I had my first glimpse of Betul in 2011 when travelling by train from Bhopal to Bengaluru to visit my daughter who was studying there. It was the month of August. The monsoons were in full swing. The jungles were verdant with raindrops hanging from the leaves. The earth was clad in a fresh coat of green.The closed environs of a closed AC coach notwithstanding, I could almost feel the cool breeze on my face. And the only thought that came to my mind was, "Wow!! I'd love to stay here."
On the 1st of June2021 my wife and younger daughter drove me from Bhopal to take over as the District Sainik Welfare Officer of Betul.More about that road trip some other time.
We hunted for a house and found one after two months. Its a ground floor house with a huge mango tree in front. There in the crook of the trunk I noticed orchids. I could not believe it. Orchids? In this part of the country? Thus began my wait for them to flower.
I asked my neighbour who is also the house owner about these plants and he expressed ignorance. I was familiar with orchids having grown them in my garden in Nagaland.
Now began the phase when driving around Betul, going to my office or to the sabzi mandi, my eyes kept searching for these plants on all trees. Very soon I realized that these orchids grew only on mango trees.
Now, mango trees are abundant in Betul. At least two major arterials, the Tikari Link Road and the Badora-Balajipuram road are lined with mango trees. I have noticed that Civil Lines also has its fair share of mango trees.
Last month when I came back from leave I had forgotten all about these exotic plants. Suddenly one evening driving back from office my eyes chanced upon this glorious sight. On a bare tree, just the trunk reaching
out for the sky, clung an enormous bunch of orchids in all their blooming glory. I was enchanted. So last Sunday I took out my camera and went on an orchid hunting mission. I walked on Tikari Link Road and captured a few shots of these flowers. A Google search shows that they are from the Vanda species.
Then I drove to Badora Road and covered the entire length. This road has more number of trees bearing these epiphytes in full bloom. It was so exciting capturing these flowers in the wild. A number of passers by I spoke with were unaware of the orchids. "Yeh kis kaam aata hai?" "Junglee paudha hai. "I thanked God for their ignorance. Otherwise what little numbers are surviving would have long vanished.
All this walking from tree to tree, crossing the road multiple times made me very hungry. So I headed for my favourite place in Betul, The Indian Coffee House. Imagine my joy when parking my car under the mango tree there I looked up and lo and behold there was a bunch of orchids in full bloom. My day was made.
A sumptuous breakfast comprising vada-sambar and cold coffee laid the ground for the siesta that followed. A fabulous Sunday morning.
Now I am looking for someone, from Betul, who can work towards conserving this wealth Nature has endowed on this town. The cutting of trees and depleting green cover will quickly eliminate this thing of beauty which otherwise can be a source of joy for ever.
