The peaceful gardens of the Theosophical Society spread over 100 acres but only a portion of this is open to the public. The Theosophical Society, founded towards the end of the 19th century, aims to unite people regardless of religion or belief in the search for Truth, which is sought through "study, reflection, purity of life and devotion to high ideals." This is a place that is primarily about people who hold a common ideal however the grounds offer a rare opportunity to escape the noisy Chennai traffic. It is one of the few green areas where one can walk peacefully in the city.
The grounds are famous for one of the largest Banyan trees in the world, covering an an area of about 57,000 square feet.
The gardens are filled with the symbolism of religions and beliefs from all over the world and there are temples, churches and shrines giving space for quiet contemplation.
The air is filled with the scent of the colourful, flowering shrubs that attracts clouds of butterflies - some as small as a fingernail, others as large as your hand. The peace here provides a haven for all sorts of insects and birds.
It is possible to catch glimpse of the large fruit bats, known as "Flying Foxes" presumably due to their reddish brown fur and pointed faces. They roost in their colony throughout daylight hours. These large bats, with a wingspan of around 80cm, are nocturnal and fly over the city in hundreds as the last light of day fades away. They feed on fruits such as ripe mangoes.
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Birds call out from high trees - a golden oriole resplendent in yellow; a bright green parakeet or the spotted black and white of the Asian koel. You might catch sight of turquoise and green bee-catchers, noisy crows and musical mynahs. A glance ground-ward reveals the delicate tall structures of termite mounds and scurrying bright red beetles . Dusty webs of unseen spiders shroud some bushes and all around are the bright colours of flowers.
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