Written by: Raju Shanbhag
Kokkare Bellur
Sometimes, you must be blessed to be deceived. The gliding white objects in the background of clear blue skies in Kokkarebelluru will often be construed as a pack of snagged cotton flying aimlessly in the sky. But those objects are something much more beautiful and livelier; they are storks which visit this tiny village on the Bangalore Mysore highway every year, much to the excitement of nature lovers. Kokkarebelluru is not an official bird sanctuary, but wild things don’t live by rules! Every year, countless groups of trilling spot billed pelicans make an unannounced entrance in Kokkarebelluru, leaving as quietly as they had come after the season is over. Rules still do not apply for some living beings!
Orientation
This is one of those innumerable spots on the Bangalore Mysore highway which can be easily overlooked if you are not aware of the importance of the place. A blushing signboard on the highway which often hides its face from the traveling vehicles doesn’t help the matters either. The place is 75 km from Bangalore and 12 km from the highway. After Channapatna, go towards Maddur. Before Maddur, is a village Rudrakshipura. It is just before the BPL factory. Take a left turn here and Kokkare Bellur is another 12 km on this village road.
Weather
The surrounding greenery and absence of pollution often keeps the weather pleasant and the air breathable.
Getting there/ Route Information
Buses
You will get buses till Maddur. From there, you can take autos or any other vehicle that you can get in Maddur
Other Vehicles
You can take other vehicles too.
Road Quality
The same old story is repeated in varied proportions with all the picnic spots in Bangalore-Mysore highway. The highway is…well, like a true highway. But when you take a turn to meet your destination, it’s as if you have left behind all of your good fortune and out to face the hardships of this cruel world, with an unforgiving road for the company.
Pictures of Kokkare Bellur
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Major Attractions
Sans the storks, Kokkarebelluru is not exactly a tourist’s paradise as there is nothing much to explore. Apart from storks of pristine white hues, you get to see many other colored storks as if some of the birds were bored with this colorless monotony and decided to get a glamorous makeover. If you haven’t had your fill of birds, you can try Ranganathittu bird sanctuary as well, where you get to see an amazing variety of birds.
Vital Tourist Information
Be there at the right time
Well, the best season to visit Kokkarebelluru is between December and January. If you end up in Kokkarebelluru in wrong time, you may not even have crows to show for your efforts. Also, keep some other places on your itinerary too, as it is impossible to spend a whole day at Kokkarebelluru, unless you are a distant relative of Dr. Salim Ali.
We visited Kokre Bellur about 3 weeks ago, immediately after spending time at Ranganathittu. You are right, the road condition deteriorates badly after the turn off from the highway and in fact the journey seemed endless and futile. We were expecting a water body but there was none after the Thylur lake. Anyway after eventually reaching the hamlet, the village kids – only one’s who could barely speak English – informed us that the pelicans had gone away, however they did point out some painted storks, ibises etc on the tree tops. A tad disappointing after Ranganathittu, but I imagine it would be splendid in season. Not sure I would return though. The way back to the highway seemed much quicker, for some inexplicable reason.
GOOD PLACE
this is my native any informaotio please contace me—
this is my number 9880317149
this is the last month of this year season………
yes GM, but this is not a artificial .. ok when we can do some changes (in side the villege) for improving the tourism tha birds will disturbed.
Hi all updated my cell no with my USER NAME if u need any information please do contact me.. i will be happy to you.
Now the session is starts please visit if your intrested , but only pelicans are there…..painted starkes are only on janaury……..
Hi i have visited this place on 11th Feb 2010.
Mr Devaraju helped me a lot to locate the place . Thanks for his hospitality & kindness .any help required to locate this place pl mail me (sbalu10@yahoo.com) or call 09740566668
S Balu
Devaraju is very helpful in providing the end to end details about Kokkare Bellur. Special Thanks to him for being a pivotal point of information source for all bird lovers.