Sankey Tank- Every nature lover’s paradise

Henry Thoreau’s most famous quote “All beautiful things are wild and free” apply to almost everything in the world today. 

However, if you speak of a few exceptions in the world Sankey Tank in Bangalore should make it someplace on the list. As a Bangalorean, this lake is the best place you can find close to your vicinity and spending an evening here can really be a heartwarming experience.

Even tourists find solace at this picturesque tank! If you are a person who loves to spend time around water bodies then Sankey Tank is the place to be in Bangalore. One of the major lakes of the city, the water body is sizeable and has been an important tourist attraction for the past few years. Apart from tourists the tank is also a jolly place for locals to spend their weekends for picnics.

 The Sankey Tank was constructed by Colonel Richard E. Sankey of the Madras Sappers Regiment who was the Chief Engineer of Mysore in 1882 to compensate for water shortage in Bangalore during the summer. The tank a few years back was not considered anywhere close to a tourist attraction. With highly polluted waters and choked drains this place was far from the beauty that it is today. However, the government intervened and started restoration actions to bring the lake back to life. After considerable treatment procedures the lake was converted into a park. The lake has a nursery in the north, paved walkways, landscaped parks, a special tank for idol immersion and a public swimming pool. The tank occupies close to 37 acres and is large enough to accommodate a decent crowd during the weekends.

There are a lot of interesting fun things that one can do at this tank. Bird watchers can enjoy a variety of migratory birds that flock here during the respective seasons particularly in the winter. The tank is an excellent place to relax as the soothing environment with greenery that keeps the surrounding cool helps office goers experience a very calm and tranquil time away from their hectic schedule. The paved walkways help people jog in the morning and the parks prove to be a good place to exercise. 

Plus tourists can enjoy a boat ride organized by The Mayura Sankey Boat Club. The boat club operates between 6 to10 AM in the morning and 12 to 5 PM in the afternoon. The club has plenty of boats and for people who want a private ride through the lake they can go for the pedal or row boats. For people who prefer going in groups the motor boats are a suitable choice. 

The best time to visit this lake would be during the summer where the surrounding is dry and clean. Though other seasons do not bring in a lot of changes it is recommended that the lake is avoided during the rainy season mainly because of the muddy conditions prevailing.

Located in the middle suburbs of Malleswaram and Sadashiv Nagar there are a lot of public transport buses that connect the tank. One can simply board any bus from Bashyam Circle or take an Auto-rickshaw to reach the place. What’s more? There are several eateries nearby to savor some good food after a long stroll by the sankey tank. Two of the most prominent eateries are ‘Halli mane’, where you can feat on typical karanataka cusine and ‘Suruchi foods’ where you can eat south indian snacks to your hearts delight!