Gundal Reservoir

About Gundal Reservoir

MM hills also stretches after this place. This hill region is the continuation of base at Western ghats. B.R.Hills and MM hills are situated in the Southern arc perpendicular to the Western ghats and are at the center. In between these two hills there is a dam called Gundal dam constructed between two hills,is a picnic spot. During February-March, there will be a car festival in BR hills and attracts lot of devotees across several Southern states of India. Tonsuring, offering goat and chicken is a common scene during the festival. Some tribes stay here and there are lot of developmental activities taken up by Government of Karnataka for them. On top of the hill there are several picnic spot

Interesting things to do

Shopping
Mysore is famous for carved sandalwood, pure silk sarees and incense. The best place to shop is the Cauvery Arts & Crafts Emporium on Sayyaji Rao Road, which is the Main shopping area. There are also many other craft shops on Dhanavanthri Road.

The shopper’s stop : Mysore is known the world over for its exotic sandalwood and rich silks. At the Government Sandalwood Oil Factory,you can buy Sandal Powder, Sandal Oil and scented incense sticks.At the Government Silk Factory you can see the master weavers at work. Buy shimmering silks straight off the looms. Shop at Cauvery Handicrafts Emporium or in the little back streets and by lanes that offer some exiting bargains.
Tourist Information
The Dasara executive commitee has setup a helpline number 125711 that gives information on accomodation, tour operators, train and bus services and emergency numbers. Those dialing the number from foreign countries should predial +91-80.
Regional Tourist Information,
Old Exhibition Building,
Irwin Road,Mysore.
Phone : +91-821-2422096 / +91-80-22352828.

The festival season of Dusshera (September/October) is celebrated in grand style in Mysore. On the last day, of the 10 day festival, a procession of the state’s guards lead the Goddess Chamundi seated on a golden howdah mounted on an elephant. The procession is followed by various tableaux, a visual treat rarely seen anywhere else in the world.
Climb up Chamundi Hills via the steps, starting early in the morning to get a good view of the city as it rises from slumber while getting good exercise at the same time.
For those with a penchant for authentic South Indian vegetarian food, especially light snacks such as dosa and idly with coffee and the like, could try eating at the Mylari hotels (located at Ittigegud and Kuvempunagar) or at Gayathri Tiffin Room (GTR, Chamundipuram).
Those spending a long time in this city can also take nice early morning or late evening strolls at either Kukkarahalli lake or Karanji lake, though the latter is recommended, since the entrance has a fee and thus will reduce any potential nuisance in the form of beggars or vendors that might come and disturb your stroll. Karanji lake also has a butterfly park worth checking out.

Interesting things to Visit

The Maharaja’s Palace is one of the important sights in Mysore. Built in Indo-Saracenic style with domes, turrets, arches and colonnades,the Palace is a treasure house of exquisite carvings and works of art from all over the world. Intricately carved doors open on to luxuriously furnished rooms. The majestic Durbar Hall has an ornate ceiling and many sculpted pillars. The magnificent jewel studded golden throne of the Wodeyars is displayed here during the Dasera festival. Illuminated on Sundays and public holidays ,the palace presents a spectacle of breathtaking beauty.
Brindavan Gardens
Located at the KR Sagar Dam [Kannambadi], Brindavan Gardens is one of the best gardens in South India. Spread over 150 acres, Brindavan Gardens has since the 1960s provided the backdrop for many Indian films. Special attractions include the ‘Dancing Fountains’. In Dec 2004 the entire garden was revamped with new fountains and lights.
Timings :
Monday-Friday : 6:30 PM - 7:25 PM and
Saturday-Sunday : 6:30 PM - 8:25 PM
Chamundi Hills

A well known 335 metres high landmark,Chamundi Hill can be reached by a 13 km road or by climbing up the 1,000 steps laid out by the Mysore Maharaja in the 17th century.

