Vatadahosahalli Lake - less explored, serene picnic spot around Bengaluru

If you are desperate to have a fresh breath of air after almost 6 months of a COVID pandemic struck world, visit to Vatadahosahalli Lake in Sabbanahalli village. Not at all hyped as a tourist destination, but since a lot of people are looking for places to visit which are not crowded and social distancing can be maintained.

Situated in Gudibande taluk of Chikkaballapur, it is just about 92 km from my house (Hebbal) in Bengaluru. We started at 6:30 am and reached by 8:45 am. That was a little too late since a few families drove in cars from 9:30 am onwards. But we would suggest to reach by 8 am for two reasons: 

1. It is an open area and gets hot too quickly and reaching there early would benefit since the wind is colder and the weather around is just fine. Bird watchers' paradise. 

2. With such places getting popular among tourists, it is ideal to go there early and find a perfect spot near the water and enjoy the serenity. Also easy to find a space to park your vehicle and find enough area to play and roam around. 

The Vatadahosahalli lake is surrounded by rocky mountains with patches of green shrubs cover and rice and corn farms all around. The road to Gudibande after you get off the National Highway (NH7/Ballari road) is a narrow two way road and mostly very smooth with few sharp curves. Quite a few canopies on the road make driving a pleasure. But small stretches of the road through a few villages are very narrow and not in good condition. Drive slow and carefully.

We drove till the end of the lake to find the actual view point. Again from our experience, you may slow down and drive into the muddy bank before going that far. The bank is made of wet sand and gravels so park carefully where the sand is not too wet. We saw a sedan having troubles to get off the wet slippery sand bank. 

We packed some easy to carry breakfast like homemade burgers, cakes and milkshakes and some tea for my mother. Of course drinking water and a bottle of tap water to wash hands is a must. For my three-year-old boy, we carried some cornflakes, and one flask of hot milk and another flask of water, one set of extra clothes and a diaper and wet tissues. We took a cricket ball and bat to play there which he enjoyed so much after long. Next time, we plan to take kites to fly which is also great fun in such locales.

I can suggest to carry a mat and umbrellas in case it rains since the weather can turn tables anytime till November. But best time to visit the serene Vatadahosahalli lake is monsoon since the water levels are rise up and that invites more birds and makes the place relatively cooler. 

On your way you will see the Gudibande Fort and the Bhairasagara Lake which is enigmatic but we skipped the fort trip since it would be difficult for my mother. The Bhairasagara Lake is huge and the dam road is very narrow so you can't stop in the middle of the road perhaps. But park you car at the starting point of the lake and enjoy the waves of the historic reservoir. 

Hikers, biking groups and young travelers can first visit the Gudibande Fort and after that uphill sojourn, relax at the Vatadahosahalli Lake. And for those who would like to have a sumptuous lunch on their way back to the city, the choices are aplenty--the famous Indian Paratha Company, NH7 Refuel or Nandi Upachar.