Shimsha
Encyclopedia
Shimsha is a river that flows in the state of Karnataka
, India
. It is one of the tributaries of the river Kaveri, which is one of the major rivers of South India
. The river originates in the southern part of the Devarayanadurga
hill in the Tumkur district
of Karnataka
and flows for about 221 km (137 mi). before joining the river Kaveri.
Shimsha originates at an altitude of 914 mts. in the Devarayanadurga
hill which is also the location of two temples of the Hindu
God, Narasimha
.
Course
After originating in the Tumkur district
, the river takes a southerly course and enters the Mandya district. In Mandya district, the river flows in a south-eastern direction and has a waterfall at Shimshapura in Malavalli
Taluk. Just after Shimshapura it reaches the border of Chamarajanagar district
where it joins the river Kaveri. The confluence of Shimsha and Kaveri is also near the Shivanasamudra
falls. The total length of the river is 221 km (137 mi). and the river has a catchment area of 8469 km².
Sub-tributaries
In its course the river is joined by other smaller rivers and streams such as Veeravaishnavi, Kanihalla, Chikkahole, Hebbahalla, Mullahalla and Kanva.
Towns and cities
Maddur
is a major town that lies on this river.
Markonahalli Dam is a dam built across the river Shimsha in the Kunigal
Taluk of Tumkur district. It was built by Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV, the king of Mysore under the guidance of his Diwan, Sir M Visweswaraiah. It was built to irrigate 6070 hectares of land and has a masonry structure of 139 m and a pair of earth dams extending to 1470 metres on either side. The reservoir has a catchment area of 4103 km² (1,584 sq mi) and can hold a volume of 68 million m³ of water at a full reservoir level of 731.57 m above the mean sea level. 27 species of fish, including 13 species of commercial fishes have been recorded in the reservoir with Puntius
being the dominant species of fish found here. Cirrhinus reba and Labeo calbasu and other transplanted carps are also found here. However, the maintenance of the dam has been poor. In 2000, a part of the dam had to be demolished to prevent floods and save 25 villages. Water started overflowing the dam and only 1 crest gate could be opened. Nearly 150 feet of the dam was demolished to allow excess water to flow out.
Taluk. This is also the location of the Shimsha Hydro Electric Project which has an installed capacity of 17,200 kilowatts.
It was the first ever hydro electric project in Asia. Kolar Gold Fields was supplied with the electricity generated in 1902.
Three years later Bangalore was electrified. (Prajavani daily 16th Oct 08)
The foundation stone for this project was laid by Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV, the king of Mysore in December 1937.
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It is one of the tributaries of the river Kaveri, which is one of the major rivers of South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
. The river originates in the southern part of the Devarayanadurga
Devarayanadurga
Devarayanadurga is a hill station near Tumkur in the state of Karnataka in India. The rocky hills are surrounded by forest and the hilltops are dotted with several temples including the Yoganarasimha and the Bhoganarasimha temples and an altitude of 3940 feet...
hill in the Tumkur district
Tumkur district
Tumkur district is an administrative district in the state of Karnataka in India. The district headquarters are located at Tumkur. The district occupies an area of 10,598 km² and had a population of 2,584,711, of which 19.62% were urban as of 2001...
of Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
and flows for about 221 km (137 mi). before joining the river Kaveri.
Geography
OriginShimsha originates at an altitude of 914 mts. in the Devarayanadurga
Devarayanadurga
Devarayanadurga is a hill station near Tumkur in the state of Karnataka in India. The rocky hills are surrounded by forest and the hilltops are dotted with several temples including the Yoganarasimha and the Bhoganarasimha temples and an altitude of 3940 feet...
hill which is also the location of two temples of the Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
God, Narasimha
Narasimha
Narasimha or Nrusimha , also spelt as Narasingh and Narasingha, whose name literally translates from Sanskrit as "Man-lion", is an avatar of Vishnu described in the Puranas, Upanishads and other ancient religious texts of Hinduism...
.
