Manchinbele dam or Manchanabele dam is situated 40 Kms from Bangalore in Manchinbele village, Magadi Taluk. The dam is built across Arkavathi River.
When your expectations are at its lowest expecting a patch of water, this place is a surprise package waiting to be discovered. A post card like scene suddenly appears after a turn on a hill and you suddenly get enveloped in the surrounding beauty not noticing that you are driving from one pothole into the other.
It is a perfect place for an outing with greenery and wild flowers’ surrounding the reservoir and it’s so unbelievable to find a place like this so near to the crowded and concreted Bangalore.
String of hills forms the backdrop for the backwaters. A big stone mountain towers over the reservoir, which is known as Savanadurga.
Activities like rock climbing; walking, bird watching and swimming are some of the favorite activities here.
We spotted many birds like, Bush Chat, Cuckoo Shrike, Indian Koel, Spotted and Pink Dove, Prinia, Baya Weaver bird, Myna, Swallow, Hoopoe, Pippit, White Cheeked Bulbul, Indian Robin, Jungle Warbler, and for the first time spotted two Grey Francolins and a Button Quail.
Picture – Baya Weaver Bird nests, Bush Chat
Picture – Dove and Jungle Warbler
Picture – Pipit and Prinia
Picture – Vented Bulbul and Magpie Robin
Picture – Hoopoe
There are many number of Gecko (type of lizards) slithering in between the rocks and the one we spotted had even changed colors according to the shade of the rock, it was sitting on!
As the sun sets, the silver twilight on the stone mountains and hills reflect and the scene to behold becomes black and white.
You can also visit Big Banyan Tree and Country Club (only for members), which are on the way. The security and non-availability of facilities is a damper.
Place Statistics:
Type of Place: Dam/Reservoir
Situated: Bangalore district, Magadi Taluk
Distance: 40 Kms from Bangalore, 12 Kms from Big Banyan Tree
Transport: Private vehicles and Govt. run buses
Facilities: Nil, Ruppi’s restaurant is situated next to Banyan tree
Caution: Not safe in the night, around 4 Kms road near to the dam is extremely bad and narrow
Directions: Drive down Mysore road from Bangalore and take a right turn at Raja Rajeswari Dental College and continue to drive till Ramohalli, Big Banyan tree. From here it is 12 kms, continue to drive for 3 kms from Banyan tree to reach Chandrappa circle, here take a left and pass Gollahalli and Chikkanahalli to reach Manchinbale.
