Written by: Rachana Mallya
Muthyala Maduvu
If you have a day to spare and wish to escape the city hues, all you need to do is to drive an hour out of Bangalore. You will reach this beautiful valley popularly known as Muthyala Maduvu or literally translated from Telugu as Pearl Valley.
The name originates from the splashing pearl-like drops of water created by the waterfall, which falls from a height of approximately 91 meters / 300 feet.
A descent of a few hundred stairs will lead to the valley. This mild form of exercise is well worth the effort, and will reward you with an embracing experience of nature’s beauty. Here you could indulge in swimming and enjoy an up-close and personal encounter with the waterfall. However, the beautiful waterfall is seasonal, and is usually in its best form after the rains. The walking trails around the waterfall offer you calmness of silence, occasionally interrupted by gurgling streams and flapping butterflies. The omnipresent religious symbol is reflected by the shrine of Shiva that overlooks this landscape, without which the place would be incomplete.
Orientation
Muthyala Maduvu is located around 45 kms south of Bangalore, near a village called Anekal, situated a little beyond the boundary of the Banneraghatta National Park.
Weather
The weather is similar to that of Bangalore. Maximum and minimum temperatures range between:-
| 36°C and 20°C in summers – March to May | |
| 27°C and 17°C in winter – December to February | |
Best time to visit:
The best time to visit is immediately after the monsoons, which is between October and November. During this period the waterfall is in its full form, and one could experience nature’s beauty at its zenith.
Getting there / Route Information
There are two routes, to reach Muthyala Maduvu.
- Drive out of Banaglore through Banneraghatta Road – drive further beyond the Banneraghatta National Park to reach a village called Anekal. A right turn from Ankel village and a ten minutes drive will lead you to the valley.
- An alternative route which is slightly longer is to take Hosur road to reach Anekal via Attibele.
Road Quality:
The roads are curved and not in an excellent condition, but are manageable. A 45 km distance will take approximately one hour to one and a half, depending on time you choose to travel and traffic congestion. This presents you with another reason to leave early, and overtake the bottlenecks that form later in the day.
If you wish to reach Pearl Valley by public transport, you can very well do so:
| By Bus: | From Bangalore, KSRTC has regular bus services to and from the Anekal Bus Station. These services are also available to Sarjapur, Chandapura and few other places, as well. |
| By Train: | The Bangalore-Hosur railway line connects Bangalore to Ankel Road Railway Station. Under the administration of the South Western Railways, the Bangalore-Salem passenger train passes through this station. |
Pictures of Muthyala Maduvu (Pearl Valley)
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MAJOR ATTRACTIONS
The major attraction is the waterfall, which attracts anyone who sees it to take a plunge into its pearly pond. The brief hikes following the stream further down in the valley, will offer you serene spaces. On clear days, these trails offer beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and the cascading waterfalls. The walking trails do not require a guide, and you could follow the stream on a well trodden path to find your spaces. These hikes give you different views of the waterfall and the mountains. They also help in escaping the noisy crowds during weekends and litter found near the pond.
Some of the other attractions are:-
The Muthyala Eshwara Temple
Shiv temple, where you could pay respects to Lord Shiva.
The hilltop KSTDC restaurant
Serves as a watering hole for thirsty and hungry travellers.
The complimentary fresh air and huge, colourful butterflies flutter away minor nuisances, which could be overlooked.
Vital Tourist Information
It is best to reach early morning to avoid the crowd that visits the waterfall during the day. The inflow of visitors also increases in the weekend. So if you are in search of peace and tranquility, these are the tips:
- Arrive early to leave behind the noisy groups.
- Visit the place during the week.
- Follow the walking trails around the waterfall.
Things to carry:
A day pack consisting of the following is recommended:-
- Mineral water bottles – if you do not wish to buy it off vendors on the way,
- First aid kit – for emergencies,
- A pair of extra clothes – in case you decide to swim or if you get drenched in the rain,
- Food or snacks – which you could also buy on the way in Anekal or at the hilltop restaurant.
Hotel availability:
- There is a KSTDC restaurant at the hilltop that serves Indian delicacies and chilled beer, which is inviting after a day of hiking.
- The nearest accommodation available is a traveller’s bungalow, located 6 kms from Anekal. You may contact Block Development Officer in Anekal for reservations
Resorts availability:
There is a new Pearl Valley resort that is open to visitors. You may contact Mr. Bhaskar Paul (Manager) on pearl_valley@yahoo.com.
Local Taxi availability:
Taxis are available from Bangalore.
Nearest known city:
Anekal is the nearest known village. Bangalore is the nearest city.
Emergency Numbers / Help Lines:
| Hospitals | Sri Raghava Childrens’ & General Hospital – Attibele Anekal (TQ), Anekal, Bangalore – 562106; Phone: 080-27821454 (Landmark: Opposite Syndicate Bank) |
| Narayana Hrudayalaya, No. 258/A, Bommasandra Industrial Area, Anekal Taluk, Bangalore Taluk, Bangalore. Phone – 080-7835000 |
A good and detailed explanation for people to know about the place,good work and thank you
thank you for giving a detailed iinfo dude…..
Great job….
everything is mentioned in detail.
i like to know the cost that will take me and my family of two children to stay over in muthyala maduvu for a friday night check in and saturday evening check out
A few more details about this place before anyone ventures out:
* The place near the waterfalls is littered with plastics. So it is far from being scenic.
* Not an ideal place for Sunday family trips since the crowd will be the noisy youth loaded with beer bottles and creating unpleasant atmosphere.
* Not a good hotel there either.
Is this valley only about waterfall and is there any other major thing there?
Its just the waterfall there. But its a nice place for one day outing from blr
muthyala maduvu is one of the water falls, such a good plase for couples,my native is near to that plase when ever i tens am going to that plase only,,,
hey could anyone tell how it will be this time of year …i know its summer almost…..thts y asked////
Add some pictures also…nice write-up……