Bellandur Lake, Freshwater lake in Bengaluru, India

Bellandur Lake is the largest lake in Bengaluru, in the city's southeast, and the receptor for three chains of upstream lakes across a catchment of about 148 square kilometres. Its water flows on to Varthur Lake and eventually into the Ponnaiyar river basin. The wide, flat surface reflects the sky and the far shore, where small boats float near the bank; in the foreground, dense green vegetation and two tall palm trees stand behind a low fence line.

Bellandur Lake is thought to have begun as a tributary of the Dakshina Pinakini, also called the Ponnaiyar River. In the 1940s its surface served as a landing ground for amphibious aircraft such as the Catalina. From the 1980s, unplanned growth cut the chain of tanks feeding it, and untreated sewage and industrial waste entered the water.

Old narratives about the lake describe village watermen, local deities and attached commons that supplied wood and grazing land. The lake is now known for the froth that has appeared on its surface since at least 2003, and for the fires that have broken out on the water in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2021.

Visit early in the morning when air quality is better and the surrounding area is less crowded with traffic and activity. Wear sturdy shoes since paths around the lake can be uneven, and some spots are not well maintained due to ongoing restoration work.

In the 1940s the lake surface served as a landing strip for amphibious aircraft such as the Catalina. Decades later, in 2018, parts of the lake burned for over 30 hours, and it has overflowed as recently as 2022.