Hesaraghatta Lake is a humanmade reservoir located 18 km to the north-west of Bengaluru in Karnataka state, India.

[1][2] This crucial water body, is an integral part of the recently declared Hesaraghatta Grasslands Conservation Reserve, enhancing its ecological and biodiversity significance.

The reservoirs created by building dams on the Arkavathy are the "Hesaraghatta" and the "Chamarajasagara" at Thippagondanahalli (TG Halli) built during the years 1894 and 1933 respectively.

[12] The reservoir is reported to have filled up last in the year 1994 and thereafter the lake's deterioration and drying up started, reducing its reliability as a water supply source.

[13] The reasons attributed to the lake's drying up are erosion in the catchment and consequent capacity shrinking due to continuous silting.

[15][16][17][18][19][20] Main factors affecting degradation include sand mining, movement of tractors, tree plantations, and grazing of cattle.

Even in the deteriorated condition of the lake, birds such as the White-breasted Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis), Magpie Robin (Copsychus saularis), Little Egrets, Common Mynas (Acridotheres tristis), Brahminy Kites, Black Drongos, Bulbuls, greater coucals, purple sunbirds, etc., (some are pictured in the gallery) have been reported in and around the lake periphery.

[21][22] Apart from the water supply, the lake, which was known for its birds and river rafting (wind surfing), has drawn the attention of public spirited organisations and individuals for undertaking restoration works to revive it.