India, Nov. 5 -- Tollygunge is one of South Kolkata's most prominent neighbourhoods, known for its Bengali film studios, residential areas and green spaces. Home to the iconic Tollygunge Club and its golf course, the locality was once a densely forested stretch, far removed from the bustling urban landscape it is today.

According to a report on the website Live History India, the area's history goes back to the 18th century, when the area was known as Russapugla. The region was covered in thick vegetation, including mangrove trees such as Sundari, Byne and Garjan.

According to the Tollygunge Club's historical account, the name Russapugla is believed to have originated from a tree under which a Sufi saint, known as Pugla Pir, meditated a...