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Sal
साल (sal)
A tall straight hardwood that forms almost pure forest along the Himalayan foothills, with resin that is burned as incense.
How to recognise it
Large oval leathery leaves, a pale fissured trunk, and winged seeds that spin down like small helicopters in June.
Where to see it
Dehradun
Dehradun is the headquarters of Indian forestry (the Forest Research Institute and the Wildlife Institute of India are both here), and the Doon valley's sal forest is the stand on which a century of Indian forest science was worked out.
Lachhiwala Nature Park · Rajaji National Park · Forest Research Institute
Haridwar
Sal forms nearly continuous forest along the Himalayan foothills from Haridwar eastwards, and its resin, sal dhoop, is sold at the Haridwar shrines as incense.
Rajaji National Park, Chilla · Jhilmil Jheel Conservation Reserve
Rishikesh
The whole walk up to the waterfalls above Rishikesh runs through sal forest; the winged seeds spinning down in June are the easiest way to recognise it.
Neelkanth Mahadev Temple · Neer Garh Waterfall · Patna Waterfall