Welcome to Manchanabele Dam, a hidden jewel in the rural areas of Karnataka where adventure meets peace! This reservoir, conveniently close to Bangalore and tucked away among gorgeous scenery, beckons with its placid waters and provides the ideal haven from the bustle of the city. Whether you’re looking for an adrenaline-pumping adventure or a tranquil getaway in the middle of nature, Manchanabele Dam promises an amazing experience that will leave you renewed and invigorated. Together, let’s go out to explore this secret oasis’ charm.

Best Places To Visit Near Manchanabele Dam

Manchanabele Dam offers campers a quiet and peaceful place away from the bustling city life. Tourists who visit here also love to visit other attractions nearby. In this blog, we will discuss some adventurous places to visit.

1. Manchinbele Adventure Camp

Popular camping spot at Manchanabele Dam

Image Source: koko19091 for Pixabay

Located on the banks of Manchanabele Dam, Manchinbele Adventure Camp is a perfect spot for adventurous people and nature lovers; it combines beauty and fear. It can be visited as a weekend destination – preferably during the winter tourist season of October through March. Another intriguing feature of the camp is that there is a variety of adventure sports that are on offer, with something that should suit all adrenaline junkies. The area surrounding the dam is also perfect for kayaking, and you can admire the lake’s calm waters. Or, if you really want the heart-racing experience, they can go trekking and rappelling from the top of some steep hills that will get you as close as you can get to the wildlife.

Spend evenings viewing constellations around the warm campfire and wake up to the countryside’s greenery and fresh air. It can be a picturesque place for a rest and an interesting place for active recreation.
From adrenaline-rush activities to quiet moments of tranquil interactions with nature, Manchinbele Adventure Camp caters to your adventurous and scenic desires. You can indulge in some adventure or just sit back and relax in this countryside, which is only a few hours’ drive from Bangalore.

Distance from Manchanabele Dam: Within the vicinity
Best Time to Visit: October to March.
Location: Adventure sports like camping, rappelling, and kayaking.

Also Read: Bellandur

2. Savandurga Hill

 Savandurga hill to visit.

Image Source: S S Kalaakaar for wikimedia commons

Situated only 12 kilometres from Manchanabele Dam, Savandurga Hill is perfect for outdoor activities and thrilling hikes surrounded by stunning wildlife landscapes. The Shifen Rock, a colossal monolithic rock structure second only to the Yanshui Rock in Asia, is ideal for tourists interested in the massive rock formation that is also challenging to climb. Tourists should visit this place from October to February as the climate benefits travellers. However, for most visitors, the primary attraction of Savandurga is its quaint trekking tracks, namely the Karigudda or the Black Hill and the Biligudda or the White Hill. Despite the steep rocky terrains of these trails, the effort that one puts in is worth the spectacular view across the countryside and the dam below. Thus, inexperienced backpackers can select a suitable path, while experienced ones can complete the circuit and enjoy a green, calm environment.

Upon reaching the top, you get to enjoy the stunning views of the surrounding landscape, and you can take great photos, especially in the morning and evening. Besides trekking, Savandurga has religious importance and is home to historical temples that receive devotees to this date. It will be seen that with its natural attractions, exciting climbs, and historical significance, there is much for the traveller with even the most diverse interests. In fact, its physical location ensures that it is easily accessible to many visitors, especially if they come from Bangalore.

Distance from Manchanabele Dam:: Approximately 12 km
Best Time to Visit: October to February
Location: Recognized for its enormous monolithic rock structure, hiking, and expansive vistas.

3. Dodda Alada Mara

The Big Banyan Tree in Bangalore near Manchanabele Dam

Image Source: T. R. Shankar Raman for wikimedia commons

Located 17 km away from Manchanabele Dam, the great Banyan Tree, or Dodda Alada Mara, has been a witness to the earth for more than 400 years. It occupies an area of approximately 3 acres, and its sprawling mass of dangling roots and branches provides an ideal environment for incoming visitors to take a break.
The best time for leisurely strolls under the tree is during the coolest months of October, November, December, January, and February. Small children play on the lawns with their families while lovers share a meal under the tree shade and friends converse and relax. The aerial roots of the tree create a labyrinth that can be quite entertaining to explore and take various pictures of.

Dodda Alada Mara is not only a beautiful place for sightseeing, but it also offers the area’s history and ecological development. The tree is one of the biggest banyan trees in India. It symbolises the necessity of preserving historical trees that are significant in the country for the people of the future. Old-world charm and sheer size never cease to marvel at visitors who may come to stroll around.

Distance from Manchanabele Dam: Approximately 17 km
Best Time to Visit: October to March
Location: A tranquil location ideal for picnics and nature walks, with a 3-acre banyan tree that is 400 years old.

Related Post: National Gallery Of Modern Art

4. Ramanagara

Enjoy the landscape view of hills

Image Source: T. R. Shankar Raman for wikimedia commons

Located about 28 kilometres from the Manchanabele Dam, Ramanagara has now established itself as a famous destination for trekking and also movies. Often recognized for its historic filming location for scenes of the famous Indian motion picture Sholay, Ramanagara perfectly combines the cinematic experience with the adventurous spirit of a daring traveller. The best time to travel is during the dry season, which starts from November to March because the weather is chilly and perfect for adventure activities such as hiking and rock climbing. The main attraction is the granite hills from the ancient period near Ramanagara. For extravert trekkers, there are options for trails for day hikes and for mountaineering enthusiasts to scale hills such as Revanasiddeshwara Betta, SRS Betta, and Ramadevarabetta. Both summits provide great places to stand and a spectacular view of the surrounding landscapes.

