The Garden of Garden City - Lalbagh

The Garden of Garden City – Lalbagh:

Panoramic view of the Lalbagh Lake 

Little facts about Lalbagh:

Lalbagh was given the status of a Government Botanical Garden in 1856. The park is spread across 240 acres in the heart of the city.

stone bench

Places to visit in Lalbagh:

1.        Glass House(epicenter of the park)
2.        Lalbagh lake(towards west gate)
3.        The Floral Clock made from HMT(towards the main gate)
4.         Kempegowda Tower on top of the Lalbagh hill(towards KH circle gate and Siddapura gate)
5.        Rose Garden(towards west gate)
6.        Bonsai park(towards KH circle gate and Siddapura gate)

Lalbagh Glass House

The Floral Clock, Lalbagh

Lalbagh Rose Garden

What you need to know about the park before you visit:

•  Vehicles are allowed only through the East gate (Siddapura Gate) towards the Double Road.
• Can be reached through city bus (BMTC),from majestic catch the buses which goes towards Jayanagar and get down at either Lalbagh main gate which comes after urvashi theatre or Lalbagh west gate(more preferred)
• Timing: 6.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m. Although best time to visit is in the morning hours and evening hours.
• Biannual flower shows are organized every year in January and August on the occasion of the Republic Day and Independence Day celebrations respectively, it will be held for a week ending on the republic/independence day.

Restaurants near Lalbagh:

1.        MTR near Main gate
2.        Café coffee day and Adigas if you coming from Jayanagar towards Siddapura gate
3.        Hotel Kamat near West gate

My Travelogue:

              After visiting more than 10 occasions, counting the 5 flower shows, this place is still not boring for me, I wish to visit every upcoming flower shows. 

The lake side is getting a good renovation, though less crowd falls under this area, it is the most beautiful landscapes of Bangalore. There is a small artificial waterfall which falls on the opposite side of the road from the lake, which flows the lake towards the water treatment area covered as small pond. 

One can start with the main gate and start explore from the floral clock and then path leads to bandstand and then to the glass house, behind that is the bonsai park and the hillock of kempegowda tower, later you can walk towards the rose garden and then walk by the lake side and spend some time at the lake side in the evening, by enjoying the masala corn and kadle puri which are sold on the lake side pathway. The lake is Spread across 30acres. The path also leads to island like structures which are located in the middle of the lake. And finally exit through the west gate.

Some of the flora found inside the park includes Zinnia, Petunia, Passion Flower, Dahlia, Chrysanthemum, pinks, rose, bonsai plants and many other rare species of plants and trees.

Lighting beside the pathway inside the park

Monkeys on bamboo trees

Ornamental Chilli

Passion Flower found in some corner of the Garden

Red Cabbage

artificial waterfalls next to lake, below the pathway

bandstand illuminated, glass house can also be seen behind

birds on top of trees in the evening hours

ducks in lalbagh lake

evening@ Lalbagh

Masala Corn

Even birds like to walk here instead flying

pathways

white silk cotton tree, over 200 years old

Shivanasamudra Falls

Shivanasamudra falls:

Shivanasamudra falls located in Mandya district about 139km from Bangalore, is the location of one of the first Hydro-electric Power stations in Asia, which was set up in the year 1902.

Full view of Bharachukki falls as seen from the view point

River Kaveri splits into two parts to form two waterfalls, Bharachukki and Gaganachukki at a distance of few km to each other. It has an average width of 305 meters, a height of 98 m, and an average volume of 934 cubic meters / sec. The maximum recorded volume is 18,887 cubic meters / sec. It is a perennial waterfall. The time of best flow is the monsoon season of July to October.

Waterflow of River Kaveri enroute to Shivanasamudra falls

The western branch forms the twin waterfalls Gaganachukki, the eastern branch flows as Bharachukki. Gaganachukki being more violent in waterflow and is at a much higher altitude compared to the Bharachukki, resulting in being banned for going near the water, and there is a Hydro-electric Power station located here, the falls can be viewed from the Shivanasamudra watch tower. There is another approach to the Gaganachukki falls from the Darga Hazrath. Despite warnings being posted, people climb down the rocks and attempt to view the waterfalls from behind/top, resulting in many fatal accidents.

Shivanasamudra falls has been named as 16th largest waterfalls in the world and largest in India in terms of volume, Jog Falls being 36th in world and 2nd in India.

Source: http://www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com/largest-waterfalls/volume/

There are coracle rides (theppa) offered in Bharachukki falls which takes you till the tip of the falls, which looks very dangerous but adventurous. Here depending upon the water levels you are allowed to play in the water, on the right side of the falls where the water flow is lesser compared to the other parts of the falls. If you’re lucky you can even go and sit behind the waterfalls, we were lucky enough to sit behind the falls, which was the most exciting part of the whole trip. One have to climb down about 300 steps to go to the bottom of the falls to get a better view of the falls, there are viewpoints available right from the parking lot.