Course
After originating in the Tumkur district
Tumkur district
Tumkur district is an administrative district in the state of Karnataka in India. The district headquarters are located at Tumkur. The district occupies an area of 10,598 km² and had a population of 2,584,711, of which 19.62% were urban as of 2001...
, the river takes a southerly course and enters the Mandya district. In Mandya district, the river flows in a south-eastern direction and has a waterfall at Shimshapura in Malavalli
Malavalli
Malavalli is a taluk in Mandya district in the Indian state of Karnataka. The headquarter of Malavalli taluk is the town of the same name.-Geography:Malavalli town is located at . It has an average elevation of 610 metres ....
Taluk. Just after Shimshapura it reaches the border of Chamarajanagar district
Chamarajanagar district
Chamarajanagara is the southern-most district in the state of Karnataka, India. It was carved out of the original larger Mysore District in the year 1998...
where it joins the river Kaveri. The confluence of Shimsha and Kaveri is also near the Shivanasamudra
Shivanasamudra
Shivanasamudra is a small town in the Mandya District of the state of Karnataka, India. It is situated on the banks of the river Kaveri and is the location of the first Hydro-electric Power station in Asia, which was set up in the year 1902.-Waterfalls:The Shivanasamudra Falls is on the Kaveri...
falls. The total length of the river is 221 km (137 mi). and the river has a catchment area of 8469 km².
Sub-tributaries
In its course the river is joined by other smaller rivers and streams such as Veeravaishnavi, Kanihalla, Chikkahole, Hebbahalla, Mullahalla and Kanva.
Towns and cities
Maddur
Maddur
Maddur is a town in Mandya district in the Indian state of Karnataka. It lies on the banks of the river Shimsha.- Geography :Maddur is located at . It has an average elevation of 662 metres ....
is a major town that lies on this river.
Dams
Markonahalli DamMarkonahalli Dam is a dam built across the river Shimsha in the Kunigal
Kunigal
Kunigal is a town in Tumkur district in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is the headquarters of Kunigal taluk. Kunigal is famous for stud farm owned by Vijay Mallya.- Geography :Kunigal is located at...
Taluk of Tumkur district. It was built by Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV, the king of Mysore under the guidance of his Diwan, Sir M Visweswaraiah. It was built to irrigate 6070 hectares of land and has a masonry structure of 139 m and a pair of earth dams extending to 1470 metres on either side. The reservoir has a catchment area of 4103 km² (1,584 sq mi) and can hold a volume of 68 million m³ of water at a full reservoir level of 731.57 m above the mean sea level. 27 species of fish, including 13 species of commercial fishes have been recorded in the reservoir with Puntius
Puntius
Puntius is a genus of ray-finned fishes in the family Cyprinidae of the order Cypriniformes. Fishes of this genus are known as the spotted barbs for the predominant pattern, though many have vertical black bands instead. Also, the Spotted Barb proper is one particular species, Puntius binotatus....
being the dominant species of fish found here. Cirrhinus reba and Labeo calbasu and other transplanted carps are also found here. However, the maintenance of the dam has been poor. In 2000, a part of the dam had to be demolished to prevent floods and save 25 villages. Water started overflowing the dam and only 1 crest gate could be opened. Nearly 150 feet of the dam was demolished to allow excess water to flow out.
Power generation
Shimsha has a waterfall at Shimshapura in MalavalliMalavalli
Malavalli is a taluk in Mandya district in the Indian state of Karnataka. The headquarter of Malavalli taluk is the town of the same name.-Geography:Malavalli town is located at . It has an average elevation of 610 metres ....
Taluk. This is also the location of the Shimsha Hydro Electric Project which has an installed capacity of 17,200 kilowatts.
It was the first ever hydro electric project in Asia. Kolar Gold Fields was supplied with the electricity generated in 1902.
Three years later Bangalore was electrified. (Prajavani daily 16th Oct 08)
The foundation stone for this project was laid by Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV, the king of Mysore in December 1937.