The Lungs of Mysuru: Part 1

Kukkarahali lake, popular as Kukkarahali Kere is said to be 'the lungs of Mysuru'. The Kukkarahali kere is an "L" shaped lake situated in the heart of Mysuru, spread across 58 hectares home to a rich diversity of flora and fauna. This is the lake which has inspired many poets of Karnataka, the famous one being our honourable 'Rashtrakavi Kuvempu' who has written many poetries based on this lake. The sunset of this place is mesmerizing and attracts many naturalists, writers and photographers. 

The lake is quite close to my heart as it is associated to the University from which I graduated 'University of Mysore'. I often used to visit the lake during my schooling in order to collect water samples, zooplanktons, for a botanical walk or for bird watching. Every time I visit I have experienced difference in the ecosystem. I have spotted many migratory birds in this place. So let me give a walk through of the lake. 

I usually start from the Mysore University gate, so that I could start my walkthroughs hearing the sweet welcoming chirps of the Pterocarpus (fruit bats). Lake is a home for thousands of bats community, I have spotted 2 or 3 species of bats roosting on the tall Eucalyptus trees and Muntingia calabura (Jamaican cherry tree/ gasgase mara). Purple morhen is a constantly found bird of this place. Along with this, little egret, herons, spot billed ducks, wagtail, fantail, jungle crow, rose ringed parakeet were spotted.

There are many incidents were people have noticed mugger crocodiles in the lake. 

While I was walking, this tiny little creature grabbed my attention. 

It's not just the plumbago inflorescence, but a tiny caterpillar of a butterfly resting over there.

Adding to this another caterpillar was found on an Acacia tree. 

A bird nest, possibly of sunbird. 

Species of the genus Solanum with tiny red fruits. 

Chinese violet (Asystasia gangetica) with its full bloom snippet. 

3rd type of Caterpillar with its wiggly outlook. 

Red blister beetle 

A species of roaches

Dwarf gulmohar from the garden area

Crustose Lichens on the barks of Ficus bengalensis (Pepul tree)

A few garden plants from the garden area and walking path

Crustose Lichens grown so sophistically on the barks of Polyanthia longifolia. 

A unique species of the genus Ficus, commonly known as Mysore fig (Ficus drupaceae). Familar as goni mara in kannada.  

Known for its rich reticulated canopy branches. 

So this is it from the first episode of the lungs of Mysuru. If you have come across any unique species in the Kukkarahali lake, then don't forget to mention them in the comment section. I will be back with another article on Kukkarahali lake, till then keep logging into 'whats around us to explore'.