Camping Near KRS Backwaters | A Day Trip From Bangalore

The quick answer

You are asking	The answer
Where exactly?	Search Google Maps for "KRS North Back Water", the pin Mayank shared: an open, rocky bank with trees on the Krishnaraja Sagara reservoir, a few kilometres north-west of the KRS dam, near Kannambadi.
How far from Bangalore?	About 147 km from JP Nagar, where Mayank lives: 2½ to 3 hours by NICE Road and the Bengaluru–Mysuru Expressway (NH 275). From Mysuru it is about 20 km.
What does it cost?	Nothing to enter: no one runs the place. The Expressway toll is ₹355 one way for a car (since 1 April 2026), and NICE Road has its own toll.
Can I camp there?	For the day, as Mayank did: a tent or tarp for shade, chairs, a stove. Not overnight. It is not a campsite, so there is no permit to be had, no toilet, no water and no one to call.
Can I swim?	No. The bed drops suddenly, people drown here every year, and there are crocodiles in the Cauvery.
When should I go?	November to February: the easiest weather (28 to 34° by day) while the water is still high. March to May is hot (about 36°) and the water draws back; August to October is the wettest stretch. Arrive by noon and be packed up by sunset, between about 5.55 and 6.30 pm from November to February.
What should I carry?	All your drinking water (Mayank's family of three carried 20 litres), food, shade, a first-aid kit, a torch, and a bag to take your rubbish home.

Before you go (2026)

• It is a reservoir bank, not a campsite. No one licenses, runs or patrols it. That is why it is free and quiet, and also why there are no toilets, no drinking water and no help nearby. Treat it as a day out and leave before dark.
• The water is low this year. The 2026 monsoon was weak: on 7 October 2026 the KRS stood at 102.78 feet against a full level of 124.80 feet, about 20 feet lower than on the same day in 2025. Expect the water's edge to be farther from the trees, with more exposed rock and mud, and to fall further towards summer. The wide blue sheet Mayank compares with Pangong needs a full reservoir.
• Stay out of the water. Three nursing students drowned at Meenakshipura, on the south bank, in July 2025; a man drowned while swimming near Chikkarahalli in April 2026; and on 1 May 2026 a couple died when a sailing boat overturned in a strong wind on the backwaters, although they wore life jackets. Mugger crocodiles live in the Cauvery around Srirangapatna, and the shepherd Mayank met said one lives in this part of the backwaters too.
• Drinking and litter are policed now. After complaints about bottles and rubbish on the banks, police booked visitors for drinking at Meenakshipura in July 2025, and the Mysuru district administration proposed closing the danger spots there to the public. We could not confirm whether that order was issued. Go sober, keep the music low, and carry everything back.

Camping near KRS Backwaters– Most often, you get only one day and one way to tie knots with your chosen one. You may want to keep it as a simple affair, or you can get it transformed into a grand destination wedding.

Although we had a very simple wedding, we keep adding few sparks each year and try to make our anniversary special, in one way or the other.

This time my plan was to celebrate our anniversary as a destination event with just the three of us being there.

We wanted to spend some quality time in a place which reflected the spirit of calmness and inner peace which we have felt while being together.

Also, we wanted the place to be highly serene to add to the different colors of life that we have been filling our lives with, to make it more beautiful.

Table of Contents

• Some Dates are really Special
• Our Destination: Camping Near KRS Backwaters
• Our Breakfast Plan
• KRS Backwaters: Pangong Lake of Karnataka
• KRS Backwaters Camping Location & Setup
• Some Lazy Lamhe (Moments)
• Chaat (GPT) – Golgappe, Papdi, Tikki
• The Local Guide : At KRS Backwaters
• The Sun is going down
• An Evening To Remember
• Wrapup & Heading Back
• Few Best Practices While Camping
• Few Don’ts

Some Dates are really Special

We had thought of different places near or even, not-so-near Bangalore, but we were still not able to pick up the right place as we, coincidently, had been married on a date, which normally tends to witness a lot of partying and most of the known places are usually jam packed.

In case, you are still busy guessing the date, allow me to help you out with that, it is 31^st Dec.

31^st Dec or New Year’s Eve is a date where you would find most of the public places not just jam-packed, but over-crowded beyond reasonable limits. Celebrating your anniversary on such a date at a peaceful place is nearly next to impossible.

However, we were able to zero-in to this beautiful place that had no loud music, no pollution, lots of birds chirping around, distinctly colored blue waters and a very beautiful sunset.

Our Destination: Camping Near KRS Backwaters

Yes, we were heading to KRS Backwaters (North). We planned to choose this wonderful place for our Destination Anniversary Celebration with all the elements of nature being a witness to the start of another beautiful year.

KRS Backwaters (North) is approximately 150 KMs from our residence in Bangalore, which is in JP Nagar. With a thought of spending a whole beautiful day there, we initially had thought of starting our journey by 6:00 am.

