#160 - SHREYAS' BANYAN PLAYGROUND

LOCATION: Shreyas Foundation, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

DATE: December 2024

Shreyas’ Banyan Playground is a much-loved spot on school campus—an entire world tucked into the branches of a 100-year-old banyan tree. The moment you step onto the first wooden platform, it feels like entering a living treehouse village. Children move thoughtfully across the rope bridges, climb up nets, and discover new little nooks every time they visit. From the mid-level decks, you can peek through small alcoves to spot birds, monkeys, insects, and all the tiny surprises the banyan hides in its branches.

The whole playground moves like a real-life game of Snakes and Ladders. Ladders, nets, and bridges guide children upward through the canopy, while slides and net tubes carry them gently back down. The structure blends naturally into the tree, built with sturdy wood, rope, and tree-friendly fittings that protect the banyan while creating a warm, organic play environment. Every level has something fun to explore—binoculars for birdwatching, magnifying glasses for studying bark textures, and little signs that share fun facts about the tree’s mini-ecosystem.

When kids make it all the way to the top platform, they’re greeted with a panoramic view of the Shreyas campus. It’s the perfect mix of adventure and nature—safe, imaginative, and full of the kind of magic only a giant banyan tree can offer. Shreyas’ Banyan Playground isn’t just a play area; it’s a place to climb, learn, explore, and feel like part of the tree itself.