A Bhartiya Rider

Camping near KRS Dam in Mysore offers a great weekend getaway option for Bangaloreans

KRS Dam in Mysore is definitely a must-visit place, and spending a weekend camping there sounds like a perfect way to unwind and connect with nature. 🏕️ The serene and peaceful environment is perfect for activities like kayaking 🚣‍♀️, hiking 🥾, fishing 🎣, and bird-watching 🦜. It's great to hear that the campsite has all the necessary amenities like tents 🏠, bathrooms 🚽, and a bonfire pit 🔥. I am sure you will have a wonderful time enjoying the beauty of nature there. 🌄

Trip map

On weekends, many people in Bangalore make plans. Some go to parties, some take long rides, and some stay home. But I'm like a bird—I always want to be near nature. My weekend plans usually involve camping. I like to spend time in forests or by lakes. It makes me feel refreshed and ready to work for a few days. When I'm feeling down, I like to go on long rides alone or drive to quiet places nearby. It helps me feel better.

One day, I found a good camping spot near Bangalore. It was my first time camping near Bangalore; I usually camped up north. Feeling unsure, I decided to go to a paid camping site. I asked my friend to come too.

We started our journey on December 30th, 2023, leaving Bangalore at 6:00 AM. The sunrise on the road was beautiful and made me feel awake. Around 8:00 AM, we stopped at a famous dhaba on the Bangalore-Mysore expressway near Bidadi called Sri Renuka Hotel. We ate some yummy Thatte Idli and lemon rice with tasty chutney. It made us feel refreshed and ready for the day.

We hit the road again at 8:30 AM and made our way straight to Sri Venugopalaswamy Temple. We arrived at the temple around 10:30 AM after driving on a beautiful expressway and a bit of offroading, about 5 km before reaching the temple.

I was amazed by the vast space surrounding the temple, which was well-maintained and peaceful. The temple has been renovated and showcases the impressive Hoysala architecture of Karnataka.

The temple is open from 9:00 AM to 6:30 PM, and there's no entry fee. It's situated near the banks of the Kaveri River, and the refreshing breeze adds to the experience. You can even take a dip in the water, which offers an amazing view. I think the best time to visit the temple is after 4 PM when the weather becomes pleasant, and watching the sunset adds to the calming atmosphere.

Note: There's no shade outside the temple, and there are only a few restaurants nearby, so it's a good idea to carry some snacks. Let's remember to respect nature and avoid littering.

Below is the notice board for the devotees.

We entered the temple and were surrounded by statues of various gods and goddesses. Unfortunately, I couldn't read their names because they were in the local language, and there wasn't a guide available.

After receiving blessings, we went to the backwater behind the temple. Whenever I see water, I'm tempted to take a dip, but this time I decided against it. We spent about half an hour there, but I felt really disappointed. People had made the area dirty, leaving garbage and bottles behind. It was disheartening to see such a beautiful place being treated this way.

Finally, we made the decision to camp near the temple and found a good spot that I had researched earlier. It was about 9 kilometres away from the temple. The road leading to the camping site was quite adventurous; it passed through off-road terrain and a small jungle.

At one point, I began to doubt Google's directions, but we decided to keep going. Eventually, we spotted a gate. The camping area was on a secure property, hidden from view. It felt completely isolated, which added to the enjoyment of camping.

The camping site we found was well-maintained and had a charge for staying. It was called Wild Earth Jungle Camp. I want to make it clear that this blog isn't meant to promote any business; I'm simply sharing my personal experience with you and the reason for choosing is a dog-friendly property.

They offered options for camping: you could bring your own tent or rent one from them. The owner was friendly, and their service was good. They had a tariff that included tent stay, food, and some activities.

You can find more details on their website.

We were greeted with a welcome drink upon arrival, and I noticed that a few other people were already there, enjoying the camping area. If you're a family searching for a spot, you might want to consider adding this one to your list of options.

The site was lush green and spacious, with a large area that included the backwater and some small trekking trails. It seemed like a great place to relax and enjoy nature with loved ones. I got one place to keep my car and setup the camping.

Is was time to satisfy our hunger 😋. We made some tea 🍵 and had a delicious lunch 🍔 that Alexa 🤖 prepared. Eating food 🍴 in a location like this is always a great idea because everything tastes better, no matter how it's cooked 🤤.

After lunch, we decided to take a short nap. When we woke up, we passed the time by chatting and playing with Joy and the kids.

Around 5 PM, we decided to head to the water for a bath because being near water and not taking a dip wouldn't do. We brought along a toilet tent and spare clothes.

After a 15-minute trek, we reached the water's edge and set up our toilet tent to change clothes. Joy couldn't contain his excitement and jumped into the water before the rest of us. We spent over an hour in the water, enjoying ourselves as time flew by under the beautiful sunset.

We returned to our campsite 🔥 and set up a bonfire 🔥. We enjoyed a dinner 🍴 under the beautiful stars ✨. Then, when we heard the sound 🔊 of a DJ nearby 🎵, we decided to go there and dance 💃🕺.

We danced for a while, then went back to our campsite. It was around 11 PM, and it was time to sleep in a peaceful spot. I could hear insects and frogs. We fell asleep quickly in our tent, feeling tired but happy after our busy day.

The next morning, we woke up early because we had planned to go for a one-hour trek to see beautiful birds and scenery near the campsite.

After having a cup of ☕️, we all set out for a morning walk. 🐶 Joy led the way because he was so eager to explore. We spotted several 🐦 like 🦅, 🦢, small 🦢, and 🦆 along the way. The birds' gentle chirping and rustling made me feel calm because we rarely get to hear those sounds in our busy daily lives. 🌳

After 45 minutes, we reached the campsite, and breakfast was already prepared as it was complimentary and we hadn't brought our own. However, I didn't feel ready to eat yet because we had sweated a lot during the walk, and I had the urge to take another dip in the water. I asked my friend to come with me, but he thought it might take too long, so he stayed back. I couldn't resist the temptation, so I went back to the water and had a good bath. I returned in about 20 minutes

I was the last one to have breakfast, so I ate whatever was available because I was feeling hungry. We took some beautiful pictures and captured videos. You can watch my KRS Dam vlog on my channel: [YouTube link]

It was time to leave as the checkout time was around 11 AM. I captured some beautiful memories in just one day that will stay with me forever.

We started our journey back to Bangalore at 11 AM and reached around 3 PM.