But while doing the last-moment packing, we ended up starting not just a bit but quite late. We started from our place by 11:00 am.

Very soon, we were on the NICE Road as it happens to be not so far from our locality. It was a beautiful Saturday morning and we could see a lot of people on NICE Road.

We recommend Manchanabele Dam for lovely sightseeing and a camping site near Bangalore.

Since we had started a bit late, the traffic was a bit more than usual. Another reason for the commotion on the NICE road could have been the repair work which was on its full swing.

Our Breakfast Plan

Since we were going on the Bengaluru – Mysuru expressway, we had thought of stopping at Bidadi to have some steaming Thatte Idly. However, we were so engrossed in our talks that we completely missed the cut to go to Bidadi. (2026: the Expressway bypasses Bidadi town; the thatte idli places are on the old highway through it, so take the Bidadi exit.)

By the time, we realized that, it was quite late. By now we had started feeling hungry. With not too many options available, we stopped at a road-side, not-so-known kind of an eatery.

We ordered Masala Dosa, Thatte Idli and 2 Coffee. Although the prices were normal, the taste was not really too great.

After breakfast we drove non-stop and reached this beautiful place with blue waters right in front of us. The best part is that, unlike many destinations, Google Map guides you very accurately till the backwaters. (2026: search for "KRS North Back Water".)

KRS Backwaters: Pangong Lake of Karnataka

We could see this beautiful blue water which so seamlessly seemed to be mixing up with the blue skies. Also, there were these beautiful cranes and some other birds as well.

The very first impression of the place was breathtaking, and we felt like we were standing next to the Pangong Lake of Ladakh. Just like Pangong Lake, the color of the water was in different shades of blue. It was just raw nature, with, of course, few people around. (2026: that colour comes with a full reservoir; this winter the water is about 20 feet lower than a year ago, so the edge is farther out. See Before you go.)

The best part was that despite of the day being a Saturday and that too 31^st Dec, we did not find any kind of nuisance in the name of New Year Party.

KRS Backwaters Camping Location & Setup

Initially we thought of setting up our camp near the water, but considering the rocky terrain of the place and also the bright sunlight, we changed our location to a shade under a tree. Thankfully, there is ample of space for all in that area. Even if there are 3-4 different groups at the same time, you would hardly see each other.

We were carrying our small camping setup which comprised of a two-person tent, a make-shift Tarp (with which we were experimenting), three camping chairs, a folding camping table, a USB chargeable Fan, a gas stove with butane cylinder, few utensils and most important, 20 liters of drinking water.

We took out our basic camping gears like our make-shift Tarp and our folding Awning Poles and the other camp furniture. Setting up the camp is a great fun activity which also helps us get closer to each other.

All three of us have certain specific roles while setting up the camp and we enjoy extending help to each other.

Some Lazy Lamhe (Moments)

Our plan was to have a laid-back Saturday afternoon where we were going to spend some time listening to the birds. Since we had thought of spending the whole day there, my wife also kept one of the books. She wanted to spend some time with the characters of that book while my son and I were busy with our own things.

Chaat (GPT) – Golgappe, Papdi, Tikki

We did not want to eat something too heavy that day and thought of munching on some Indian Snacks (Chaat). We were carrying the raw material with us.

I had already deep-fried the Papdi for the Papdi Chaat a day before. Along with Papdi, we had kept some boiled Potatoes, Curd, some basic spices and some Chutney with us.

After fixing up camp, I prepared and served the Chaat to the queen of my heart and our young prince charming.

After enjoying that lazy afternoon for a while, we again felt like munching on something. This time we had the ready mix of Bhelpuri for our rescue. We just had to mix the Chutney and we were ready with a supply of a flavorsome Bhelpuri.

The Local Guide : At KRS Backwaters

We had just finished our snacks when we noticed this Shepherd coming with his cows. Although he was deaf and dumb, he was very talkative. You might find the statement a bit contradictory.

But we thoroughly enjoyed his company where he started telling us about the place. He also informed about the presence of a crocodile in that part of the backwaters. (2026: take him at his word: mugger crocodiles live in the Cauvery around Srirangapatna. Stay out of the water.)

We were trying to understand each other by our gestures. After spending some time with us, this man wanted something in return. First the man wanted some supply of liquor as a lot many people end up getting drunk at such places. (2026: police now act on it; in July 2025 they booked visitors for drinking on the south bank at Meenakshipura.)

But seeing that we were having a family outing, this person parted happily after getting Rs. 20 from me.

The Sun is going down

Soon after, the sun finally starting giving up on the heat and me and my son started checking if the temperature was good enough to click some pictures together. We wanted to capture some beautiful moments that would become our memories and would be cherished forever.

