A picnic on Nelligudde Lake near Bidadi which took us back in time!

I had an enjoyable stay with Bharath and Meenakshi at their nice and eco-friendly villa at Eagleton. Bharath and I had a good day of golf with our friends and residents Anu and Pramod on Wednesday. The next day thanks to Mallika, also a resident, Meenakshi planned a quick trip to Nelligudde Kere (lake) which is less than an half-hour ride from Eagleton. It was a nice outing!

Sridhar, who was also to join, couldn't make it. However he went early in the morning, to a small restaurant just off the Mysore road to collect 'Thatte Idli' (The best according to Mallika) which he had ordered the day before. No luck as the restaurant had not opened! It was still not open an hour later when we went past it! In fact, no Thatte Idly place was open on the way.  however we noticed wine-shops were open!

Actually the main purpose was to eat thatte idli at the reservoir

No luck

It was an easy ride, and on the way we had a glimpse of the Bangalore - Mysore National highway in the making. We reached the lake easily. We didn't need the help of 'googlamma' as Mallika knew the way! Parked the car and went up for a walk on the bund. No crowd, just an youngster  and a girl who sprinted up and down the bund. 

A typical shrine seen in villages was protecting the Lake!

It was a bit early, the lake looked very peaceful. The only noise was the women beating the clothes they had taken to wash! A fisherman on a coracle (a basket boat) was trying his luck at a distance! We did not see him land any fish while we were there. Just as well for vegetarians like us!

Bharath, Meenakshi and Mallika went ahead as I tarried to see the bullocks being given a nice rub and wash

  

Water level was around 12'

Mask Discarded by an optimist or it just flew away

counselling by Dr. Meenakshi

 

As we were about to leave the young man with the striped tee shirt  ran down to ask for a favor.
 He requested Dr. Meenakshi to speak to his mother. She went up again and counselled them. 
 ( The young man had heard Mallika and Meenakshi discuss some health issues of women.
 Being a smart young man, he had rushed to get his mother to get her talk to Meenakshi.)

Bharath had spoken to him earlier about the lake, its beauty, peaceful surroundings and hoping it would last. The young man, doing his MBA, was not so hopeful. The new law allowing farm land to be sold freely, not just to another farmer would create drastic changes. A school was already coming up at the lake shore. Soon there would be villas surrounding the lake. There is a likelihood of small farmers giving up farming.

Knowing the lax implementation of rules to preserve the lakes in Bangalore, the lake would become a total mess. 

Let us hope the villagers are vigilant and will not let this happen. In fact, there could be a simple picnic area, with a few trees and wooden benches. A bit too early to have a swimming pool for kids. So on and so forth. 😊

On a positive note, I have seen Jakkur lake being rejuvenated. Earlier a large quantity of sewerage water was directly flowing in. Now it is regulated better.

 It is a rare story of unique achievement within the sordid scene of  Bangalore development. 

A good selfie

We settled for Masala Dosa and by-two uppittu at Kamat upchaar.

Enjoy the serinity while it lasts.

The benefits of the lake !

Meenakshi saw this

  

Bharath liked the expanse of water!