Sarakki Lake — Attraction in Bengaluru

Review of Sarakki Lake, JP Nagar, Bengaluru

Sarakki Lake, located in JP Nagar, Bengaluru, is one of the city's rejuvenated water bodies, offering a peaceful retreat from the urban hustle. Spanning a significant area, this lake is an important ecological and recreational space for residents in and around JP Nagar.

Scenic Beauty & Environment

Sarakki Lake is a picturesque spot with a well-maintained walking path surrounding the water. The lake is home to a variety of birds, making it a delight for nature lovers and birdwatchers. The lush greenery around the lake enhances its beauty, making it a perfect place for morning and evening walks. With recent restoration efforts, the lake has seen improvements in water quality and overall cleanliness.

Amenities & Accessibility

The lake features a well-paved jogging track, seating areas, and designated viewpoints where visitors can relax and enjoy the scenic surroundings. The presence of security personnel and proper lighting makes it a safe space for early-morning walkers and late-evening visitors. Being in the heart of JP Nagar, it is easily accessible via road, with ample parking space nearby.

Community & Activities

Sarakki Lake serves as a hub for fitness enthusiasts, with many locals visiting for jogging, yoga, and exercise. Environmental groups and local authorities actively engage in conservation efforts, hosting cleanliness drives and awareness programs. The lake also provides a refreshing space for families and elderly citizens to unwind.

Final Verdict

Overall, Sarakki Lake is a valuable green space in Bengaluru, offering a blend of natural beauty and urban convenience. It is a great spot for relaxation, fitness activities, and reconnecting with nature. While ongoing efforts are needed to maintain cleanliness and prevent pollution, the lake remains a cherished part of JP Nagar’s landscape. If you’re in the area, it’s definitely...

I have been visiting this lake for over 5 years, and it truly is a beautiful and peaceful place. However, the biggest concern remains its management. Instead of making simple upgrades—such as adding a few lights around the lake and increasing patrols, the current approach is to restrict access by keeping the lake open only during limited hours: 4 PM to 7 PM in the evening and the morning hours.

This schedule, unfortunately, leaves out many people. Hardworking labourers and families often wish to visit during the afternoons, especially in the harsh summer heat, to rest under the trees. Similarly, those of us returning from office around 6:30 PM hardly get time to settle at home before the gates close. Extending the evening hours to at least 8:30 or 9 PM would benefit a large portion of the community many of whom (around 70% of visitors) rely on these hours for jogging, walking, or simply relaxing after work.

For security concerns, deploying the existing five security personnel strategically across the lake could help maintain safety. However, instead of increasing patrols or upgrading facilities, it’s disheartening to see some staff members being unnecessarily rude to visitors when enforcing closing time (though a few of them are kind and considerate).

This is a sincere and humble request to consider upgrading the lake facilities and revising the opening hours. Keeping the lake open during afternoon hours and extending evening access would significantly enhance the experience for the community and allow more people to enjoy this beautiful space...

Too many stray dogs. Too many loafers. Too many cyclists. Too many joggers.

And, cameras are not allowed here.

The lone woman constable on duty, cannot manage such a huge lake. The circumference of the lake is 3km. She cannot be expected to patrol this entire area by herself.

For this reason, anti-social elements frequent the lake. In spite of the ban on cameras, people still go to the far corners of the lake and shoot videos and photographs with DSLR cameras.

There are too many gates across the lake. All kinds of people get in, with no one to stop them.

The Sarakki Lake Improvement Trust (SLIT) and the BBMP are getting renovation work, laying a footpath, planting saplings, etc.

These saplings will die in a year, because of the metal wires wrapped around their trunks. As the saplings grow, the wires will cut into the trunk and mutilate and eventually kill the tree.

There is a sewage treatment plant at one end of the lake, but the water in the lake really stinks. Fish in the lake struggle to breathe, and one can see hordes of fish coming to the surface, breathing air. One wonders if the sewage treatment is working at all.

That's why I've given a one-star rating to the lake. And why I avoid the...