Although the much-discussed crocodile was nowhere to be seen, I managed to spot a water snake at the same place. I captured the water snake in my video for a few seconds.

While my son and I were busy checking out some beautiful backgrounds for our pictures, my wife prepared a refreshing cup of lemon tea. It seemed like the pale sunlight had been squeezed out of the not-so-hot sun, along with lemon in my cup.

The perfect golden lemon tea was as good a treat to the eyes as to the tongue.

The sun was just about to set, and we did not want to miss that beautiful moment. We could see birds flying back to their homes after a tiring day and the sun also seemed to be melting down in the backwaters.

An Evening To Remember

The entire water now changed from the vibrant blues to this royal golden color. We could also notice the shades of pinks, purples and oranges sliding in from the corners.

The chirping of the birds, the playfulness of the different shades of colors, the gust of wind, and the sound of the water brought a serene aesthetic.

We got so mesmerized while watching the sun go down that we nearly forgot that something had to be cooked for the evening snacks.

Wrapup & Heading Back

Running against time, I quickly prepared some Aloo-Tikki Burgers before cooking in the dark would have been impossible. After finishing our burgers, we packed up from the place as we needed to plan a night’s stay.

By 7:00 pm, we started back for Bangalore and reached home by approx—10:00 pm. (2026: we suggest packing up before sunset, about 6 pm in winter: the bank has no light, and the rocks are hard to cross in the dark.) We already had a cake at home which served both as our anniversary and the new year cake.

Few Best Practices While Camping

Here, along with sharing our experience, I would also like to discuss few very important best practices while camping. Without further ado, let me straightaway share what I have learnt over these years:

Be informed – Be as informed as possible about the place that you have in mind. You should be aware of the policies/guidelines to be followed while camping. It’s better to know if the site has access to drinking water, electricity, and bathrooms/toilets. You can then plan as per the facilities available.

Keep informed – Even though you want zero disturbance while camping, telling someone reliable about your plan is a good idea. This would come in handy in case of any mishap.

At least the person would know where to find you or try out the possible spots per the itineraries you may have shared.

Essential Items– You should carry all essentials like a flashlight, a medical kit, and some high-energy food, in case there is any deviation from standard day-time camping. Also, having a tarp/garden umbrella saves you from extreme sunlight/rain.

Choice of Food – This is something debatable. We prefer something easy and quick to be cooked. This gives us more time to enjoy nature. Also, we need to keep the utensils limited, as per the pre-planned menu.

Set things up before Dark – When camping overnight, it’s advisable to set up the tent, campfire or barbeque a bit before it gets dark. It gives you more time to enjoy yourself with family/friends. (2026: not at the backwaters, which are for a day; for a night, see below.)

Few Don’ts

Don’t Litter – Make sure that you carry back everything that you have brought along with you. Do not leave plastic wrappers or used water bottles. You can dig a small pit for biodegradable waste like vegetable peels.

Do not make loud noise – There may be some co-campers who might be sleeping. Try to keep your singing/music volume low.

Avoid Alcohol – Since it’s an unknown territory, it’s better to be in senses to handle any unexpected situation.

Never Panic – Things may not go as planned, but try keeping calm if there is any adverse situation, like a sudden weather change or an animal showing up.

Want to stay the night?

Choose a permitted campsite, with a fence, a host who stays the night, toilets and water. Near Bangalore, Jungle Lodges & Resorts runs the Bheemeshwari and Galibore camps on the Cauvery; our guide to camping near Bangalore has the prices and a checklist for private farm camps. Near KRS, the state's tourism company plans cottages and houseboats on the backwaters at Cholanahalli, near Sagarakatte; tenders were floated in March 2026, and nothing is open yet.

Worth adding nearby

• Brindavan Gardens, below the KRS dam: ₹100 entry and ₹100 parking (December 2025), best in the evening for the lit fountains. It closes on protest days over Cauvery water, as on 31 July 2026.
• Sri Venugopala Swamy temple at Hosa Kannambadi, on the backwaters: the temple of the old village of Kannambadi, drowned by the dam by 1930 and rebuilt stone by stone about a kilometre to the north between 2002 and 2011. When the reservoir is full, the water reaches its outer walls.
• Srirangapatna, about 20 km away on the way back: the Ranganathaswamy temple, Tipu Sultan's fort and summer palace. Our Muthathi and Srirangapatna guide has a day plan.
• Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, for the birds Mayank enjoyed, seen by boat.
• More day trips: Weekends from Bangalore and our Mysore guide.

Key points before you go

• KRS North Backwaters is about 147 km from Bangalore, 2½ to 3 hours by the Expressway. Search "KRS North Back Water".
• A free, quiet bank for a day: carry water, food and shade, take your rubbish home, leave by dusk.
• Do not swim or wade: there have been drownings here in 2025 and 2026, and crocodiles in the river.
• The water is low in 2026–27; November to February is still the best time.