Lakes of Bendakaluru

Satellite view: Esri, Maxar, Earthstar Geographics

Ulsoor Lake

ಹಲಸೂರು ಸರೋವರ

Also called Immersion Tank, Halasuru Lake, Ulsoor

Kere, a large tank, in K Kamaraj Ward ward, Bengaluru Central

See it on the map
Size
91.0 acresAbout 52 football pitches
Rank by size
87th largestOf 1,621 lakes that still exist
Valley
Koramangala-Challaghatta
Who looks after it
BBMPBruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike
Water quality
Fit only for irrigationTested Jul 2026
Built over
0.5% of the lakeSatellite land cover, 2021
Campaign
Residents are organising here

Through the years

Nothing on record for 1901 to 1979 and 1981 to 1983.

The records listed below, drawn on one line from 1900 to 2026.

  1. 1900

    Built

    As the 2018 lake survey records it

    See source

  2. 1980

    On the survey map

    See source

  3. 1984-2021

    Held water most years

    Water in 48% of all satellite passes, 1984-2024

    0% of its water area has since gone dry; 73% is new water

    4 years not counted: the satellite saw under half the lake

    See sourceSee source

  4. 2017-2018

    In the water bodies census, not marked as encroached

    This census's status marks are often wrong

    See source

  5. 2017-2025

    Mostly water every year

    About three in four of these readings are right, so trust what holds for several years

    See source

  6. 2018

    Still there in the 2018 lake survey

    Clean, 101 acres surveyed

    See source

  7. 2023-2026

    Tested by the state board in 31 months, most often fit only for wildlife and fish

    Jul 2023 to Jul 2026

    See every testSee source

  8. 2025-2026

    Mostly open water after the monsoon; mostly dry or built in the dry season

    After monsoon, Oct 2025 to Dec 2025

    • 82% open water
    • 16% floating weed
    • 2% dry or built

    Dry season, Mar 2026 to May 2026

    • 0% open water
    • 2% floating weed
    • 98% dry or built
    See source

How big it is

The records disagree on its size, so each measure is shown.

Drawn outline
91.0 acres

About 52 football pitches

See source
2018 lake survey
101 acres

About 57 football pitches

See source
End to end
1.1 km

The longest straight line across the outline

See source
Deepest point, 2018
7 m
See source
Kind of lake
Kere, a large tank
See source

How clean the water is

Latest test, Ulsoor Lake Training Centre Of Fish Breeding
Fit only for irrigation

Fit only for irrigation, cooling and waste disposal. Class E on the state board’s scale from A, the cleanest, to E.

Tested Jul 2026

See source
Latest test, Ulsoor Lake Temple
Fit only for irrigation

Fit only for irrigation, cooling and waste disposal. Class E on the state board’s scale from A, the cleanest, to E.

Tested Jul 2026

See source
Latest test, Ulsoor Lake Near Kalyani,Bengaluru
Fit only for irrigation

Fit only for irrigation, cooling and waste disposal. Class E on the state board’s scale from A, the cleanest, to E.

Tested Jul 2026

See source
Class each month at Ulsoor Lake Training Centre Of Fish Breeding, tested 31 times since Jul 2023
Fit only for wildlife and fish: 25 months. Fit only for irrigation: 6 months. Every month is listed in the readings below.
Drinkable after disinfection
Fit for bathing
Drinkable after treatment
Fit only for wildlife and fish
Fit only for irrigation
See source
Class each month at Ulsoor Lake Temple, tested 31 times since Jul 2023
Fit only for wildlife and fish: 23 months. Fit only for irrigation: 8 months. Every month is listed in the readings below.
Drinkable after disinfection
Fit for bathing
Drinkable after treatment
Fit only for wildlife and fish
Fit only for irrigation
See source
Class each month at Ulsoor Lake Near Kalyani,Bengaluru, tested 31 times since Jul 2023
Fit only for wildlife and fish: 26 months. Fit only for irrigation: 5 months. Every month is listed in the readings below.
Drinkable after disinfection
Fit for bathing
Drinkable after treatment
Fit only for wildlife and fish
Fit only for irrigation
See source
How it looked in 2018
Clean
See source
What pollutes it, 2018