Half-way up along the stone steps is Nandi, Lord Shiva’s Bull, a majestic 4.8 metre monolith.At the top is the 12th century temple of Chamundeshwari, the patron goddess of the Wodeyars.Close to the temple is the gigantic statue of the demon Mahishasura. The summit offers a panoramic view of Mysore’s lakes, parks and palaces.

St. Philomena’s Church
A beautiful Cathedral, reminiscent of medieval architectural style,is one of the largest churches in the country. Built in the gothic style,the Church is an imposing structure with stained glass windows and lofty towers

Mysore Zoo

The Mysore Zoo was set up under royal patronage in the nineteenth century. Its fauna includes rare and exotic species which are housed in lush, green surroundings. The Zoo is famous for breeding some very rare animals in captivity.

Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens, which has emerged as one of finest zoos in the country to breed a wide range of animals in captivity, has embarked on a new venture to set up a state-of-the-art Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre.
As of Jan 2006 the zoo has prepared a Rs 5.5-crore plan to establish the centre and forwarded the same to the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) for approval. The plan envisages procuring a, emergency mobile ambulance for the animals.

The zoo would become the first in the country to have an emergency mobile service to rescue animals fighting for life and cater to animals in and around Bandipur, Brahmagiri, Kanakapura, Madikeri and other wildlife sanctuaries.

The Art Gallery

The Jaganmohan Palace was converted into an art gallery in 1875 and exhibits paintings which date back to that period. The artists of that time used natural vegetable and mineral dyes. The famous traditional Mysore ’gold leaf ’ paintings are also exhibited in the gallery, as are oil paintings of contemporary artist like Raja Ravi Varma and Svetoslav Roerich.

Around Mysore

Daria Daulat Bagh Tipu’s Summer Palace,built in 1784,is located here.Made of teak,this Indo-Sarcenic structure has ornate and beautiful frescos.It is now a museum and tells eloquently of Tipu’s valor and his losing battle against the British.

Fort

It is here that Tipu charged at the British soldiers with his legendary sword.An obelisk in the fort marks the place where he fell -betrayed by his own men.The fort holds within it,a mosque and the Ranganathaswamy Temple.Outside the fort is the Gumbaz,Tipu’s tomb with splendid ebony doors inlaid with ivory.

Nearest Visiting places

• B R Hills
• Brindavan Gardens
• Bylakuppe
• Chamundi Hills
• Channapatna
• Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta
• Kabini
• Kokarebellur
• Melkote
• Nagarhole National Park
• Nanjangud
• Nimishambha
• Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary
• Shivasamudram
• Somnathpur
• Srirangapatna
• Talakad
• Bandipur National Park

Tips & Suggestions

Shopping
Mysore is famous for carved sandalwood, pure silk sarees and incense. The best place to shop is the Cauvery Arts & Crafts Emporium on Sayyaji Rao Road, which is the Main shopping area. There are also many other craft shops on Dhanavanthri Road.

The shopper’s stop : Mysore is known the world over for its exotic sandalwood and rich silks. At the Government Sandalwood Oil Factory,you can buy Sandal Powder, Sandal Oil and scented incense sticks.At the Government Silk Factory you can see the master weavers at work. Buy shimmering silks straight off the looms. Shop at Cauvery Handicrafts Emporium or in the little back streets and by lanes that offer some exiting bargains.
Tourist Information
The Dasara executive commitee has setup a helpline number 125711 that gives information on accomodation, tour operators, train and bus services and emergency numbers. Those dialing the number from foreign countries should predial +91-80.
Regional Tourist Information,
Old Exhibition Building,
Irwin Road,Mysore.
Phone : +91-821-2422096 / +91-80-22352828

Help Line/Phone Number

Link:

Location info

• Address:

• District: Mysore

• Nearest City: Bangalore

• Best time to visit:February-March

Climate & weather

Summers: 22 - 38 0 C,Winter : 10 - 32 0 C

How to reach Gundal Reservoir

• Nearest Railway Station:Mysore

• Nearest Airport:Mysore/Bangalore Interntioanl Airport.

