Runners Club – Lalbagh Track

Lalbagh running track is one of the best track available in the middle of Bangalore for the joggers / marathon practitioners. Looping of around 4.5K (that’s a good size) can be done. Track is quite bigger is size and lot of people can run in parallel. Road, brick road, and mud – all kinds of tracks are available.

Entry ticket – No, till 9.30 AM and after 6 PM. Rs. 10 in between (not a time for runners :P)

At the time of Rain : Fairly good. This track can be used even after a rainy day.

Hopcoms (Vegetable/Fruit Seller) is also available inside the lalbagh which can be used for buying fruits after the run. Here is a typical track route.

My this 10K run is without shoes, which clearly depicts that its a clean place to run.

Endomondo Run : https://www.endomondo.com/users/23961627/workouts/604664048

Bangalore… a city that outshines others Indian cities

Bangalore… a city that outshines others Indian cities

Is Bangalore just an IT city? For many of us it’s just a city with many job opportunities for everyone. I came to Bangalore with the same perception. But gradually, as time passed, I realised what this city offers to one and all. This city is a mix of cultures and traditions. Bangalore has not lost its charm even after the development of IT sector. People like us, with hectic weekdays, find peace in some of the places that are within the vicinity of Bangalore.

Bird watching and photography is our passion. Many of us are aware about the famous birding spots in Bangalore. It is difficult to find such nice birding areas in other commercial cities. Thus people staying in Bangalore are keen to spend their weekend in the lap of nature. The birding spots found here can be marshy grasslands, mountains, dense forests, lakes etc. So, most of the birds can be spotted here. I leave my home at dawn with the hope of finding birds in their natural habitat. But still it seems to be a very small list of places where I have been and there is much more to see and enjoy. One of my favourite birding area is Hoskote lake. Hoskote is near to where I stay. Hoskote has different habitats for different birds. That is why it is an amazing place for all bird fanatics.

The wet grasslands in Hoskote are suitable for a variety of birds like Munia. Many winter migrants can be seen here. A large variety of Kingfishers are near the lakeside to catch a prey.

Tricoloured Munia (also called Black Headed Munia)

Common Kingfisher

Jacobin Cuckoo

Marsh Harrier

Indian Silverbill or White-Throated Munia

Siberian Stonechat (female)
          It is a Winter Migrant.

I have given one of many reasons to love Bangalore. There are many such things that I wish to write. I am still trying to unravel the other side of Bangalore that is picturesque. My upcoming journeys would cover more of Bangalore city and places near to it. Stay tuned!

Ragihalli Birding – Bannerghatta

A delight to see Jungle Nightjar (though not able to manage the shot of this lovely guy) and Plum-headed Parakeet. Enjoy some of the pictures taken.

Ashy Prinia

Flameback Woodpecker

Golden Fronted Leafbird

Laughing Dove

Male Plum Headed Parakeet

Plum-headed Parakeet – 2 females and 1 male

Red Vented Bulbul

Pair of Spotted Owlet

White throated Kingfisher

Zitting Cisticola

Leaf cutter bees

I was sitting in the balcony and gazing at a copper pod tree on a Sunday afternoon. A tailor bird was busy collecting nesting material. Some butterflies fluttered around  looking for nectar. The  resident squirrel came by to nibble a few grains from my balcony. The squirrel kept a watch on me, each time I moved, it went and hid itself behind the pots.Though these are  routine sightings, they keep me entertained and refresh me when I need a break from the countless chores at home. Yes, I do get pleasant surprises too when something very different happens in my garden.

I noticed an insect which  was constantly flying in and out of  the balcony visiting a pvc pipe each time. I was wondering if it was the deadly hornets wasp as its underbelly was yellow. On a closer look its under belly color was changing  to  green, yellow and magenta. I found that it was an insect carrying leaves and flowers. It was a leaf cutter bee. I had seen it on one of my trails but could not get a click. This time I was lucky as it was building its nest in my balcony.

Nesting site of Leaf cutter bee

Bougainvillea

Cut patterns of the leaf cutter bee on Mahogany tree

Leaf cutter bee zooming in to its nest with a leaf

Entering its nest

Leaf cutter bee entering its nest

It is amazing to know about these bees. More information can be found in Santhosh’s blog . As I write this post, this bee is busy building its nest. I hope that the young bees complete their life cycle and emerge out of their nest.