Sewage

See source
Sewage flows in, 2018

From the north

See source
Older tests
4 readings

From 2021

See source
Inlet and outlet tests, 2017-18
1 readings
See source
Every reading
Show every reading

Latest test, Jul 2026, Ulsoor Lake Training Centre Of Fish Breeding. Too low to measure: boron, carbonate, fluoride, phenolphthalein alkalinity

MeasureUnitValue
Water temperature°C28
Dissolved oxygenmg/L3.2
pH6.7
ConductivityµS/cm452
BODmg/L18
Nitratemg/L as N1.6
Nitritemg/L as N0.33
Faecal coliformMPN/100mL3,300
Total coliformMPN/100mL9,400
Bicarbonatemg/L148
TurbidityNTU29.8
Total alkalinitymg/L as CaCO3148
Chloridemg/L56
CODmg/L124
Kjeldahl nitrogenmg/L as N6.2
Ammonia nitrogenmg/L as N4.8
Total hardnessmg/L as CaCO3124
Calcium hardnessmg/L as CaCO364
Calciummg/L25.6
Magnesium hardnessmg/L as CaCO360
Magnesiummg/L14.6
Sulphatemg/L55
Sodiummg/L45
Dissolved solidsmg/L308
Suspended solidsmg/L34
Phosphatemg/L0.43
Potassiummg/L4
Sodium share%44
Sodium adsorption ratio1.7
Orthophosphatemg/L1

Latest test, Jul 2026, Ulsoor Lake Temple. Too low to measure: boron, carbonate, fluoride, phenolphthalein alkalinity

MeasureUnitValue
Water temperature°C29
Dissolved oxygenmg/L3.3
pH6.7
ConductivityµS/cm450
BODmg/L17
Nitratemg/L as N1.6
Nitritemg/L as N0.32
Faecal coliformMPN/100mL1,100
Total coliformMPN/100mL9,200
Bicarbonatemg/L152
TurbidityNTU30
Total alkalinitymg/L as CaCO3152
Chloridemg/L52
CODmg/L120
Kjeldahl nitrogenmg/L as N6
Ammonia nitrogenmg/L as N4.6
Total hardnessmg/L as CaCO3128
Calcium hardnessmg/L as CaCO364
Calciummg/L25.6
Magnesium hardnessmg/L as CaCO364
Magnesiummg/L15.6
Sulphatemg/L55
Sodiummg/L45
Dissolved solidsmg/L306
Suspended solidsmg/L34
Phosphatemg/L0.45
Potassiummg/L4
Sodium share%43
Sodium adsorption ratio1.7
Orthophosphatemg/L1

Latest test, Jul 2026, Ulsoor Lake Near Kalyani,Bengaluru. Too low to measure: boron, carbonate, fluoride, phenolphthalein alkalinity

MeasureUnitValue
Water temperature°C29
Dissolved oxygenmg/L3.2
pH6.7
ConductivityµS/cm452
BODmg/L18
Nitratemg/L as N1.6
Nitritemg/L as N0.33
Faecal coliformMPN/100mL4,900
Total coliformMPN/100mL7,900
Bicarbonatemg/L148
TurbidityNTU30.2
Total alkalinitymg/L as CaCO3148
Chloridemg/L52
CODmg/L124
Kjeldahl nitrogenmg/L as N6.2
Ammonia nitrogenmg/L as N4.8
Total hardnessmg/L as CaCO3124
Calcium hardnessmg/L as CaCO364
Calciummg/L25.6
Magnesium hardnessmg/L as CaCO360
Magnesiummg/L14.6
Sulphatemg/L55
Sodiummg/L45
Dissolved solidsmg/L308
Suspended solidsmg/L34
Phosphatemg/L0.45
Potassiummg/L4
Sodium share%44
Sodium adsorption ratio1.7
Orthophosphatemg/L1

