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Tungabhadra River

Coordinates: 15°53′19″N 78°09′51″E / 15.88861°N 78.16417°E / 15.88861; 78.16417
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For the 2015 Telugu film, see Tungabhadra (film).

Tungabhadra River
Tungabhadra River at Hampi
Tungabhadra River
Location
CountryIndia
StateKarnataka, Andhra Pradesh
CitiesSiruguppa, Sringeri, Hospet, Hampi, Kampli, Mantralayam, Kurnool, Gangavathi
Physical characteristics
SourceKoodli (The place where the Thunga and Bhadra rivers meet)
 • locationKoodli, Bhadravathi, Karnataka, India
 • coordinates14°0′30″N 75°40′27″E / 14.00833°N 75.67417°E / 14.00833; 75.67417
 • elevation560 m (1,840 ft)
MouthKrishna River
 • location
Murvakonda, Andhra Pradesh, and Jogulamba Gadwal District, India
 • coordinates
15°53′19″N 78°09′51″E / 15.88861°N 78.16417°E / 15.88861; 78.16417
 • elevation
264 m (866 ft)
Length531 km (330 mi)
Basin size71,417 km2 (27,574 sq mi)
Discharge 
 • locationKrishna River
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • leftTunga River, Kumudvati River, Varada River
 • rightBhadra River, Vedavathi River,

The Tungabhadra River (Kannada: [t̪uŋɡɐbʱɐd̪rɐ]) starts and flows through the state of Karnataka, India, during most of its course, then through Andhra Pradesh, and ultimately joins the Krishna River near Murvakonda in Andhra Pradesh.

The river Tungabhadra derives its name from two streams, the Tunga, about 147 km (91 mi) long, and the Bhadra, about 178 km (111 mi) long, which rise in the Western Ghats. The river after the confluence of the two streams near Shimoga runs for about 531 km (330 mi) till it joins the river Krishna at Sangamaleshwaram in Andhra Pradesh. It runs for 382 km (237 mi) in Karnataka, forms the boundary between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh for 58 km (36 mi) and further runs for the next 91 km (57 mi) in Andhra Pradesh. The total catchment area of the river is 69,552 km2 (26,854 sq mi) up to its confluence with the Krishna and it is 28,177 km2 (10,879 sq mi) up to Tungabhadra Dam. It is influenced chiefly by the South-West monsoon. It is a perennial river, but the summer flows dwindle to as low as 2.83 to 1.42 cumec (100 to 50 cusec).[1]

Etymology

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A compound of its 2 main tributaries from the Sanskrit words tunga "high" and bhadra "auspicious".

Course

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The Tungabhadra River is formed by the confluence of the Tunga River and the Bhadra River at Koodli which flow down the eastern slope of the Western Ghats in the state of Karnataka. The two rivers originate in Mudigere Taluk of Chikmagalur District of Karnataka along with the Nethravathi (west-flowing river, joining the Arabian Sea near Mangalore), the Tunga and the Bhadra rise at Gangamoola, in Varaha Parvatha in the Western Ghats at an elevation of 1458 metres (near Samse Village). According to a Hindu mythological legend, after killing the demon Hiranyaksha, Varaha Swamy (the third incarnation of Vishnu) felt very tired. He took rest on the region now known as Varaha Parvatha. When he sat on that peak, sweat began flowing from his scalp. The sweat which flowed from the left side of his scalp became the Tunga river, and the sweat which flowed from his right side became Bhadra River.

