A very symbolic Neem at the Qutub Complex...

On a recent visit to the Qutub complex, one had mixed feelings about the historic facts on display. Myriad reactions made their presence felt - wonder, pride, regret, anger, irony...
One look at this neem tree located to the right as you pass the entry gate - is just the right panacea that replaces all those feelings with peace. That was my takeaway from our visit - the comforting impression that this country has always granted all that every visitor demanded of her, even if the intentions were malafide

That's one very contented neem that lives and lets live umpteen other species under it - like Bharatvarsh (India) will ever continue to do...

Trees at temples

A pipal tree is usually found in front of temples. Sometimes a combination of two or more species (pipal / jackfruit / mango) mark the entrance to bigger and older temples in Kerala. (In Tamil Nadu you are likely to find combination of pipal and neem trees). It's interesting to see the canopy of mixed foliage, and the different barks growing entwined from their respective roots.
The pipal-mango combine is sometimes called 'Almavu' (intended as a pun for the word for soul in Malayalam).
Pictures of some of them taken during a 'Nalambalam Yatra'. Please click on picture for better views.

The tree(s) at Bharata temple, Koodalmanikyam, Trissur District

The tree(s) at Lakshmana temple, Moozhikulam, Trissur District
The tree(s) at Shatrughna's temple, Payammel, Trissur District.
This kind of parallel coexistence with intertwined barks and roots is likely because the pipal grows easily out of crevasses.
Actual Marriages of trees, and marriage with trees are religious customs in India.
Cross-posted from Feast for Thought