Ulsoor Lake

The well-known Ulsoor Lake also known as Halasuru Lake stands as one of the oldest neighborhoods in the metropolitan city of Bengaluru. The lake is positioned in the center of the city which begins approximately from the eastern terminus of MG Road and is sprawled over an area of about 1.5 sq km. The lake was originally known by name as ‘Halsur’ or ‘Alsur’.

The lake is dotted with picturesque petite islands, making it a nice getaway in the busy commercial city. The lake is also famous for its numerous temples and rather narrow streets. Constructed by Kempe Gowda II, stands as a major tourist attraction in the city and also provides opportunities for water sports such as boating, cruising, etc.

It is believed that, initially the land was all covered with the woods and Kempe Gowda on his journey of chasing game and he took rest there under a tree and when he was asleep God Someshvara appeared and revealed the existence of hidden treasure. Thus Kempe Gowda dug up the land and built there Somesvara pagoda and is believed to have used the services of the sculptor from Belur, a descendant of the famous Jakanachari, to decorate the walls with scenes from the marriage of Siva and Paravati. The temple is influenced by the Dravidian style of art. In its vicinity there is another temple which is dedicated to Subbaraya. Then in the north eastern side of the lake there is a garden known as the ‘Kensington Park’ which runs along the Kensington Road.

The lake is a perfect sightseeing spot which stands on the northeastern fringe of the city centre. Here, the provision of water sport boating is being done by the KSTDC. The rate of hiring pedal and rowboats is Rs120 per hour. The lake is opened for all the seven days and boating can be availed from 9 in the morning to 6 in the evening. The lake is easily accessible through road.