Every month the state board tested it

MonthStationClassDissolved oxygenmg/LBODmg/LFaecal coliformMPN/100mLTotal coliformMPN/100mLSource
Jul 2026Ulsoor Lake Training Centre Of Fish BreedingE3.2183,3009,400See source
Jul 2026Ulsoor Lake TempleE3.3171,1009,200See source
Jul 2026Ulsoor Lake Near Kalyani,BengaluruE3.2184,9007,900See source
Feb 2026Ulsoor Lake Training Centre Of Fish BreedingD554704,300See source
Feb 2026Ulsoor Lake TempleE2.5133,2009,400See source
Feb 2026Ulsoor Lake Near Kalyani,BengaluruE2.6124605,400See source
Jan 2026Ulsoor Lake Training Centre Of Fish BreedingD5.453904,300See source
Jan 2026Ulsoor Lake TempleD5.944003,500See source
Jan 2026Ulsoor Lake Near Kalyani,BengaluruD5.942104,300See source
Dec 2025Ulsoor Lake Training Centre Of Fish BreedingD5.544302,800See source
Dec 2025Ulsoor Lake TempleD5.941,7009,400See source
Dec 2025Ulsoor Lake Near Kalyani,BengaluruD5.441,4007,900See source
Nov 2025Ulsoor Lake Training Centre Of Fish BreedingD5.287.849See source
Nov 2025Ulsoor Lake TempleD5.481401,300See source
Nov 2025Ulsoor Lake Near Kalyani,BengaluruD5.4826140See source
Oct 2025Ulsoor Lake Training Centre Of Fish BreedingD4.481,40017,000See source
Oct 2025Ulsoor Lake TempleD572,10013,000See source
Oct 2025Ulsoor Lake Near Kalyani,BengaluruD4.972,60014,000See source
Sep 2025Ulsoor Lake Training Centre Of Fish BreedingE1.5221,2007,000See source
Sep 2025Ulsoor Lake TempleE1.2281,70013,000See source
Sep 2025Ulsoor Lake Near Kalyani,BengaluruE1.3239206,300See source
Aug 2025Ulsoor Lake Training Centre Of Fish BreedingE2.2222,6009,400See source
Aug 2025Ulsoor Lake TempleE2.4162,2007,900See source
Aug 2025Ulsoor Lake Near Kalyani,BengaluruE2.3204303,500See source
Jul 2025Ulsoor Lake Training Centre Of Fish BreedingE3181,70013,000See source
Jul 2025Ulsoor Lake TempleE3.3162,1007,000See source
Jul 2025Ulsoor Lake Near Kalyani,BengaluruE2.9161,1007,900See source
Jun 2025Ulsoor Lake Training Centre Of Fish BreedingE2.6211702,400See source
Jun 2025Ulsoor Lake TempleD5.97201,600See source
Jun 2025Ulsoor Lake Near Kalyani,BengaluruD5.3102202,200See source
May 2025Ulsoor Lake Training Centre Of Fish BreedingD4.752,2007,000See source
May 2025Ulsoor Lake TempleE3.3181,20013,000See source
May 2025Ulsoor Lake Near Kalyani,BengaluruD4.165802,800See source
Apr 2025Ulsoor Lake Training Centre Of Fish BreedingD5.146303,500See source
Apr 2025Ulsoor Lake TempleD642101,200See source
Apr 2025Ulsoor Lake Near Kalyani,BengaluruD4.962201,300See source
Mar 2025Ulsoor Lake Training Centre Of Fish BreedingD5132,60015,000See source
Mar 2025Ulsoor Lake TempleD4.9144,80028,000See source
Mar 2025Ulsoor Lake Near Kalyani,BengaluruD641,2009,200See source
Feb 2025Ulsoor Lake Training Centre Of Fish BreedingD6.271703,500See source
Feb 2025Ulsoor Lake TempleD6101,4008,400See source
Feb 2025Ulsoor Lake Near Kalyani,BengaluruD5.8126804,300See source
Jan 2025Ulsoor Lake Training Centre Of Fish BreedingD741,40011,000See source
Jan 2025Ulsoor Lake TempleD5.6101,70013,000See source
Jan 2025Ulsoor Lake Near Kalyani,BengaluruD5.6122,00017,000See source
