2 min readLucknowMar 2, 2026 05:15 AM IST
Varanasi has entered the Guinness World Records by planting 2,51,446 saplings within one hour during a mega plantation drive at the Sujabad Domari area on Sunday, surpassing China’s 2018 record of 1,53,981 saplings.
The record was confirmed by Guinness World Records adjudicator Rishinath after verification through drone surveillance and a digital counting system. The certificate was presented to Mayor Ashok Kumar Tiwari and Municipal Commissioner Himanshu Nagpal at the site.
The UP government, in a statement, said the plantation was carried out over nearly 350 bighas, developed as an urban forest through coordination between the Varanasi Municipal Corporation and several government departments, institutions, and social organisations.
The forest area has been divided into 60 sectors, each named after prominent ghats of Kashi, including Dashashwamedh, Manikarnika, Kedar, and Lalita. More than 4,000 saplings were planted in each sector.
Officials said that 27 native species were included in the drive, such as sheesham, Arjun, teak and bamboo, along with fruit-bearing trees like mango, guava, and papaya, and medicinal plants, including ashwagandha, shatavari, and giloy.
“The miyawaki technique has been used to enable dense and faster growth, and the area is expected to develop into a dense green cover within two to three years,” an official said.
The campaign saw participation from personnel of the Indian Army, NDRF, CRPF, Civil Defence and the Provincial Armed Constabulary, along with teams from the Forest and Agriculture departments, Namami Gange, DUDA, and the Municipal Corporation. Thousands of students, NCC cadets, and NSS volunteers from local educational institutions also took part.
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To ensure survival of the saplings, a 10.8-km pipeline network has been laid, supported by 10 borewells and 360 rain gun systems for irrigation, the government said.
According to officials, the project is also expected to generate revenue for the Municipal Corporation under an agreement with a private agency, with earnings projected to begin from the third year.
Mayor Ashok Kumar Tiwari said the initiative reflects Kashi’s commitment to environmental conservation, while combining ecological goals with long-term economic planning.