Valley School – A trip on weekday

It was when Chandu came to my home and we decided to go our favorite birding place – Valley School. We did a very small period of birding. But lot of sounds here and there. I guess, we need to have a trip soon :).

Please enjoy the pictures, which is very few in number.

Yellow eyed babbler

Short toed Eagle

Coppersmith Barbet

Asian Koel – Female

Juv. Red Whiskered Bulbul

Common Iora

Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher with catch.

Little Orange Minivet

Pale billed Flowerpecker having fruits

Great Tit

Grey Hornbill

Rose ringed parakeet

Greenish Warbler

Greater Coucal

Oriental Honey Buzzard

A small report from Coorg

Here is a small report taken by Chandu. He went to Coorg, last week for birding. It was his first experience with my heavy camera. So, please excuse the quality of pictures.

I believe, everyone of us know about Coorg but just to add in it – It comes under  Western Ghats of southwestern Karnataka.  Kodagu also offers a wide variety of birds, roughly around 300 birds have been sighted and reported over the years.

Malabar Hornbill

White bellied flycatcher.

White bellied flycatcher.

Nilgiri flowerpecker

Racket tailed Drongo On for attack

Racket tailed Drongo

Racket tailed Drongo

Asian Fairy bluebird

Spotted deer (Male)

Spotted deer ( (Male)

Spotted deer (Female)

Spotted deer moving and shining in morning glory flowers

Morning charm with Spotted Deer

A group of spotted deer again

Asian Fairy bluebird

Malabar Barbet

Malabar Barbet

Rufous bellied eagle.

Irruppu falls which lies in Brahmagiri wildlife sanctuary.

Peacock male taken in nagarhole N.P.

Malabar parakeet female.Very noisy parakeets.

Mangoose searching something on the other side of the road.

Orange minivet and plum headed parakeet female.

Martin dusky i think so.

Malabar giant squirrel.

Malabar giant squirrel.

 

Bodh Gaya – Land of Enlightenment

Yes, this site is BangaloreCaptured, but then I thought to put each and everything which is useful, interesting and delighted. This is a report of the land of enlightenment – Bodh Gaya.   In 2002, Mahabodhi Temple, located in Bodh Gaya, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It is believed that 250 years after the Enlightenment of the Buddha, Emperor Asoka visited Bodh Gaya. He is considered to be the founder of the original Mahabodhi temple. It consisted of an elongated spire crowned by a miniature stupa and a chhatravali on a platform.

Please enjoy some of the pictures and share your comments.

Mahabodhi temple – under construction

A view of Buddha in Mahabodhi temple

The actual place of Buddha where he got his eternal education

Lotus display in Mahabodhi temple

Various place of enlightenment

Mayabodhi temple view from pipal tree

One more depiction of Buddha

The process of enlightenment

One more interpretation of Buddha

Budha display in Mahabodhi temple

Rock Pigeon outside the Mahabodhi temple

Budha Vietnami temple

Budha display in Vietnami temple

Gandhi message in Vietnami temple

Japanese Buddha Temple in Bodh Gaya

Japan temple in Rajgir

Japan temple in Rajgir

Bhadravati(Bhadravathi) – Semi western ghats charm

Very near to Malenadu(Rain Home), Bhadravati offers a good variety of birds and some of those endemic to western ghats. I stayed to my relative and have fun of having home food and excellent birding. Rain hinders up to do continuous birding but it was exciting. Enjoy some of the pictures.

How to go Bhadravati – Very easy, there are more than 10 train, which goes to Shimoga. One train start from Bangalore at 12 night and reach there at 4.30 morning (good for birders). Though I didn’t roamed around much, Bhadra Dam, Tiger Forest, 100 km around Jog falls, lot of famous lakes in Shimoga.

Where to stay – I don’t know. You can always go to my relative home :-).

30 km ahead, Chikmagalur will start and hence even bhadravati has some species of western ghat birds.