Dec 2024Ulsoor Lake Training Centre Of Fish BreedingD6.342,70017,000See source
Dec 2024Ulsoor Lake TempleD5.556,30035,000See source
Dec 2024Ulsoor Lake Near Kalyani,BengaluruD6.442,60014,000See source
Nov 2024Ulsoor Lake Training Centre Of Fish BreedingD5.562,4004,800See source
Nov 2024Ulsoor Lake TempleE3.2172,60011,000See source
Nov 2024Ulsoor Lake Near Kalyani,BengaluruD5.851,4009,400See source
Oct 2024Ulsoor Lake Training Centre Of Fish BreedingE6.242202,400See source
Oct 2024Ulsoor Lake TempleE5.851,10024,000See source
Oct 2024Ulsoor Lake Near Kalyani,BengaluruD4.44.233,0001,70,000See source
Sep 2024Ulsoor Lake Training Centre Of Fish BreedingD642603,500See source
Sep 2024Ulsoor Lake TempleD6.341702,400See source
Sep 2024Ulsoor Lake Near Kalyani,BengaluruD6.242,1009,400See source
Aug 2024Ulsoor Lake Training Centre Of Fish BreedingD664302,200See source
Aug 2024Ulsoor Lake TempleD5.9832350See source
Aug 2024Ulsoor Lake Near Kalyani,BengaluruD5.571794See source
Jul 2024Ulsoor Lake Training Centre Of Fish BreedingD6.7514120See source
Jul 2024Ulsoor Lake TempleD5.863809,200See source
Jul 2024Ulsoor Lake Near Kalyani,BengaluruD6.583103,500See source
Jun 2024Ulsoor Lake Training Centre Of Fish BreedingD5.362,3009,400See source
Jun 2024Ulsoor Lake TempleD5.571,10013,000See source
Jun 2024Ulsoor Lake Near Kalyani,BengaluruD5.261702,400See source
May 2024Ulsoor Lake Training Centre Of Fish BreedingD7.25.32,10017,000See source
May 2024Ulsoor Lake TempleD7.15.3461,600See source
May 2024Ulsoor Lake Near Kalyani,BengaluruD5.47.21,4007,900See source
Apr 2024Ulsoor Lake Training Centre Of Fish BreedingD4.881702,400See source
Apr 2024Ulsoor Lake TempleD4.972202,400See source
Apr 2024Ulsoor Lake Near Kalyani,BengaluruD4.97.43902,200See source
Mar 2024Ulsoor Lake Training Centre Of Fish BreedingD571,7004,800See source
Mar 2024Ulsoor Lake TempleD5.173,1009,400See source
Mar 2024Ulsoor Lake Near Kalyani,BengaluruD4.583,30011,000See source
Feb 2024Ulsoor Lake Training Centre Of Fish BreedingD6.944,6009,400See source
Feb 2024Ulsoor Lake TempleD6.741,7007,900See source
Feb 2024Ulsoor Lake Near Kalyani,BengaluruD6.843,20014,000See source
Jan 2024Ulsoor Lake Training Centre Of Fish BreedingD6.244,80035,000See source
Jan 2024Ulsoor Lake TempleD6.344,6001,60,000See source
Jan 2024Ulsoor Lake Near Kalyani,BengaluruD654,30054,000See source
Dec 2023Ulsoor Lake Training Centre Of Fish BreedingD4.684,00054,000See source
Dec 2023Ulsoor Lake TempleD573,10035,000See source
Dec 2023Ulsoor Lake Near Kalyani,BengaluruD5.174905,400See source
Oct 2023Ulsoor Lake Training Centre Of Fish BreedingD5.754,60054,000See source
Oct 2023Ulsoor Lake TempleD5.177,00092,000See source
Oct 2023Ulsoor Lake Near Kalyani,BengaluruD574,00054,000See source
Sep 2023Ulsoor Lake Training Centre Of Fish BreedingD4.874,30092,000See source
Sep 2023Ulsoor Lake TempleD4.84,30092,000See source
Sep 2023Ulsoor Lake Near Kalyani,BengaluruD5.664,80035,000See source
Jul 2023Ulsoor Lake Training Centre Of Fish BreedingD4.4411,00092,000See source
Jul 2023Ulsoor Lake TempleD444,80035,000See source
Jul 2023Ulsoor Lake Near Kalyani,BengaluruD4.542,70024,000See source

