Manchanabele dam –Big Banyan Tree (Dodda Alada Mara)

With the pandemic and lockdowns around us it is very difficult to go on long trips. Day trips around Bangalore make it much easier to come home by night after enjoying a nice relaxed getaway. One such trip that you can cover in a day is by visiting two places closeby - Manchanabele Dam and the Big Banyan Tree also called the Dodda Alada Mara.

Leave by 7am in the morning to avoid traffic as we had to pass through the Yeswanthpur Junction. Anytime after 8.30am be ready to face traffic jams. We went on a Sunday and had to wait 40mins to just cross Yeswanthpur. It is better to take the NICE road and then join Magadi road to reach Tavarekare instead of taking the route that Google Map shows which is an inner road that is not that great.

Since we had already visited the Big Banyan Tree sometime back, we went only to see the Manchanabele Dam this time. Avoid using the car if possible as it’s just a 50km ride. Trust me you will love riding on those roads. Before reaching the dam there is a picnic spot. You can stop your vehicle there and have your breakfast/lunch.

On the way back you can visit the Big Banyan tree. The pic below was taken when we went there sometime back. Lot of monkeys so please take care of your belongings. Interesting place to see how the roots have grown so much that it is covering the entire place.

NOTE: Make sure to check about the weekend curfew as the cops there were sending back people stating that you cannot visit the place on the weekends.

We completed this trip in 1000 INR as we went by bike and filled petrol for 300INR :)