Co-Author: Kankana Debnath
Bangalore is one of the few cities in the world which do not have any rivers or seas close by. The Kempe Gowdas, who started building the city some 500 years back, realised the importance of building water reservoirs throughout the city in form of lakes or tanks. While urbanisations and encroachments reduced the number of lakes in this city, the last couple of years have seen an increased awareness towards protection and beautification of these water bodies.
In this article, we will list down some of the water bodies in Bangalore where you can enjoy some fresh air.
Hesaraghatta Lake: This is a reservoir slightly off the city and is on the north western part. However, the roads leading to this lake aren’t too bad and Google Maps does a pretty good job in guiding you there. This is a reservoir of the Arkavathy River, a small river that starts on the Nandi Hills and is a tributary of the Kaveri River. The size of the reservoir has been declining over the past few years, but still offers excellent views. The best time to visit is during the Sunsets.
Jakkur Lake: Jakkur Lake is one of the relatively better maintained lakes in Bangalore managed very well by an NGO called Jala Poshan. The lake has a Water Treatment Unit and also a portion of the lake is wetlands and there are a variety of birds found here. There are a couple of islands in the lake and migratory birds make their home in those islands. The lake has jogging/ walking trail and there are gardens throughout to give us a pleasurable experience to walk around here. Both Sunrise and Sunsets offer amazing views.
Ulsoor Lake: Right in the heart of the city, is one of the biggest lakes of Bangalore. Ulsoor Lake is close to M.G. Road and has walking track around and has parks in places. The Lake is now maintained pretty well. However, car parking might be an issue, so, we would suggest to use public transport or cabs.
Sankey Tank: Sankey Tank is a man-made lake situated in the western part of Bangalore and has parks and paved walkways. While there are legal issues regarding encroachments, the areas around the park are maintained pretty well.
Nagavara Lake: Right beside the Manyata Tech Park, is the Nagavara Lake. The lake is connected to the Lumbini Gardens and is one of the few lakes that offers boating facilities. Lumbini Gardens also has an Artificial Wave Pool, quite a few rides for kids and there is paved walkway on one side along with shops selling food items. This is a very good place for kids and offers a breather from the hustle and hustle of the city while being inside the city.
Please note that most of these lakes have timings and they might change. So, we would advise you to check about the timings for visit before visiting these lakes to avoid disappointments.