Older tests

DateWhereReadingWater temperature°CDissolved oxygenmg/LpHConductivityµS/cmBODmg/LNitrate and nitritemg/L as NFaecal coliformMPN/100mLTotal coliformMPN/100mLSource
2021Ulsoor Lake Training Centre Of Fish Breeding,, LakeLowest2526.825330.672,30024,000See source
2021Ulsoor Lake Training Centre Of Fish Breeding,, LakeHighest256.88.55703824,90,00024,00,000See source
2021Ulsoor Lake Temple, LakeLowest251.86.625430.34,00024,000See source
2021Ulsoor Lake Temple, LakeHighest2578.8551422.017,00,00035,00,000See source

Inlet and outlet tests, 2017-18 lake survey

DateWhereWater temperature°CLight transparencycmpHConductivityµS/cmDissolved solidsmg/LSuspended solidsmg/LTurbidityNTUDissolved oxygenmg/LCODmg/LBODmg/LTotal phosphateKjeldahl nitrogenmg/L as NTotal coliformMPN/100mL
2017-11-28Inlet25237.860030038176.4793271,600
See source

How much is built over

Built inside the outline
0.5%

From satellite land cover, 2021

See source
Encroached area, 2017
106 acres

Reported by the state legislature’s committee on lake encroachment

See source
Other problems noted

Park

See source
Land within 500 m

56% built, 36% trees, 3% grass, 2% crops, 1% water, 1% shrubs

From satellite land cover, 2021

See source

Who looks after it

Looked after by
Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike

BBMP

See source
City lake page

Open its page on the city’s lake monitoring site

See source
Campaign pages
See source

Where its water comes from and goes

Valley
Koramangala-Challaghatta

The river basin its water drains to

See source
Water comes from
See source
Overflows into

Bellandur Lake

See source
Catchment
13.9 km²

The land that drains into it

See source
Fed by, 2018 survey

Rain

See source
Built parts, 2018 survey

2 inlet drains, 1 overflow weir, no sluice gates, no culverts, no check dams and 6 islands

See source
Used for, 2018 survey

Park maintenance and boating

See source
Nearest sewage treatment plant

Halasuru 2MLD Sewage Treatment Plant

597 m away, treats 2 million litres a day

See source

What lives here

Birds recorded
110 species

Most seen: Black Kite, Indian Pond-Heron, House Crow, Rock Pigeon and Brahminy Kite.

3,799 sightings, mostly from birdwatchers

See source
All wildlife recorded
142 species

3,836 records, 1952 to 2026

See source
Threatened species seen here
2
  • Indian Roller near threatened
  • Spot-billed Pelican near threatened
See source
Photographed on iNaturalist
217 times

82 species, 135 confirmed by other naturalists.

Most seen: Grey Heron, Indian Pond-Heron, House Crow, Little Egret and Rock Pigeon.

