<p>The destinies of Bengaluru and River Cauvery are intertwined. The river’s water feeds city and is sourced over a distance of 100 km. </p>.<p>But, I was curious to see the birth place of River Hemavathi, one of the chief tributaries of River Cauvery, near Javali village, in Mudigere taluk of Chikkamagaluru district.</p>.<p>Starting at an elevation of about 1,219 m above sea level, River Hemavathi flows through Hassan and Mandya districts before joining River Cauvery near Krishnaraja Sagara, after a journey of over 245 km.</p>.<p>Before this happens, a masonry dam with earthen flanks and a central spillway impounds and stores waters from River Hemavathi in a reservoir, which irrigates several districts en route. </p>.<p class="CrossHead"><strong>Environs</strong></p>.<p>Nestled amidst lush coffee plantations and interspersed with aromatic pepper vines, areca nut and fruit trees, the cradle of River Hemavathi is utterly scenic.</p>.<p>The dense woods not only provide shade to the coffee plantations, but are also home to hundreds of species of birds.</p>.<p>You can spot black woodpeckers, grey hornbills, bulbuls, grey pigeons, kingfishers and parrots, and hear about encounters with bisons, barking deer, wild pigs, porcupines, bears and even cheetahs. </p>.<p>Folklore has it that the water here sprung out when a youngster, Satyakama, was asked by his <span class="italic">guru</span> to take care of 300 cows, but the animals had no water to go to. He invoked Lord Ganesha and when his prayers bore fruit, the hills gave birth to a steady stream, seen to this day springing from a U-shaped rock. Soon enough, the water helped the cows multiply into 1,000, and Satyakama passed his teacher’s test and became a sage, with a Vedic school and an ancient text named after him.</p>.<p>The water from here then seeps into a downstream tank, from where it moves underground into a large adjoining pond. It is from this pond that River Hemavathi begins its journey.</p>.<p>People today consider the birthplace of the river sacred. Coins are dropped into the U-shaped rock to seek blessings. A Ganapathi temple is seen close by, constructed in 1874 alongside a rock that resembled the deity.</p>.<p>The temple is known for its annual chariot festival in February.</p>.<p>During this grandeur, the street leading to the temple wears a festive spirit and is lined with stalls. Villagers from plantations nearby take a day off from their work to patronise the stalls. Every visitor to the temple is served a simple lunch of rice, curds, lentils, vegetables and pickles.</p>.<p>A peepal tree has been planted in the precincts of the temple by a coffee-estate owner to add to the sanctity of the place.</p>
<p>The destinies of Bengaluru and River Cauvery are intertwined. The river’s water feeds city and is sourced over a distance of 100 km. </p>.<p>But, I was curious to see the birth place of River Hemavathi, one of the chief tributaries of River Cauvery, near Javali village, in Mudigere taluk of Chikkamagaluru district.</p>.<p>Starting at an elevation of about 1,219 m above sea level, River Hemavathi flows through Hassan and Mandya districts before joining River Cauvery near Krishnaraja Sagara, after a journey of over 245 km.</p>.<p>Before this happens, a masonry dam with earthen flanks and a central spillway impounds and stores waters from River Hemavathi in a reservoir, which irrigates several districts en route. </p>.<p class="CrossHead"><strong>Environs</strong></p>.<p>Nestled amidst lush coffee plantations and interspersed with aromatic pepper vines, areca nut and fruit trees, the cradle of River Hemavathi is utterly scenic.</p>.<p>The dense woods not only provide shade to the coffee plantations, but are also home to hundreds of species of birds.</p>.<p>You can spot black woodpeckers, grey hornbills, bulbuls, grey pigeons, kingfishers and parrots, and hear about encounters with bisons, barking deer, wild pigs, porcupines, bears and even cheetahs. </p>.<p>Folklore has it that the water here sprung out when a youngster, Satyakama, was asked by his <span class="italic">guru</span> to take care of 300 cows, but the animals had no water to go to. He invoked Lord Ganesha and when his prayers bore fruit, the hills gave birth to a steady stream, seen to this day springing from a U-shaped rock. Soon enough, the water helped the cows multiply into 1,000, and Satyakama passed his teacher’s test and became a sage, with a Vedic school and an ancient text named after him.</p>.<p>The water from here then seeps into a downstream tank, from where it moves underground into a large adjoining pond. It is from this pond that River Hemavathi begins its journey.</p>.<p>People today consider the birthplace of the river sacred. Coins are dropped into the U-shaped rock to seek blessings. A Ganapathi temple is seen close by, constructed in 1874 alongside a rock that resembled the deity.</p>.<p>The temple is known for its annual chariot festival in February.</p>.<p>During this grandeur, the street leading to the temple wears a festive spirit and is lined with stalls. Villagers from plantations nearby take a day off from their work to patronise the stalls. Every visitor to the temple is served a simple lunch of rice, curds, lentils, vegetables and pickles.</p>.<p>A peepal tree has been planted in the precincts of the temple by a coffee-estate owner to add to the sanctity of the place.</p>
