Lakes in Bangalore 2026: A Complete Guide to the City’s Best Water Bodies

Bangalore Life · By L K Monu Borkala · April 2026 · 10 min read

QUICK ANSWER

How many lakes are there in Bangalore?

Bangalore has 213 lakes as of 2025–26 — down from 280+ in the 1960s due to decades of encroachment and urbanisation, but actively being restored. Bellandur Lake (889 acres) and Varthur Lake are the largest. Ulsoor Lake (123 acres) is the most accessible for city visitors. Hebbal Lake is the best for birdwatching. Agara Lake (HSR Layout) is the most neighbourhood-friendly for morning walks.

Bangalore’s Lake Crisis and Restoration

Bangalore’s lakes were once the defining feature of the city’s landscape — a chain of interconnected tanks built over centuries by successive rulers to harvest monsoon water in an elevated terrain that has no perennial rivers. The 20th century, and particularly the IT boom of the 1990s–2000s, was catastrophic for these water bodies: 250+ lakes were encroached on, built over, or converted to storm drains.

The situation has begun to reverse. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and the Lake Development Authority have restored dozens of lakes since 2015, with Agara Lake, Saul Kere, and several Whitefield-area lakes showing significant recovery. Bellandur and Varthur — the largest — remain severely polluted and periodically produce froth that spreads to surrounding roads.

The Lakes Worth Visiting

Ulsoor Lake — Central Bangalore

Ulsoor Lake (123 acres) is the most centrally located major lake and the most accessible for visitors. The lake allows boating (BWSSB-operated rowboats at modest prices), has a maintained jogging path around the perimeter, and the fishing on the eastern bank is a consistent sight on early mornings. The backdrop of central Bangalore’s skyline visible across the water is the most photographed lake view in the city.

Access: Ulsoor Road, near Ulsoor. Open all day. Boating: ₹50–₹150. Best time: 6–9 AM or 5–7 PM.

Hebbal Lake — Hebbal

Hebbal Lake is Bangalore’s best birdwatching lake — the combination of the lake’s open water, surrounding wetlands, and the adjacent Hebbal Biodiversity Park creates a habitat that supports over 120 bird species year-round and significantly more during the October–February winter migration. Painted storks, pelicans, spot-billed ducks, and multiple raptor species are regular. The lake is best visited at 6:30–9 AM for bird activity.

Access: Near Hebbal flyover, north Bangalore. Free access to lakefront area.

Agara Lake — HSR Layout

Agara Lake is the most successfully restored lake in Bangalore’s urban fabric — its 65-acre extent, maintained jogging track, lighting for evening walks, and neighbourhood setting in HSR Layout make it the most used daily-exercise lake in the city. The bird diversity is lower than Hebbal but the walking infrastructure is better. A model for what restored urban lakes can be.

Best for: Morning walks, jogging, peaceful evening visits. Free.

Sankey Tank — Malleshwaram

Sankey Tank is a 37-acre lake in the heart of Malleshwaram, maintained by the Karnataka Fisheries Department and surrounded by a well-kept tree-lined path. It’s consistently well-maintained relative to many BBMP-managed lakes, and the neighbourhood character — old Bangalore houses, mature trees, morning walkers — gives it a quality that’s harder to find in newer lake restorations.

Best for: Morning walks, photography, peaceful sitting. Free entry to the path.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Bellandur Lake foam?

Bellandur Lake foams because of extremely high levels of untreated sewage and industrial effluent entering the lake. The foam (a white frothy substance) is caused by surfactants in the sewage reacting with aeration at the lake’s overflow weirs. The foam occasionally spreads onto the Bellandur road during monsoon months. BBMP and the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board have been working on remediation since 2015; progress has been slow.

Are Bangalore lakes safe for birdwatching?

Yes — Hebbal Lake and the Ulsoor Lake surroundings are safe for birdwatching during daylight hours. Carry binoculars and an offline bird ID app (eBird or Merlin). The Deccan Birding Club organises regular walks from multiple city lakes; these are the most educational way to start if you’re new to birdwatching.

Can you boat on Bangalore lakes?

Ulsoor Lake has BWSSB-operated rowboats (₹50–₹150 per boat per 30 minutes). Sankey Tank occasionally operates pedalboats. Most other lakes don’t permit public boating. The boating experience at Ulsoor is modest — it’s a recreational service rather than a scenic sailing experience — but it’s distinctive as a lakeside activity within a major Indian city.