Turahalli Forest

Turahalli Forest
Kannada: ತುರಹಳ್ಳಿ ಕಾಡು
Geography
Map showing the location of Turahalli Forest
Location Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Coordinates 12°52′54″N 77°31′30″E / 12.8816831°N 77.5249823°E / 12.8816831; 77.5249823Coordinates: 12°52′54″N 77°31′30″E / 12.8816831°N 77.5249823°E / 12.8816831; 77.5249823
Elevation 888 metres
Area 590 acres
Status protected, endangered
Governing body Karnataka Forest Department
Ecology
Ecosystem(s) India
Disturbance forest fires, garbage dumping
Dominant tree species Eucalyptus

The Turahalli Forest or Turahalli Park is a dry and deciduous forest. It is located about 20 km from Bengaluru off Kanakapura Road. Its 13 km from Banashankari and can be overseen from the NICE road. Entry inside the park has been banned for vehicles, however, it has become a hot spot for cyclists.

It has a nice view and a small temple on top of a rocky hill. As of today, Turahalli forest is said to be Bengaluru's only surviving forest.[1]

Rocks in the forest provide one of the few outdoor bouldering opportunities to the cities residents and have multiple established routes.

Wildlife

Flora

The majority of trees are eucalyptus.[2]. During August, the orchids (Habenaria roxburghii) bloom, giving a brilliant white colour to contrast the green of the forest. The rocky terrains are great for lianas, the most common being Opilia amentacea. They bloom during the summer. These are mostly located in the Northern edge of the forest, surrounded by figs (Ficus tinctoria), nerale-mara (Syzygium cumini) and rocks. The most common herb is the Byttneria herbacea. It blooms throughout the year. Its flowers attract many beetles. Legumes, specifically Indigofera karnatakana are found here. Ixora pavetta bloom during the summer. They have an intoxicating fragarance.[3]

Fauna

Many animals can be spotted, including hares, jackals, lizards, mongooses, etc. Turahalli is also famous for its bird population, which includes great horned owls, mynas, babblers and more.[2][4]

Activities

Turahalli offers excellent biking trails.[5] It is also among the few places within the city for natural rock climbing.[6] Rocks are granite, with various sizes and shapes. Many climbers practice regularly, in preparation for local or international competitions.[6]

Endangerment

The forest is the last one surviving in Bengaluru. It has slowly been encroached upon. It has also been used as an illegal garbage dump, which has negatively affected the wildlife.[7][8] Frequent fires during the summers, both natural and those caused by locals, have significantly impacted certain species of plants that grow in this forest.[3] The BBMP also opened a sewage treatment plant near the forest.[9] There is also a problem with poaching. Land has also been illegally cleared to grow crops.[6] Over the past few years, efforts have been made by nearby residents to clean up and to prevent further encroachment and dumping of waste in the forest.[10] The Cleanup Turahalli group is attempting to remove waste disposed in the forest.[11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Mohan, Deepa (28 September 2012). "Turahalli: Bangalore's last forest standing?". The Alternative. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  2. 1 2 "Save Turahalli". Dream Routes. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  3. 1 2 Sharma, Anurag (15 August 2016). "Turahalli: an urban forest". JLR Explore. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  4. ↑ "Turahalli Forest For A Spot Of Hiking and Cycling". LBB. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  5. ↑ "10 best cycling routes in the city". Bangalore Mirror Bureau. Bangalore Mirror. 3 July 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  6. 1 2 3 "Save Turahalli - Bouldering". Dream Routes. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  7. ↑ Satyanarayan, Shwetha (21 October 2015). "New Landfill in Turahalli: Another Mandur in making?". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  8. ↑ Mohan, Deepa (16 September 2012). "Turahalli: Developments further to the Habba". Citizen Matters. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  9. ↑ Baradhwaj, K. V. Aditya (28 March 2016). "Setback to BBMP in dealing with garbage crisis". The Hindu. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  10. ↑ Kaushik, Tushar (18 February 2018). "Karnataka: Women Power Saves Forest Cover". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  11. ↑ Borthakur, Saswati (4 January 2018). "The CleanUp Turahalli Group: The Forest Crusaders". BananiVista. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
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