One day trip to The Big Banyan tree (Dodda Alada Mara)

Bangalore, as a city, is blessed with plenty of sightseeing places around the city. Places that are accessible as one day outings. The Big Banyan tree is one such place that can be visited within a day. I have been to the place multiple times as it makes a great one day road trip either by a motorbike or a car.

Update 04/06/2022: Unfortunately, some parts of the Big Banyan Tree were destroyed by the heavy rains. There are some restoration and construction work that is happening on the site.

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About The Big Banyan Tree

The Big Banyan Tree is a huge 400 years old banyan tree, in the state of Karnataka. It is located in the village of Kethohalli, which now is a part of Bangalore Urban district. In Kannada, the Big Banyan tree is called as Dodda Alada Mara. The tree covers an area of approximately 300 acres. It is one of the popular one day destinations from Bangalore.

• There is no entrance fee to visit the Big Banyan Tree.
• The Big Banyan Tree is also surrounded by many resorts and vineyards. You can also make this a weekend trip by staying at one of these beautiful properties.
• Be careful of the monkeys in the area. They snatch the belongings and food.

How to get there?

• By road – The Big Banyan Tree is around 28 kilometres from the Bangalore city and takes close to 40 minutes to reach by road. The best and convenient way to reach the Big Banyan tree is by riding a bike or driving a car. The route is towards Mysore and takes a deviation from Mysore Road.

• Public transport – There are two ways to reach the Big Banyan Tree:
  • One way is to take a bus from Majestic bus stop in Bangalore to Kengeri and then catch another bus from Kengeri to the Big Banyan tree. The distance between Kengeri and the Big Banyan Tree is around 8 kilometres.
  • The other way is to take a direct bus from K.R. Market in Bangalore to the Big Banyan Tree.
  • Check with the local transport offices at Majestic and K.R. Market for the bus numbers and the bus stops.
  • Ensure to check the bus timings for a return journey as well so you are prepared for the return journey.
  • Only cash payments are accepted for bus fares. Always carry the exact amount of money.

Other things to do

The day trip to the Big Banyan tree can be extended to include a visit either to the Thippagondanahalli or Kanva Reservoirs.

Thippagondanahalli Reservoir

Thippagondanahalli Reservoir, also called as T.G Halli Reservoir and Chamarajsagara is a man made reservoir, located at the confluence of Arkavathy and Kumudavathi Rivers. The reservoir is a popular spot for picnic and to spend a nice summer afternoon.

The T.G Halli Reservoir is just additional 24 kilometres from the Big Banyan tree and takes about 40 minutes.

Kanva Reservoir

Kanva Reservoir is a man made reservoir and an artificial lake. It is formed on the Kanva River. The Kanva Reservoir is a very popular tourist spot. The Kanva Dam is around 15 kilometres and was built in the year 1946. It is very famous for bird watching. And the place is also a stunning spot to watch the sunset.

The distance between the Big Banyan tree and Kanva Reservoir is around 41 kilometres and takes another hour.

Safety for solo female travelers

The Big Banyan tree is safe for solo female travelers as there are a lot of people. However, be careful after the sun sets and at nights. If I am traveling alone to the Big Banyan tree, I would definitely be back in the city before it gets dark. Also, be careful of the personal belongings and know your surroundings.

Closing Notes

Even though the Big Banyan tree is not one of those places that I would say is a must visit, but it is still a nice place to spend an afternoon. I will also suggest having a picnic by the Kanva Reservoir. The trip makes it really good if you also visit the Kanva Reservoir.

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