Mahbubnagar, Nov. 9 -- Two years after being termite-infected, the 700-year-old great banyan tree of Telangana has breathed fresh life and is now back into healthy germination. A modern-organic treatment, with saline treatment, was administered up by the state forest department and the Mahabubnagar district officials to save its life.

The tree - touted by the state forest authorities as the second largest banyan tree in the world - is located on the outskirts of Mahbubnagar and is spread over three acres. It is locally called 'Pillala Marri' (children's Banyan tree). With truck-like prop roots growing all over the compound, the officials couldn't identify the mother root yet.

A major tourist attraction until 2017, a termite-infested bra...