After emerging from the same source, the Bhadra river flows through Kudremukh mountain region, Tarikere Taluk and the industrial city of Bhadravathi, while the Tunga river flows through Sringeri Taluk, Thirthahalli Taluk and Shimoga Taluk. More than 100 tributaries, streams, creeks, rivulets and the like contribute to the two rivers. The journey of the Tunga and the Bhadra is 147 and 171 km (91 and 106 mi) respectively, till they join at Koodli, at an elevation of about 560 metres near Holehonnur, about 15 km (9.3 mi) from Shivamogga, areca granary of the country. Though both Tunga and Bhadra rivers start at same source (Gangamoola), they flow separately for some distance and then they later unite with each other at Koodli village. Hence from there, the composite name Tungabhadra was given. From there, the Tungabhadra meanders through the plains to a distance of 531 km (330 mi). After confluence, the Tungabhadra river flows through Honnali and Harihara taluks of Davangere district. Then it flows through Harapanahalli, Hoovina Hadagali, Hagaribommanahalli, Hospet and Siruguppa Taluks of Bellary district. In Siruguppa Taluk of Bellary district, it receives its tributary Vedavathi River. The river forms a natural boundary between Bellary and Koppal districts and then between Bellary and Raichur districts along its course. After entering Andhra Pradesh, it flows through Mantralaya and then through Kurnool. It receives its tributary Handri river near Kurnool. Then it joins the Krishna near Gundimalla Village of Jogulamba Gadwal district of Telangana state. The confluence of Tungabhadra and Krishna River is a holy pilgrimage site - The Sangameswaram Temple. The Jogulamba Temple(dedicated to Devi) is present near Alampur village. The Sangameswaram Temple (Dedicated to Shiva) is present in Kurnool District, Andhra Pradesh. The Varada flowing through Shimoga, Uttara Kannada and Haveri districts and Vedavathi in Chikkamagalur, Chitradurga and Bellary districts in Karnataka and the Handrail in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh are the main tributaries of the Tungabhadra. Many rivulets and streams join these tributaries. There is a popular saying in Kannada "Tunga Paana, Ganga Snana", which means "Drink Tunga River water, which is tasty & sweet, and bath in Ganga River, which is holy".[citation needed]

There are many holy places all along the rivers: primarily temples of Saiva cult on the banks of the Bhadra and all the cults on the banks of the Tunga. Sringeri Sharada Peetham established by the Adi Shankaracharya is the most famous one on the left bank of the Tunga, about 50 km (31 mi) downstream of its origin. The earlier Shringeri Sharada Peetham established by Adi Shankaracharya is at Koodli, the place of confluence of Tunga and Bhadra rivers. Hampi one of the important heritage locations being listed by UNESCO is on the banks of the Tunga Bhadra River. Nava Brindavan, an island where the final resting location of nine holy Madhva saints is in the midst of the Tunga Bhadra River. One can view the Tunga Bhadra River from famous Yantroddaraka Hanuman Temple at Hampi. Virupaksha Temple is also on the banks of the Tunga Bhadra River. The resting spot of Vasudendra Teertha is also on the banks of Tunga Bhadra River at Kenchangudda, Siruguppa. Manthralayam Sree Raghavendra Swamy Muth in Kurnool District and Alampur District, Jogulamba is the presiding deity at this holy place of Alampur- known as Dakshina Kashi, are the other important pilgrimage centres. There is a cluster of Nava Brahma temples constructed by the early Chalukyas.[citation needed]

An important feature of the river banks is the flood protection walls all along the rivers, constructed by Sri Krishna Devaraya between 1525 and 1527 AD. They are found wherever there is a possibility of land erosion during the floods. It starts at Sringeri and ends at Kurnool, just few kilometres from its mouth. They are stone constructions and still intact. Very large boulders of 3' x 4' x 5' are also used in its construction.[citation needed]

Two coracles in the river

Piles of granite in varying shades of grey, ochre and pink dominate the landscape. The river has cut through weaker rocky substrata of the Hampi landscape and created a narrow gorge where granite hills confine the river in a deep ravine.[2]

In this setting the ruins of Vijayanagara and Hampi, the seat of power of the Vijayanagar empire, overlook this holy river, creating a mythological landscape merging sacred traditions about a multitude of significant divinities.[3]

The granite outcrops slowly disappear as the river flows south and the land opens into a long, broad plain ending at the rising slopes of the Sandur hills, rich in iron and manganese, beyond which is the town of Hosapete. The Tungabhadra Dam was constructed at Hosapete in the middle of the 20th century to harness the river water, aiding the growth of agriculture and industry in the region.[4][5]

