Visit to Dodda Aalada Mara (Big Banyan Tree)

This weekend it was already planned to visit Dodda Aalada mara near Kengeri. I finished daily routine and started at around 10:00AM on a Sunday morning. This time I took bike to visit the place as bus journey was quite time taking. Also you may need to take 3 buses to reach there. Along the travel I stopped at many places to take snaps. This is advantage if you make your own arrangements. Of-course I went alone.

Since it was Sunday, traffic was smooth even at peak time. It was around 11:30 AM when I reached the place. Late since I stopped at many places en-route. There is not much to see here except the big banyan tree which covers around 3-4 acres of land. People visit here just for change from city environment. Some pictures en-route. Most of the pictures in auto-mode did not produce the lane markings due to haze. I had to under-expose (2/3) and adjust shutter speed to get clear picture.

ROAD LEADING TO DODDA-AALADA-MARA

ONE MORE PICTURE EN-ROUTE

Some of the details as mentioned in placard:

1) Maintained by Horticulture department of Karnataka Government
2) Situated at Kethohalli village, Tavarekere Hobli, Bangalore South Taluk
3) It has history of about 400 years.
4) Spread around 3-4 acres of land
5) Around 400 to 500 dangles are growing in the tree.

There are benches for resting and you can have view around the tree for some time. For visitors there is parking space outside the area. There are many eating outlets outside with reasonable price. Muneshwara temple is situated inside the premises. Watch out for the monkeys when you sit for eating. However they did not seem to be aggressive. This is place is to enjoy for few hours not entire day. I presume some good places can be found near by too. Just check internet for details

How to reach:

The place is situated 23 kms from main city (may be from Majestic). However it took around 30kms for me from HSR BDA. One has to travel along Mysore highway and cross Kengeri. 2-3 kms from Kengeri town, you reach a small junction near Rajarajeshwari Dental College towards right. Take the right turn and travel along the beautiful road for about 7kms to reach Dodda Aalada Mara. The place is along the main road and there is no need to take any deviations. You may feel to be lost due to inadequate sign boards but do not worry; local people do guide you well. Watch out for nasty humps. There are many en-route. They are unscientific and neither have sign boards nor markings on it as indication. The humps are present especially in village area and curves.

There are buses from K.R.Market and Majestic. Better to reach Kengeri so that you can get ample buses. I assume that bus service is infrequent (most of the buses were over crowded). Watch out for the interceptors en-route along Mysore SH-17. Do not cross speed limits [60kmph for 4 wheelers and 40kmph for 2 wheelers]. Also traffic personnel will be checking your documents even so do not break rules [wear helmet].

Here are some pictures nearby:

PANORAMIC VIEW

MAIN ENTRANCE

THE BIG BANYAN TREE

THERE ARE LOTS OF SUCH

ONE MORE PICTURE