This is a one day trip to Jayamangali Black Buck
Reserve, Karnataka
- What to see?
- If you love sanctuaries,
this is a good option for you. This is not a forest, these are mainly
grasslands - Masaimara types :) Huge tracts of land and there is a
somewhat drive-able mud road to take you in.
- If you like water rides ,
forest drives, this is not the place for you
- Black bucks are in plenty. You
also get to see many types of birds
- Roads are bad, very bad in
fact. Though I did this in a Maruti Swift, the car took hits on some
places. During rains this place cannot be reached using hatchbacks and
sedans.
- Route:
Bangalore to Jayamangali
All roads are bad during
the last 40 kms. I took the 2nd option. You can take any, all roads will
connect to one common place after some time. Then onwards the roads are very
bad.
- Driving directions (Option 1):
- Note: I used the google maps on
my phone extensively for reaching this place. I took option 3 to reach
there and tried option 1 to come back, as the roads were not good the
moment I exited the highway. But on option 1 as well, the roads were bad.
- Take the Nelamangala road
(Tumkur highway) and take right below Dabbaspet flyover. Continue on the
Oridigere road till you pass Koratagere and then enter Madhugiri town.
Form there take right(NH 234). From here continue for approx. 1 kms and take
left onto Kodigenalli road. Travel for approximately 12 kilometers from
here and you will reach Obalapura. Little ahead you will have to take
left. There is a govt. school on the left. Continue for 5 kms approx. till
see the signboard declaring the Blackbuck Reserve and you have to take
the mud road on the right.
(Option 2)
- From Bangalore one can drive
out via Hebbal - > airport Flyover -> skip the left ramp to Airport
and continue straight -. Enter Chikkabalapur (don’t take Chikkaballapura
Bypass) and then take left at the signal. Form this signal continue for
60 odd kilometers to reach Sighanagondanahalli where you have to take a
right. While going from Chikkabalapura to Gouribidanur, you will
encounter a small ghat section the
moment you exit Chikkaballapura. Then on its straight road (NH 258)
though the road is not good at parts. From Sighanagondanahalli continue
for 8 kilometers and it will connect to Kodigenahalli road. Take left and
take right in 100 meters and continue further for 5 kilometers till you
see the signboard for the reserve on your right.
- If you don’t take right into
the reserve and continue further you will hit an enclosure having 4 roads
connecting. If you take the first right from there, you can connect to
Hindupur and Lepakshi – but this road is non existent at areas and you have
to go via diversions on paddy fields! I explored this just for curiosity
as the google maps was showing it will lead to lepakshi.
- Summary: Use google maps or
ask locals wherever possible. The roads are bad with no signage. Better
use your mobile or gps device.
- Where to Eat?
- If taking the Dabaspet road you
have some eateries on the Tumkur highway before you enter Dabaspet. After
that there are very small stalls – that’s all you get. Better carry your
own food.
- Some hotels on Chikkabalapura.
This is within Chikkabalapura the moment you exit from NH and get into
Chikkabalapura, towards your left.
- Other points:
- Driving / Photography is
allowed inside the reserve
- Carry water, snacks. The place
is hot.
- Toilet facilities are
available in the forest guest house. This is 5 kms inside the reserve.
- Go there only if you love
grasslands, birds and enjoy the feel of being inside a sanctuary – like I
did. This place is not for usual weekend fun.
- Do not venture onto the grasslands with vehicle. These grasses have soft thorns which will puncture your tyres.
- Keep distance from the blackbucks, they are scared of anyting loud - including your engine sound!
Photos:
- If you love sanctuaries,
this is a good option for you. This is not a forest, these are mainly
grasslands - Masaimara types :) Huge tracts of land and there is a
somewhat drive-able mud road to take you in.
- If you like water rides ,
forest drives, this is not the place for you
- Black bucks are in plenty. You
also get to see many types of birds
- Roads are bad, very bad in
fact. Though I did this in a Maruti Swift, the car took hits on some
places. During rains this place cannot be reached using hatchbacks and
sedans.
- Take the Nelamangala road
(Tumkur highway) and take right below Dabbaspet flyover. Continue on the
Oridigere road till you pass Koratagere and then enter Madhugiri town.
Form there take right(NH 234). From here continue for approx. 1 kms and take
left onto Kodigenalli road. Travel for approximately 12 kilometers from
here and you will reach Obalapura. Little ahead you will have to take
left. There is a govt. school on the left. Continue for 5 kms approx. till
see the signboard declaring the Blackbuck Reserve and you have to take
the mud road on the right.
- From Bangalore one can drive
out via Hebbal - > airport Flyover -> skip the left ramp to Airport
and continue straight -. Enter Chikkabalapur (don’t take Chikkaballapura
Bypass) and then take left at the signal. Form this signal continue for
60 odd kilometers to reach Sighanagondanahalli where you have to take a
right. While going from Chikkabalapura to Gouribidanur, you will
encounter a small ghat section the
moment you exit Chikkaballapura. Then on its straight road (NH 258)
though the road is not good at parts. From Sighanagondanahalli continue
for 8 kilometers and it will connect to Kodigenahalli road. Take left and
take right in 100 meters and continue further for 5 kilometers till you
see the signboard for the reserve on your right.
- If you don’t take right into
the reserve and continue further you will hit an enclosure having 4 roads
connecting. If you take the first right from there, you can connect to
Hindupur and Lepakshi – but this road is non existent at areas and you have
to go via diversions on paddy fields! I explored this just for curiosity
as the google maps was showing it will lead to lepakshi.
- Summary: Use google maps or
ask locals wherever possible. The roads are bad with no signage. Better
use your mobile or gps device.
- If taking the Dabaspet road you
have some eateries on the Tumkur highway before you enter Dabaspet. After
that there are very small stalls – that’s all you get. Better carry your
own food.
- Some hotels on Chikkabalapura.
This is within Chikkabalapura the moment you exit from NH and get into
Chikkabalapura, towards your left.
- Driving / Photography is
allowed inside the reserve
- Carry water, snacks. The place
is hot.
- Toilet facilities are
available in the forest guest house. This is 5 kms inside the reserve.
- Go there only if you love
grasslands, birds and enjoy the feel of being inside a sanctuary – like I
did. This place is not for usual weekend fun.
- Do not venture onto the grasslands with vehicle. These grasses have soft thorns which will puncture your tyres.
- Keep distance from the blackbucks, they are scared of anyting loud - including your engine sound!
 |
| Signboard showing the reserve, just as you are about to enter. |
 |
| Inside the reserve - checkout the grasslands |
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| Inside the reserve |
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| Inside the reserve |
 |
| Inside the reserve |
 |
| Views of hills from the reserve |
 |
| Mud roads (or no roads) inside the reserve |
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| Blackbucks inside the reserve |
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| More black bucks |
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| More of blackbucks |
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