The Tungabhadra River then flows east, joining the Krishna in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana border. From here the Krishna continues east to empty into the Bay of Bengal. The wedge of land between the Tungabhadra and the Krishna is known as the Raichur Doab.[6]

Temples

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Main articles: Hampi and Kishkindha

Recent dams

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A dam was constructed about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) upstream from Shimoga at Gajanur across the River Tunga. Another dam was constructed at Lakkavalli about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) upstream of Bhadravati across the River Bhadra. They are multipurpose dams (multipurpose dams help in generation of electricity, irrigation of land, prevention and control of floods, etc.) and irrigate lands in Shimoga, Chikkamagalur, Davanagere and Haveri.

Tungabhadra Dam (TB Dam), also considered a multipurpose dam, is across the river Tungabhadra. The dam is near the town of Hosapete in Karnataka. Its storage capacity is 135 Tmcft. Owing to siltation, the capacity has come down by about 30 tmcft. If there are seasonal and late rains, an estimated 235 tmcft is released. It is filled when water is let into the canals during the rainy season. The main architect of the dam was Thirumalai Iyengar, an engineer from Madras. A general-purpose hall was named after him. It has become a picnic or tourist spot over the years. TB Dam is near the heritage site Hampi. One of the major problems and concerns associated with TB Dam is that it has been undergoing a lot of siltation. Because of silt deposition in the dam, the storage capacity of the dam is coming down. Another major problem associated with TB Dam is increased pollution, resulting in decreasing fish population. This is seriously affecting fishermen, who are solely dependent on the river for their livelihood.

The Sunkesula Barrage near Kurnool city, a long barrage dam, was constructed across the Tungabhadra River around 1860 by the British engineer, hailed as Bhagiratha for Rayalaseema, Sir Arthur Cotton. Originally, it was intended to be used for navigation during the British Raj. The barrage was reconstructed by Kotla Vijayabhaskara Reddy as Tungabhadra Barrage, to provide irrigation for Kadapa district. As road and rail transportation increased, it is now supplying water for Kurnool and Kadapa districts, through the K. C. Canal. It impounds about 15 billion cuft of water and irrigates about 300,000 acres (1,200 km2) amount of land in Kurnool and Kadapa districts.

Problems

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Industrial pollution has damaged the Tungabhadra River. Industry and mining on its banks in the Chikkamagaluru, Shimoga, Davangere, Haveri, Vijayanagara, Bellary, Koppal and Raichur districts of Karnataka and in the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh generate enormous amounts of effluents. Nearly 30 million liters of effluents are released into the Tunga from Shimoga each year."[7] This is the contribution of just one city which, unlike Bhadravathi and Hospet, cannot boast of being an industrial city. As a result of the effluents, Tungabhadra is one of the most polluted rivers in the country.

Downriver from the industries, the water has turned dark brown and has a pungent odor. Tungabhadra river's pollution has affected 1 million people in the sub-basin as most villages use the river water for drinking, bathing, irrigating crops, fishing and livestock water, previously obtained through an ancient tank system. The livelihood of village fishermen has been harmed by regular fish kills that have exhausted Tungabhadra's fisheries.[8]

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "TUNGABHADRA RIVER | TUNGABHADRA BOARD". tbboard.gov.in. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  2. ^ "Physical landscape of Vijayanagara". Archived from the original on 29 June 2007. Retrieved 20 September 2006.
  3. ^ "Vijayanagara Site". Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  4. ^ Pyati, Anandateertha (29 February 2024). "A riverside harvest". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  5. ^ Kamath, Vijesh (29 November 2014). "State may build balancing reservoir downstream TB dam". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  6. ^ H, Pavan Kumar (5 October 2020). "Raichur, once a preferred destination of birds, not any more". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  7. ^ The Hindu, 6 June 2008
  8. ^ "River Krishna". rainwaterharvesting.org. Centre for Science and Environment. Archived from the original on 26 February 2020.
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