(From left) Bharachukki falls part 1

Bharachukki falls part 2

Bharachukki falls part 3

Bharachukki falls part 4

Bharachukki falls part 5

Distant view of Bharachukki falls

Coracle rides 

Bharachukki falls, coracle going till the tip of the falls

Bharachukki falls

Bharachukki falls

The twin falls of Gaganachukki

The left section of Gaganachukki falls

The right section of Gaganachukki falls

Coorg - A perfect Holiday Destination

Trip to Coorg:

Coorg also called as Kodagu lies in the Western Ghats of Karnataka with Pushpagiri Hills on north and Brahmagiri Hills on the south.  The highest peak, Tadiandamol, rises to 1,750 metres lies in Brahmagiri. Madikeri (Mercara) is the headquarters of Coorg District.

Tourist Places & Routes in Coorg:

Route1: 65km from Madikeri towards north(1-2days)

1.Kumaraparvatha(Trek)

2.Mallalli falls

Route2:25-30km from Madikeri towards north(1day)

3.Abbey Falls

4.Mandalapatti(Pushpagiri Reserve Forest)

Route3: 90km from Madikeri towards South(1-2days)

5.Tadiandamol(Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary)(Trek)

6.Chelavara falls

Route4:to the east towards Mysore(1-2days)

7.Bylakuppe(Kushalanagara)

8.Kaveri Nisargadhama

9.Dubare elephant camp(15km from Nisargadhama)

Inside Madikeri city

10.Omkareshwara Temple

11.Raja Seat

Route 5:44km from Madikeri towards west(1/2day)

10.Talakaveri

11.Bhagamandala

Route 6:110km from Madikeri towards South(1day)

12.Iruppu Falls

13.Nagarahole

Covered(8/13) : Mallalli falls, Abbey Falls, Mandalapatti, Bylakuppe, Nisargadhama, Omkareshwara Temple, Raja Seat, Talakaveri, Bhagamandala, Nagarahole

Yet to discover(5/13): Kumaraparvatha, Tadiandamol-Chelavara falls, Dubare, Iruppu Falls

Route 1 & 2: (Covered except Kumaraparvatha)

Click here for Route1 & 2

Route4:(Covered except Dubare)

Bylakuppe: On the highway from Mysore towards Madekeri you pass by Kushalanagara where you have to take a left turn to enter the road for Bylakuppe and about 6km further you end up at Buddhist Golden Temple (Namdroling Monastery). This place is a must see for one time due to its easy accessibility. The main temple has 3 huge Statues of Guru Padmasambhava, Buddha Shakyamuni and Amitayus. There is a Tibetan market which is an ideal place for shopping, though bargains are a little the prices are reasonable.

Nisargadhama: Once you come back to Kushalnagara you enter the forest cover and on the left is the Kaveri Nisargadhama, you need to take entrance tickets to enter this place, and there is a pedal boating available at a very reasonable price, life jackets are also provided and is maintained by the Government. Inside the Nisargadhama one has to cross by a Hanging bridge built across River Kaveri, the otherside of the river is a small forest covered with bamboo trees. They also provide Elephant rides inside Nisargadhama.

There is a Deer park inside the place which has a large protected fence so one has to barely see deers, but the huge fence area makes it feel one among the forest. There were also Rabbits, ducks and other birds found inside within small protected area.

There are shops open up for refreshments and restaurant available at the entrance and also there is parking facility available. There is a restaurant available inside Nisargadhama also.

Omkareshwara Temple:  This temple is dedicated to Shiva & lies inside the Madikeri town. The whole temple area is kept clean and the small pond infront of the temple looks beautiful with the Mantap built at the center of the pond. The Temple was built in 1820 in Islamic and Gothic style of architecture.

Raja Seat: This is one of the most beautiful place in the town, it is a park with a view point at the end and has artificial fountains inside. It has a nice view point with a view of the valley around Madikeri, best time to visit is evening and one can enjoy the sunset and musical fountain after sunset. The king of Coorg was sitting here to enjoy the view of sunset, hence the name “The Kings Seat”.

Route5:

Talakaveri: Talakaveri is the birth place of River Kaveri, and has a special importance in South India. There is a temple built at this place and a tank built at birthplace of Kaveri river, and it lies on top of the hill giving some breathtaking views of the pushpagiri hills, one has to take up around 500 steps to reach the hilltop from the temple to get a better view of the valley. Best time to visit is in the morning.

Bhagamandala: Bhagamandala comes on the way to Talakaveri. Bhagamandala is famous for its Bhagandeshwara temple and triveni sangama infront of the Temple. This is where river Kaveri joins Kannike and the mythical Sujyoti river. Here river kaveri is at its early stages with very less force of water which is flowing from talakaveri. There are no restaurants available at Talakaveri, so one can have food at Bhagamandala.

Route 6: (covered except Iruppu Falls)

Nagarhole National Park (ನಾಗರಹೊಳೆ ರಾಷ್ಟೀಯ ಉದ್ಯಾನವನ): The park covers 643 km2  and is the second largest National park in karnataka after Bandipur and is recognised as a Tiger reserve. It was recently closed for tourists with supreme courts ban on tourism in tiger reserves of India.

One can spot Asian elephants, spotted deer or Chital, Sambar, Indian bison or gaur, Peacocks and langur monkey in abundant.

Sloth bears, four-horned antelopes, wild boar are also found inside the jungle.

Although rarely lucky ones can spot tiger, leopard, jackals, striped hyena, Indian pangolin, Red/Indian giant flying squirrel and wild dogs.

Related Posts

The quest for Mandalpatti