The Hemavati River is a very important tributary of the Kaveri River. The river begins its journey in the Western Ghats at an elevation of about 1219m above sea level, near Ballala Rayana Durga in the Chikmagalur District of Karnataka, in southern India.
The Hemavati Reservoir is a masonry dam with a central spillway and earthen flanks built across the river near Gorur village. It has a storage capacity of 37.1 tmcft. The water from the reservoir is used to irrigate 6.55 acres of land in Mandya, Hassan and Tumkur.
Origin and Course of Hemavati River
The Hemavati River flows through Tumkur, Hassan District where it is joined by its chief tributary, the Yagachi River, and then into Mysore district before joining the Kaveri near Krishnarajasagara. It is approximately 245 km long and has a drainage area of about 5,410 sq km. A large reservoir has been built on the river at Gorur in the Hassan district.
Shettihalli Rosary Church
The Shettihalli Rosary Church was constructed by French Missionaries in the 1860s on the banks of Hemavati River near Hassan, and has a mighty and magnificent structure in the Gothic Architecture. In 1960, when the government decided the flowing river water had to be put to better use, Gorur dam was built which floods the Hemavati Reservoir. The bells of the Rosary Church fell silent. It has been more than 200 years since it was built and more than 25 years since the dam waters started flooding and submerging the church yet these walls bear the charm and grit. When the water level is low, sometimes coracles are used to go inside the church. Sadly the walls have of this beautiful church has been vandalized by miscreants. The church is relatively huge with nothing but the skeleton of the structure in place. The columns, the architecture and few walls are preserved.
As per many researches done, Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has decided to pump water from Hemavathi River till Thippagondanahalli Reservoir during wet season. After the diversion of water, it will help supplying water in the city for a year.
