Agara Lake Run – A Dialogue Across Time
After pausing lake runs for a while, I decided to restart them. I chose Agara Lake. Why Agara deserves a story of its own will come later.
I messaged Suresh about the plan to skip Saturday’s long run and do it on Sunday. He is more into gym these days, so I was doubtful. Still, he replied, “Yes.” With a smile he added, “If I can’t run, I’ll take an auto back home.” I knew he would never do that.
We left home at 5 AM, planning to start by 5:30. We reached early, but I took the wrong road, got onto the flyover, and had to take a U-turn. Lost 20–25 minutes. Parked near Hyundai showroom and entered through Gate 4.
The entry was unpleasant with the smell from the Raja Kaluve. But once inside, the lake loop was calm. A good path, tall trees, and shade made it welcoming. One round is about 2.6 km. Many runners were already there. For sure it appears in the list of one of the well maintained lake loops for run.
Suresh was cheerful. “Let’s not push too hard. Let’s run happily,” he said. That’s his way — enjoy the present, not chase the clock.
As we ran, I slowed down. Lakes always make me reflect. That’s when Maya’s voice returned, like a breeze. I had totally forgotten her ! With lake run she also returned into journey of reflections.
“People once built homes near lakes. Water was life. Sacred temples rose near them. Rulers made tanks and canals their focus, because lakes were lifelines — and power centers.”
The lake itself seemed to whisper:
“I was created more than a thousand years ago. In the 9th century, inscriptions mention me. A man named Sriyamayya, son of Irugamayya, fixed sluices and built tanks here. Over time, I became part of a chain — water flowed from Madiwala into me, then into Bellandur, and further to Varthur. Together we were Bengaluru’s lifeline — giving water, food, and life.”
Maya added, “In those times, settlement meant water. People lived, farmed, and prayed near lakes. The Someshwara temple near Agara was part of this landscape. Later dynasties — the Hoysalas, the Vijayanagara rulers, and Kempegowda in the 16th century — continued to maintain these lakes. It was not just a lake. It was a network.”
The lake sighed,
“Centuries passed. The city changed. People got water through pipes and pumps. It became invisible. Anything invisible is hard to value. I was neglected. Sewage entered. Encroachments crept in. People stopped seeing me as life.”
I asked, “And what now?”
Maya answered,
“Now people live in concrete jungles. They crave open spaces, green, and water. They come to lakes to breathe, to run, to rest. Slowly, they are learning again.”
The lake added,
“Today I am no longer the farmer’s tank. I am the city’s lung. People walk, run, and fight for me. They want me alive.”
Suresh called out, “What’s up? Shall we do one more loop?”
I smiled. “No, let’s step out. There is another world waiting near Domlur and Ulsoor.”
Agara Lake stands as memory and present. Once a lifeline for survival, now a lifeline for living.
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Agara Lake: History & Significance
Early Origins (8th–9th Century)
Agara Lake dates back to at least the 8th–9th century CE—making it over a millennium old .
A Ganga-period inscription (~870 CE) by Sriyamayya, son of chieftain Irugamayya, records the repair of sluices and construction of a tank near Agara—strongly suggesting this was indeed the lake’s genesis .
Role in Bengaluru’s Tank System
Agara Lake was part of the Varthur lake series, receiving overflow from Madiwala Lake upstream and draining surplus water toward Bellandur Lake downstream .
This cascading system historically supported irrigation, drinking water, fisheries, and community rituals, forming the backbone of the region’s agrarian life .
Decline & Urban Impact
Since the 1990s, rapid urbanization and surrounding construction drastically altered the lake’s landscape .
Privatization attempts in 2007 spurred citizen protests; the lease was cancelled, and management was handed over to a citizen group in 2012—the Agara Lake Protection and Management Society (ALPMS) formed in 2013 .
Restoration began as early as 2004 by the BDA and Forest Department. In 2018, the Lake Conservation and Development Authority funded a ₹16 crore rehabilitation effort, including de-silting, bund strengthening, and constructed wetlands .
Present-Day Features & Ecology
Agara Lake spans approximately 80 acres (32 hectares), with a depth ranging between 2–3 meters, and has a shoreline about 2.8 km long .
Key features now include a constructed wetland (9 acres) at the inlet, a sediment-filter system, fenced perimeter, walking tracks, a park, and an immersion tank .
The lake supports diverse birdlife (over 30 species) and still serves as a habitat for local fishermen
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📖 Appendix – References on Agara Lake History
1. Wikipedia – Agara Lake
Overview of the lake’s history, network, and current state.
2. Wikipedia – Agara Inscriptions and Hero Stones
Details of 9th–16th century inscriptions, including mention of tank construction and sluice works.
👉 Agara Inscriptions – Wikipedia
3. Down to Earth – When Lakes Were Tanks
Article on Bengaluru’s historic tank system, with reference to Agara inscriptions.
👉 When Lakes Were Tanks – Down to Earth
Note: article is written with the assistance of AI tools with input, and my thoughts from my side. Have reviewed it for correctness. If you still find any discrepancy or missing clarity please message me. I will look into it
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