 

Little Heron – My first time view.

chestnut headed bee-eater, a western ghat beauty

Black-rumped Flameback Woodpecker

red whiskered bulbul – about to feed the child

Red Whiskered Bulbul Juv

lesser whisling ducks

My daughter Kriti and my relative

Crimson Backed Sunbird

Yellow Footed Pigeon

Purple Rumped Sunbird — Male

Purple Rumped Sunbird – Female

Scaly breasted Munia – at our relative home

Peafowl – There were a group of 10 peacockqPeafowl – There were a group of 10 peacock

Greater Coucal – a common village bird.

ID don’t know

Early Misty Morning – a pair of Indian Grey Hornbill

Wire Tailed Swallow

Common Woodshrike

Orange Minivet – Female. Completely contradict with her name. In birds as well, names are male dominant.

Orange Minivet

ID don’t know

Common Indian Toad

Don’t know the ID

Common Indian Toad

common caster pair enjoying the rain

baya weaver searching insects in dry grass

Baya Weaver male, collecting mud for his nest

Nandi Hills in the Monsoon’s

Nandi Hills in the Monsoon season is a treat to visit.
We drove there the previous weekend, and the weather made us feel like we were in Ooty.
The place is hardly an hour’s drive from Bangalore and definitely worth a visit over the weekend during this monsoon season.
You don’t have to spend a whole day there, may be 2 or 3 hrs, and you can be on your way back to Bangalore.
The place open for visitors in the morning at 6:00 AM and closes at 10:00 pm in the evening.
In case you reach earlier, you will be created with a queue. Not to worry, this lasts for hardly 10 mins, once the police checking is cleared you can reach the top of Nandi Hills in about 15 mins.
View of the traffic on your way to Nandi Hills.

Below are some pics from my visit.
There’s still lot more photos to share, but here the attempt is to give you a glimpse of what you can expect,if you visit during the monsoons.
Below there’s also a video after the photos.

Nandi Hills in the Monsoons

Below is a video of Nandi Hills during our visit.

The Goat’s Leap – Mekedatu

I went to Mekedaatu in 2006-07 and all of a sudden after so many years I went back in the memory lane and revisited Mekedaatu. Mekedaatu is a very nice weekend gateway along Kaveri river in Kanakapura.

Mekedaatu is about 90 km from Bangalore. Its close to another lovely spot called Sangama. Sangama is the place where Arkavati river meets Kaveri river.

One can go to Sangama in car or there are many buses available too. From Sangama, you need to cross the river either on coracle or  by walking if the water level is low, followed by a 4 Km trail to Mekedaatu. There is a ferry bus from the river side to Mekedaatu or you can walk through the nice greenery.

When we went to Mekedaatu, we took a nice walk after crossing the river by foot. Its a very beautiful stretch. There are many versions of why this place is called Mekedaatu.

Mekedata in Kannada means Goat’s Leap. After few Kms from Sangama the river Kaveri flows through a deep gorge. The gorge is so narrow that one would think that a goat can leap across it. The reality is that no goat can cross the gorge in one leap. The name comes from an incident that a goat crossed the gorge and managed to cross the river in order to save its life from a tiger. It seems the gorge was too wide for the tiger to cross and the tiger backed off. The point where the goat leapt has widened since then from erosion caused by the river Cauvery.

This story has a mythological significance as well. The goat (meke in kannada) that is believed to have crossed the gorge is supposed to be Lord Shiva. On both the sides of the gorge, one can find strange holes, whose shapes resemble goats’ hooves.

The current at the gorge is ferocious and one has to be careful as the rocks can be slippery. There are many accidents reported here.

While we went to Mekedatu it was summer and the water was less. We after crossing Sangama we walked for 4 Km to reach Mekedatu and had some very peaceful time there. While coming back we took the bus as all of us were too exhausted due to heat to come back on our own. Since the bus was full inside, we sat on the roof of the bus which was good fun. After coming back to Sangama we spent some nice time in the river rejuvenating ourselves.

There are many places on the way to have breakfast and dinner, but carry enough food and water with you as you may not find anything once you cross Sangama.

Although there are many tourist spots on Kaveri river, Mekedaatu is worth visiting and is a nice one day trip from Bangalore.