Last seen Aug 2026

See source
Animals seen, 2018 survey

Fish, birds, butterflies and dragonflies

See source

Around it

Around it in 2018

Settlement & defenceheadquarter

See source

Photos

Ulsoor Lake, photographed in 2024
Harvinder Chandigarh / CC BY 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons, 2024
Ulsoor Lake, photographed in 1870
Unknown author Unknown author / Public domain / Wikimedia Commons, 1870
Ulsoor Lake, photographed in 2011
Saad Faruque from Bangalore, India / CC BY 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons, 2011
Ulsoor Lake, photographed in 2011
Saad Faruque from Bangalore, India / CC BY 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons, 2011
Ulsoor Lake, photographed in 2011
Saad Faruque from Bangalore, India / CC BY 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons, 2011
Ulsoor Lake, photographed in 2011
Saad Faruque from Bangalore, India / CC BY 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons, 2011
Ulsoor Lake, photographed in 2011
Saad Faruque from Bangalore, India / CC BY 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons, 2011
Ulsoor Lake, photographed in 2011
Saad Faruque from Bangalore, India / CC BY 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons, 2011
Ulsoor Lake, photographed in 2011
Ashwin Kumar from Bangalore, India / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons, 2011

Where it is

Ward 7
K Kamaraj Ward

ಕೆ ಕಾಮರಾಜ್ ವಾರ್ಡ್

Bengaluru Central corporation, Shivajinagar assembly seat

See source
Village
Ulsoor (Halasuru)

Kasaba hobli, Bengaluru North taluk, Bengaluru Urban district

See source
Land survey numbers

3 (Karnataka Legislative Report)

See source
Height above sea level
905 m
See source
Coordinates

12.9822° N, 77.6191° E

See source

Read more

Wikipedia

Ulsoor Lake or Halasuru Lake, one of the biggest lakes in Bangalore, is located on the eastern side of the city. It derives its name from the name of the locality it is situated, namely, Halasuru, close to M G Road. It is spread over 50 ha and has several islands. Even though the lake is dated to Kempe Gowdas's time, the present lake was created by Lewin Bentham Bowring, the then Commissioner of Bangalore. A part of the lake is controlled by the Madras Engineer Group, and the rest by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP)

Read Ulsoor Lake on Wikipedia

See source
Kannada Wikipedia

ಹಲಸೂರು ಸರೋವರವು ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನ ದೊಡ್ಡ ಸರೋವರಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದಾಗಿದೆ. ಇದು ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ನಗರದ ಪೂರ್ವ ಭಾಗದಲ್ಲಿದೆ. ಎಂ.ಜಿ ರಸ್ತೆಗೆ ಹತ್ತಿರವಿರುವ ಹಲಸೂರು ಎಂಬ ಹೆಸರಿನಿಂದಾಗಿ ಈ ಕೆರೆಗೆ ಹಲಸೂರು ಸರೋವರ ಎಂದು ಕರೆಯುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಈ ಸರೋವರವು ದ್ವೀಪಗಳನ್ನು ಹೊಂದಿದೆ. ಈ ಕೆರೆಯು ಕೆಂಪೇಗೌಡರ ಕಾಲದ್ದಾಗಿದ್ದರೂ, ಈಗಿನ ಕೆರೆಯನ್ನು ಅಂದಿನ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನ ಕಮಿಷನರ್ ಆಗಿದ್ದ ಲೆವಿನ್ ಬೆಂಥಮ್ ಬೌರಿಂಗ್ ರಚಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಸರೋವರದ ಒಂದು ಭಾಗವು ಮದ್ರಾಸ್ ಇಂಜಿನಿಯರ್ ಗ್ರೂಪಿನಿಂದ ನಿಯಂತ್ರಿಸಲ್ಪಡುತ್ತದೆ ಮತ್ತು ಉಳಿದವು ಬೃಹತ್ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ಮಹಾನಗರ ಪಾಲಿಕೆಯಿಂದ ನಿಯಂತ್ರಿಸಲ್ಪಡುತ್ತದೆ.

ಹಲಸೂರು ಸರೋವರ

See source
OpenStreetMap
See source
Wikimedia Commons

See every photo of it

See source
Wikidata

Q30587793

See source
Its number in each record
ATREE lake map
157
2018 lake survey
BUBNBKuls_kr1-74
Lake Development Authority
LDA448
KGIS tank map
755
Water bodies census
2/12/002/253190/025564/001
City lake monitoring site
221