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Turahalli Forest, Bangalore: entry, timings and how to get there
Turahalli Forest is a 590-acre patch of scrub, eucalyptus and granite outcrops on the southwestern edge of Bengaluru, off Kanakapura Road and about 13 km from Banashankari. It belongs to the Karnataka Forest Department. Part of it, the state forest, is closed to entry; walkers use the minor forest section with its tree park. The department publishes no timings or entry fee for Turahalli, so plan for a daylight morning walk and check rules at the gate.
A pocket of wilderness right within city limits. One of Bengaluru's last remaining forest tracts, with hiking trails, rocky outcrops, and a chance to spot peacocks, hares, and even leopards. Perfect for a morning walk or a couple-hour escape from urban bustle, though not at the height of the monsoon, when the trails turn to mud and the rock slabs get slippery.
What Turahalli is
Turahalli covers about 590 acres (240 hectares) at around 888 m. It is often described as one of the last forest tracts inside Bengaluru's reach, but it is not untouched jungle: most of the trees are eucalyptus, with figs, jamun (Syzygium cumini, called nerale-mara in Kannada) and lianas in between.
The area falls into three parts:
- Turahalli State Forest: now a reserved forest, entry banned.
- Turahalli Minor Forest: includes the tree park and is the part people walk in.
- The area near Dr Rajkumar's Samadhi.
The forest has had a hard few decades: garbage dumping, fires, poaching and a sewage treatment plant at the edge. When the state proposed a tree park inside the reserved forest, nearby residents objected and the plan was suspended. Some of the clean-up work here is done by those same neighbours.
Timings and entry fee
There is no official answer. The Karnataka Forest Department's booking portal, Aranya Vihaara, does not list Turahalli, and no department page gives opening hours or a fee. The visit card above has no hours for the same reason.
Figures quoted elsewhere online could not be confirmed from an official source, so check the rules at the gate.
What is certain: the reserved state forest is closed to entry, and cycling is no longer allowed inside it.
How to reach Turahalli Forest
The forest lies off Kanakapura Road, about 20 km from central Bengaluru and 13 km from Banashankari. It is visible from the NICE Road, the ring expressway on the city's southern side.
By metro: the Green Line runs south along Kanakapura Road through Konanakunte Cross, Doddakallasandra, Vajarahalli and Thalaghattapura to its last station, Silk Institute. None of them is at the forest, so the last stretch is by auto-rickshaw or taxi.
By taxi or auto: the simplest option from anywhere in the city; ask for Turahalli tree park, since the reserved forest has no public entrance.
Leopards and other wildlife
Yes, Turahalli has leopards: four, by the count cited on Wikipedia. They are nocturnal, and the forest has been cut through by roads and construction, so a sighting on a morning walk is a matter of luck rather than expectation.
The animals more likely to show themselves are birds. More than 30 species are recorded, among them the Indian eagle-owl, sirkeer malkoha, common flameback woodpecker, blue rock thrush and peafowl. Mammals include spotted deer, wild boar, hares, jackals and mongooses.
In August the orchid Habenaria roxburghii blooms, adding bright white to the green of the forest.
✅ Before you go
- Go in the morning. The trails are exposed rock and scrub, and there are no published evening hours.
- Skip the height of the monsoon. The paths turn to mud and the rock slabs get slippery.
- Carry water and take your rubbish back. Dumping is one of the forest's main problems.
- Keep to the open section. The reserved forest is closed, and cycling inside it is not allowed.
❓ FAQ
What is the entry fee for Turahalli Forest?
The Karnataka Forest Department does not publish a fee for Turahalli, and India GO could not confirm one from an official source. Check at the gate.
Where is Turahalli Forest located?
Off Kanakapura Road on the southwestern edge of Bengaluru, about 20 km from the centre and 13 km from Banashankari, next to the NICE Road.
Which metro station is closest to Turahalli Forest?
The southern end of the Green Line on Kanakapura Road, between Thalaghattapura and Silk Institute, is the nearest part of the network. No station is at the forest itself; finish by auto or taxi.
Does Turahalli Forest have leopards?
Yes. Four leopards are recorded here, but they are nocturnal and rarely seen by day visitors.
When is the best time to visit Turahalli?
Early morning outside the peak monsoon. In heavy rain the trails turn to mud and the rock gets slippery.