**Road Transport:Mysore is well-connected by road to Bangalore, Madras, Mangalore, Coimbatore, Ooty, Cannanore, Calicut and Panaji(Goa), Bangalore-Mysore highway.
**

Hotels & accommodation nearby

Five Star, Three Star hotels are available in Mysore.

Mobile network coverage

Airtel, Jio, BSNL, and Vi all provide coverage across Karnataka. 4G is reliable in Bangalore, Mysore, Mangalore, Hubli, and along highways. Coverage may be weaker in deep forest areas of Bandipur, Nagarhole, and certain Western Ghats sections. Most hotels, resorts, and cafes in tourist areas offer free Wi-Fi.

Food & restaurants nearby

Food options are available in the nearest town. Karnataka cuisine ranges from coastal seafood to Udupi vegetarian to Coorg’s pandi curry. Dosa, idli, bisi bele bath, and filter coffee are iconic.

Nearest petrol pump

Petrol pumps are available in the nearest town or on the approach road — check locally for the closest option.

Accessibility

Accessibility information is not currently available for this site. Contact the venue directly or check with your accommodation for the latest accessibility details.

Rules & restrictions

Standard visitor rules apply. Check locally for any specific restrictions at this site.

Best photography spots

The best photography spots are typically during the golden hours (early morning and late afternoon). Scout the location first to identify the best angles, and consider the direction of light at different times of day.

Best time to visit Gundal Reservoir

Post-monsoon season (October to February) is the best time to visit — the reservoir is full and the surrounding landscape is lush and green. Summer (March to May) sees reduced water levels. The dam is most spectacular during the monsoon when water is being released through the gates.

Timings & opening hours

Dam viewing areas are typically open from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM daily. The dam reservoir area may have restricted access. Some dams are open only on weekends or during specific hours for tourism.

Entry fee & tickets

Entry fee: ₹10-₹30 for Indian nationals, ₹50-₹100 for foreign nationals. Parking fee applies. Some dams charge separately for garden areas and viewpoints.

Duration needed

1-2 hours is sufficient to view the dam, walk along the top, and enjoy the reservoir views. If the dam has adjoining gardens or parks, plan for 2-3 hours.

Safety tips

Do not enter restricted areas. Stay behind safety barriers at all times. Do not swim in the reservoir — water levels and currents are unpredictable. Be especially careful during monsoon when water may be released suddenly. Listen for sirens or warnings. Supervise children at all times.

Things to carry

Camera for photographs, water bottles, snacks, hat/cap, sunscreen, and binoculars for bird watching on the reservoir.

Nearest airport, railway & bus

Nearest railway station is in the district headquarters or nearest major town. Nearest airport depends on location. Regular bus services connect to nearby towns.

History of Gundal Reservoir

Gundal Reservoir is a major dam/reservoir project in Karnataka, constructed to provide irrigation water, drinking water, and hydroelectric power to the region. The dam harnesses the waters of a major river system in Karnataka. The reservoir created by the dam has become an important ecosystem for aquatic birds and wildlife.

Frequently asked questions

Can I visit the dam at any time? Dam viewing areas have specific opening hours (typically 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM). Some areas may be restricted for security reasons.

Is water released from the dam year-round? Water release depends on rainfall and irrigation requirements. The dam is most spectacular during the monsoon when water is released through gates.

Are there boating facilities in the reservoir? Boating and water sports are available at some reservoirs. Check with the local tourism office for availability.

Quick facts

• Type: Tourist Attraction
• State: Karnataka
• Category: Dams

Visitor information

Please check locally for current visitor information.

Photo gallery of Gundal Reservoir

Photos coming soon. In the meantime, you can find images of Gundal Reservoir on popular travel photography sites and social media.