When you hear the name Banyan, what does it conjure up in your mind? Or does it leave no impression at all? The word Banyan is a linguistic and historical crossroads, carrying a weight that shifts from the sacred and eternal to the commercial and even the fashion-forward. It is one of those rare words where the biology of the thing (the tree) and the history of the people (the merchants) are so intertwined they eventually became the same word. The word did not originally describe a tree. It comes from the Sanskrit vaniya, which evolved
into the Gujarati word banya, meaning “merchant” or “trader.” The Marketplace: Early European travelers in the 16th and 17th centuries observed Hindu merchants (Banyans) conducting their business and building small pagodas in the massive shade of a specific type of fig tree (Ficus benghalensis). The Name Shift: Eventually, the “Tree of the Banyans” was shortened simply to “Banyan.” It is a rare case where a plant was named after
the profession of the people who sat under it. Additionally, it can blend with Infinite Growth: These roots grow down from the branches, hit the ground, and thicken into secondary trunks. A single banyan can eventually look like an entire forest. Needless to say, it is important or relevant to many. We won’t be taking you through this journey, but we will clue you in to the travel and hospitality group Banyan. And what better way to bedazzle you is to temp you to explore their properties. Our affiliate partners, Booking.com have rooms and activities waiting for you now. Click here
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