While the world knows the Taj Mahal as a white marble monument in Agra, a different, rosy-red 'Taj Mahal' is taking flight from the town of Hosur in Tamil Nadu. This Taj Mahal is a prized variety of rose, deeply red and fragrant, which finds its way to devotees in Malaysia several times a week, forming the backbone of a thriving floral export business.
The Crimson Bloom Connecting Continents
These are not ordinary roses. The Taj Mahal rose is celebrated for its deep red colour, velvety texture, and pleasant fragrance. According to cultivator V Suresh, it symbolizes love and beauty and is in constant demand in both foreign and local markets throughout the year. A significant portion of this demand comes from Malaysia, where these roses are woven into garlands for the Batu Malai Murugan temple near Kuala Lumpur.
Shipments are frequent and substantial. Approximately 1,000 garlands make the journey from Hosur to Malaysia every week, with dedicated flights three times a week. The garlands are a favourite offering among Lord Murugan devotees. Suresh explains that these garlands are crafted using six types of flowers, including sendumalli, vaadamalli, and sambangi poo, with marigold and panneer leaves added to prevent them from withering quickly.
A Horticultural Hub in Krishnagiri District
The success of this trade is rooted in the favourable climate of the Hosur region, which supports year-round cultivation of vegetables and flowers. The area is perfect for growing not just the Taj Mahal rose, but also marigolds, sendumalli, button roses, panneer roses, and jasmine. The rose cultivation is spread across 150 acres in villages like Bagalur, Thally, Kunthukottai, and Berigai in Krishnagiri district.
The scale of production is staggering. Grower T Mani from Berigai reveals that they have the capacity to produce up to two million Taj Mahal roses every single day. This number skyrockets to around ten million as Valentine's Day approaches. The price per flower reflects this seasonal demand, selling at around ₹20 normally and more than doubling in February.
Beyond Taj Mahal: A Bouquet of Exports
While the Taj Mahal rose is a star performer, it is part of a larger export bouquet. Other popular varieties like Bordeaux, Redcorviti, Allanji, and Royal Circus are also cultivated and shipped from Hosur to destinations including Singapore, Malaysia, and West Asia. Cultivators estimate that a massive 70% of the flower garlands produced in Hosur are used for temples, weddings, and political rallies, highlighting their cultural and social significance.
This flourishing trade underscores Hosur's position as a key floral hub, where a unique red rose named after India's most famous monument travels across seas, connecting Indian agriculture with global devotional and aesthetic practices.
