I belong to a group of women, and we call ourselves BULBs…Bangalore Urban Lady-Birders. One of our favourite destinations to go birding (or bird-watching) is…Kommaghatta Lake (in Kengeri).

Yesterday we went birding to Manchinabele Reservoir and several of us planned to go to Kommaghatta Lake this morning.

One of us did visit…and found that the lake had…disappeared.

Here’s part of her message:

“sorry for sending bad news your way so early, ….i reached the *erstwhile* kommaghatta lake and found no sign of it… I could hardly believe my eyes… the entire lake is GONE, disappeared, lake bed dredged up and big mounds lying all over the place. walked across the lake bed… i meant to walk the entire stretch but after a point didn’t have the heart to do it…. still can’t get over the anger and the shock….
no cheers,
-g”

The anguish we all feel speaks through those strong words. How DARE BBMP dry up our water bodies like this? Have they no sense? I read last week that BBMP does not want to plant any more trees in Bangalore because “the roots are shallow”. This may be true of the Rain trees and the Spathodeas (which are from Africa) …but what about planting banyan trees, neem trees or mango trees instead? Our old roads and highways had shelter for wayfarers, and sheltered wildlife and birds, and gave welcome shade even to motorized vehiccles.

What on earth is wrong with our present government that they are so extremely shortsighted>

Is there some way we can get the BBMP to account for the disappearance of Kommaghatta Lake?

I am told that Jakku Lake has been similarly drained. I am…truly anguished. Should I stand by and see my city being murdered and literally dried to death in this fashion? NOTHING will bring back the trees and the lakes once they are going. We can just have “Sampangi Tank Road” and “Miller Road Tank Bed” as road signs, that’s all.

click here

to see where Kommaghatta Lake is….was…situated.

After hectic schedules, weekend breaks gives you such a wonderful feeling. Isn’t it? Last weekend, we trekked to Hebbe falls Chikmaglur. It was a splendid trek path; a great stress buster indeed.

Trek path

Small Rivulets on the way

(more…)

Living in the city, most of us feel the need to go out into the wide open and explore the beautiful countryside. Breathe some fresh air and maybe get a glimpse of life on the other side of the fence.

Well, here’s an attempt to connect folks like us to rural India and hopefully they can provide a platform to those who want to venture into unexplored parts outside of Bangalore city.

Called Rural Zing, their aim is to be “an Initiative to connect urban and rural economy”.

The day long trips are organised on Saturdays and Sundays and for details you can log on to:
Web: Rural Zing
Mobile: 9886201103
Email – reservation@ruralzing.com

The road less travelled

Hogenakkal is located in Tamil Nadu and a part of the river Cauvery and is about 250 metres above sea level. The main attraction of the falls is its vertical drop from a height of 20 metres with a thundering sound. Hogenakkal is also supposed to have healing powers so be prepared to see people dive in (though it would be safer not to). It’s about 2 hours from Bangalore if you take the short route. We decided to take the long route, merely because we missed the right turn on the way :)

We started a little late and reached at a time when the rest of Tamil Nadu (and Karnataka) also decided to pay a visit to this famous falls.

(more…)

Sultanpet is on the Nandi Hills route and about 50-60 kms away towards the North. Instead of the left diversion to Nandi Hills, you need to take a right and continue along the road. There is also the Bhoga Nandeshwari temple there. And a little ahead is Sultanpet where there is a famous cemetery – all from the time of Tipu Sultan.

While on a drive to that area, we found a a few potters here hard at work early morning and spend some time around their work area and the adjacent building where they stored the pots. Apparently, their pots go to both Bangalore and places in Andhra Pradesh.
(more…)

These are two seperate locations but it’s possible to cover both in a day as they’re about an hour or so away from each other by road.

Terahalli: This is on the way to Kolar, a diversion just before reaching the town. A road leads upto the hills from where you get a view of the plains of Kolar. The hill is dotted with rocks of different shapes, reminiscent of the general landscape of Hampi.

(more…)

Honnemardu is supposed to be a village submerged under the Linganmakki reservoir in Shimoga district. On the way to Jog Falls one has to take deviation from a village by name Hiremane (2 km from Talguppa). A drive of 10 km from Hiremane will take to Honnemardu, where there is Indian Institute Adventure and Application (IIAA) run by S.L.N Swami.

(more…)

Around a two hour drive from Bangalore, Sangam and Mekedatu are ideal for a day’s getaway. The heat right now might deter you, but if you’re upto braving the hot sun, go for it!

A view of the Sangam confluence point

Sangam is the confluence of the river Cauvery and Arkavathi and is accessible via Kanakpura Road. The river flows through a deep gorge at the point called Mekedatu. The gorge is deep and at some points the rocks bridges the river, so a goat can leap across. Therefore, the name Meke (goat) Datu (leap).
(more…)

Looking for a relaxing weekend out from Bangalore?

A 4-5 drive away from the city is the coffee country of Sakleshpur. Nestled in a coffee plantation in Hosamane (about 23 kms from Sakleshpur town) is the Coffee Valley homestay, where you can head for a lazy and peaceful time.

After Sakleshpur, drive through some delightful curvy roads, shaded by tall trees with coffee plantations on both sides

(more…)

Scenic drives through lush green estates,

Bathing elephants,

(more…)