Episodes of Lake Marathon: 16 Hebbal Lake, Bengaluru

 Hebbal Lake: Finding Stillness in the Heart of Bengaluru

Welcome to yet another exciting article of What’s Around Us. This marks Season 2 of the Episodes of the Lake Marathon, and this time, I’ll be exploring the lakes of Bengaluru, Karnataka.

To begin this season, I’m covering one of the most exciting and fascinating lakes in the city Hebbal Lake. Situated right alongside busy city roads, Hebbal Lake stands as a surprising pocket of calm, offering a rich blend of nature, wildlife, and quiet moments amid Bengaluru’s constant movement. Let me give a walkthrough of the Hebbal lake, 

 Cattle Egret

On a quiet morning in North Bengaluru, Hebbal Lake unfolds slowly. The water rests without urgency, birds move with intention, and the city feels distant, even though it isn’t. What draws me here isn’t just the scenery, but the feeling of pause a reminder that nature still breathes within the city.

Hebbal Lake is not a destination you rush through. It’s a place you observe.

Walking Along the Lake

As I walk along the paths bordering the lake, flowering plants frame the landscape. Bougainvillea glabra spills colour against stone and soil, while Calliandra haematocephala and Albizia julibrissin soften the air with gentle movement. 

  

 

 

These plants don’t just decorate the space they quietly support insects, birds, and nesting life. The lake feels layered. Every corner holds something unfolding slowly.

Birds That Define the Rhythm

Great Cormorant

 

One of the first birds I notice is the Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), perched upright on a branch by the water. It remains still for long stretches, eyes fixed below the surface. Between dives, it rests, conserving energy, waiting. There’s a sense of purpose in its patience.

Indian Pond Heron

 

Nearby, the Indian Pond Heron (Ardeola grayii) blends into tangled branches. Its stillness is almost complete, broken only by the subtle tracking of movement in the water. Watching it reminds me how silence can be an advantage.

Spot-billed Duck

Out on the open water, the Spot-billed Duck (Anas poecilorhyncha) glides calmly. Its soft brown plumage mirrors the muted tones of the wetland, while the pale yellow tip of its bill stands out gently a small detail that stays with you.

Elegant egrets line the edges of the lake, their white forms reflected in rippling water. They move slowly, deliberately, as if time passes differently here.

 

Small Moments of Coexistence

Closer to the ground, the Indian Palm Squirrel (Funambulus palmarum) darts between roots and fallen leaves. Alert and curious, it pauses often, listening before moving again. In one quiet moment, I notice it sharing space and food with a rat nearby. No conflict. Just coexistence.

Indian Palm Squirrel

These are the moments that make Hebbal Lake feel alive. Not dramatic encounters, but subtle interactions that reveal how urban wildlife adapts and survives.

Why Hebbal Lake Matters?

Hebbal Lake is rich in flora and fauna, not because it is untouched, but because it has been allowed to recover and exist. It serves as an important urban wetland, supporting fishes, birds, plants, insects, and small mammals all within a city that rarely slows down.

For me, this lake is a reminder: nature doesn’t always demand protection through fences and distance. Sometimes, it simply needs attention, respect, and patience. To walk here is to observe life as it is quiet, balanced, and resilient. That's it for the day, I will be back with yet another exciting article, keep reading What's around us!

For more details: https://youtu.be/Y6tFBm7sS0s 

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