padma Shri (2019): She received India’s fourth-highest civilian award from President Ram Nath Kovind.
BBC 100 Women (2016): She was listed as one of the most influential and inspiring women in the world by the BBC.
Nadoja Award (2010): She received this prestigious honor from Kannada University, Hampi.
National Citizen’s Award (1995): She was honored by the Government of India for her grassroots work.
Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra Award (1997): She received this national award specifically for contributions to afforestation.
International Honor: An environmental organization in Los Angeles, USA, is named “Thimmakka’s Resources for Environmental Education”.
Government Initiatives & Legacy
Saalumarada Thimmakka Tree Parks: The Karnataka State Government has established tree parks in every Assembly Constituency to increase green cover.
Tree Preservation: In 2019, the Bagepalli-Halaguru road widening project was modified to save her heritage banyan trees.
Memorial Fund (2025): Following her death, the Karnataka Government announced a ₹1 Crore Corpus Fund to institute an annual environment award in her name.
114 Saplings: To mark her age at passing, the government announced the planting of 114 saplings at distinct locations.
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