Manchanabele Dam, Bangalore

About 40 Kms south of Bangalore is this beautiful dam built across river Akravati, off Mysore highway. It is a wonderful destination for nature lovers.

 The water body is safe and clean. You will enjoy boating, swimming or just wandering around in hills. Its a place where you can spend few hours, half day or have day visit. There are options to put a tent for overnight stay.

Nothing much beyond this, but I am sure if you need a break from hectic city life and do not wish to travel for more than an hour, than Manchanable Dam could be a good option for you.

Funtertainment:

Water and nature


Best time to visit:
Post rains as water is ample and nature at its best.


Cost per head:
Nothing apart from your travel cost. You may find few shops in neighboring villages but around dam, there is absolutely no shops, so carry your food along.


Overall rating: 4 on 5

Prakruthi Club

Situated off NH-7, on way to Bangalore International Airport Prakruthi club is a good place to have your day trip/ outing. Prakruthi club is more of a sporting place where in you can find your teen-hood days love - Cricket and Cycling. Its a place you must visit if you like physical activities and not just for a day where you want to enjoy nature or stay in water for full day.

NOTE: Prakruthi Club DO NOT entertain in walk-ins. Please do prior booking before you visit. Ensure that there are not too many groups visiting club on same day as you.

How To Reach: Drive on NH7 till you hit ITC factor on your left (driving from Bangalore towards BIAL/ Hyderabad). There is a small drive way after ITC factory wall, take it and keep going for about 4.6 kms till you see 'Prakruti club' board. Drive is decent and road is ok.

So What you do: A long list of things that for sure will make you feel that you should have had 18 hour day to be here.

1. Dirt biking (cycling)

2. ATV (All terrine Vehicle, four wheels like you see in action scenes)

3. Paint-ball

4. Segway (boring for many)

5. Zorb (fun for all)

6. Shuttle (badminton for few)

7. Small ground to play cricket (love of all)

8. Snooker table (table with white, red, orange balls two sticks may be billiards)

9. Swimming pool (if its too hot)

10. Grass lawn to relax (for non sporty ones)

11. Table Tennis (not interested)

Food: most likely the package that you would opt for will include Breakfast, lunch & high tea. Nothing great but nothing bad too. you can rely on them for good food. They also have lounge that looks awesome and a small restaurant.

Rooms and cottages: In case you want to stay over night. Something that stand out from rest of the clubs in nearby area. Executive rooms start from 3000 + tax and cottages from 4000+ tax. These are simply awesome and well maintained rooms that sparkles luxury form the moment you walk in. 

What's not good: its an overall average place. Nothing that stands out in terms of activities but just another option in case you have tired our visiting popular destinations around Bangalore.

Funtertainment: it depends on what you prefer, I see many people enjoying Zorb a lot. 

Cost: package starts from 600 per head + taxes and goes all the way up 2000 per head. Check out latest packages at Prakruthi club website. Plan about 1000 per head (excluding travel)

Overall Rating: 3 on 5

Malls of Bangalore: Garuda Mall

This is the one of the most happening malls in the town, and currently (Nov 2010) it is celebrating shopping festival with wonders of the world. It's decorated as a bride with colors and lights attracting all from across the town and state.

While it offers great options for shopping the foodies need to not get disappointed for any reason, the food court here offers large varieties of cuisines from across India, though I am not a great fan of food court here but people just love hanging out here. For movie lovers it has multi screen INOX theater.

Garuda Mall has ample parking space and enjoys it's location at the heart of the city making it convenient for people from all across to reach here with relatively lesser pain.

Evenings are fun as you mostly see some or other events / roadshows organized by malls administration at the central hall. It has good seating space outside for eye warming.

What could be better:

1. Should have seating/ relaxing space within the mall for elderly people and kids

2. Need to wait long for lifts, not sure how to handle this

Funtertainment:

1. Lots of shop

2. Decent upscale restaurants

3. Games zone for kids

4. Open area outside mall, good hang-out for teens

Overall experience: 4 on 5