For any rock climbers, Ramanagara is their playground, offering numerous cliffs and boulders to test the mettle of professional climbers and, at the same time, harbour several novice climbers. The tangible features of the rocky environment are ideal for rappelling, scaling and scrambling through. In addition to adventure sports, there is even more sweetness for movie fans to have an added element of reminiscence to Ramanagara. Ramadevarabetta Hill is one such site that has been captured perfectly in the most famous Indian film, Sholay, where the tall hills and rough terrain enhanced the beauty of the film with a bit of film history.

Distance from Manchanabele Dam: Approximately 28 km
Best Time to Visit: November to March
Location: Reputable for its rugged hills, hiking trails, rock climbing, and as the setting for the film “Sholay”

5. Janapada Loka

Janapada Loka in Karnataka

Image Source: T. R. Shankar Raman for wikimedia commons

Situated at approximately 30 km from the Manchanabele Dam, Janapada Loka is an interesting folk culture museum designed to enrich and showcase the folk culture of Karnataka state. It is recommended to visit during the cool, dry season, from October to February, because the climate is perfect for sightseeing in this museum. This colossal structure covers an area of 15 acres, a museum that presents rural Karnataka’s artistic and cultural forms through life, customs, and folk artistry. It is useful for tourists as it offers them a close look into the state’s rustic lifestyle and creativity. A number of artefacts of daily utensils, dress materials, cooking vessels, musical instruments, agricultural tools and equipment, etc., depicting the cultural history of Karnataka are presented in the museum.

Life-sized models and dioramas are one of the main attractions and display aspects of the village lifestyle at the Janapada Loka. These performances depict the authentic lifestyles of customary rural settings and folk arts typical to Karnataka, which are inherent to Karnataka. The exhibits convey the extra-vivid, extra-authentic experience to the visitors. In the same way, Janapada Loka has many specific zones, including the Museum of Folk Arts, which displays detailed finesse fabrics and crafts, and the Museum of Folk Music, a collection of indigenous instruments. It also regularly hosts live performances, folk art demonstrations, and cultural programs so that the people of Karnataka can experience the progress of their folk culture.

Distance from Manchanabele Dam: Approximately 30 km
Best Time to Visit: October to February
Location: a cultural museum exhibiting Karnataka’s arts, crafts, and traditional heritage.

Related Post: Hotels In Marathahalli

6. Wonderla Amusement Park

Amazing view of Wonderla Amusement Park near Manchanabele Dam

Image Source: IM3847 for wikimedia commons

Wonderla Amusement Park is one of the famous entertainment parks in Karnataka, and it is about 24 kilometres away from the Manchanabele Dam. : Known for the fantastic and amazing rides and tournaments, Wonderla is good for everyone to enjoy and have fun. Ideally, the dry season, which runs from November to February, is most appropriate for a visit because you would not want to tour the park in the hot, scorching sun. Notably, being a large-scale amusement park, Wonderla has many rides ranging from thrilling to relatively mild. For thrill-seekers, there are fast-moving rides such as the Recoil reverse coaster, one of the most popular attractions, and the Maverick. The water amenities of Wonderla are also well worth a visit, particularly the Wave Pool and Lazy River and water slides with the awesome speed of water slides that give you the thrill and a break to boogie.

However, other than the rides, Wonderla has other facilities such as live shows, musical fountains and a three-dimensional virtual tour suitable for children and adults. A special children’s zone also contains amusement rides and facilities suited for kids. The park has been equally endowed with several food courts, well-maintained restrooms and adequate space to sit down and relax as one enjoys the park festivals or even have some mouth-watering meals from the food courts that offer a wide range of meals from India, including vegetarian to non-vegetarian meals. Children and adults can go there without the fear of getting lost or harmed due to security measures, and the staff members’ warm disposition makes sure that families enjoy their time there.

Distance from Manchanabele Dam: Approximately 24 km
Best Time to Visit: November to February,
Location: A sizable theme park including roller coasters, water rides, and family-friendly entertainment.

You May Also Like To Read: Vidhana Soudha

More than just a reservoir, plan a trip to Bangalore  and visit Manchanabele Dam as it is an important tourist place which caters to adventure lovers and nature lovers and gives them a break from the busy city life. Here, one can nurse their soul at the dam’s serenity and even grab a chance to explore more by hiking or spotting wildlife. As for the rest, tourists can sightsee around the dam area since it is surrounded by beautiful scenery, making it a perfect place for people who want to take time off and relax.

For our editorial codes of conduct and copyright disclaimer, please click here.

Cover Image Credit: Amitra123 for wikimedia commons

Frequently Asked Questions About Manchanabele Dam

Are there any adventurous things that can be done nearby Manchanabele Dam?

However, there are adventure camps and sites nearby such as the beckoning dam that has activities like kayaking, rappelling, camping and trekking among others.

At what time of the day is it most appropriate to be at the Dam in Manchanabele?

Literally the best time to visit Manchanabele Dam is during the months of October to March because of the favourable climate for travel and outdoor activities.

Are there any other tourist attractions that can be visited when going to Manchanabele Dam?

Yes, there are a number of attractions near the Manchanabele Dam like Janapada Loka which is a cultural centre, Savandurga hill and Ramanagara which is famous for its rocky land and scenic views taken for the shooting of movie sholay .

Can we conduct a picnic in the Manchanabele Dam?

Yes, many people prefer to go for picnics at Manchanabele Dam. It is allowed to bring your own food: for example, have a snack of a sandwich by the reservoir admiring the beautiful views.

Are there any entry fees to visit Manchanabele Dam?

The entrance to Manchanabele Dam has not been paid as at the time of my last report. However, for some of the services or activities like using a boat or participating in any adventurous sports etc, there may be charges.

People Also Read:

Category: Karnataka, Places To Visit

Best Places To Visit In India By Month

Best Places To Visit Outside India By Month