Chamarajanagar District Map

Chamarajanagar District Map
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Wednesday, August 22, 2007

JALAPATHA UTSAV

The Hindu, Tuesday, Aug 14, 2007







Karnataka ‘Jalapatha Utsav’ a hit
A musical programme and a fireworks show enthral tourists
Festivities: Cultural programmes were held near Bharachukki Falls as part of the ‘Jalapatha Utsav’ on Saturday and Sunday.
CHAMARAJANAGAR: A musical programme and a fireworks show enthralled thousands of tourists who had gathered at Bharachukki Falls in Kollegal taluk on Saturday to witness “Jalapatha Utsav” (Festival of Falls).
This was the first time that the district administration, in association with the zilla panchayat, the departments of Kannada and Culture, and Tourism had made an effort to showcase the breathtaking waterfall.
The waterfall at Shivanasamudram has caught the imagination of many. Nineteenth century traveller Lewin Bowring, who described Shivanasamudram as unrivalled in its splendour, said the noise of the gushing water was “deafening” while the foam emanating from the falls was “blinding”.
After starting as a mere trickle in the Brahmagiri hill ranges of the Western Ghats in Kodagu, the Cauvery river is joined by a number of rivulets during its glorious descent, swelling in size as it flows through the picturesque hills of Madikeri before entering the Mysore plateau. At Shivanasamudram, the Cauvery branches into two and cascades down rocky hillocks. With two separate falls from a height of 300 to 350 ft, the cascading Shivanasamudram Falls — Gaganchukki and Bharachukki — not only affords a breathtaking view, but also generates hydroelectricity. The Bharachukki falls at Shivanasamudram attains its full glory during the monsoon with the Cauvery in spate. The gigantic surge of water before it tumbles down is a sight to behold. The force is such that vapour and mist rise to a height of more than 100 to 150 ft.
It is this combined flow of the Cauvery and the Kapila that cascades along the rocky terrain and plunges into the valley below, before flowing along on its course to neighbouring Tamil Nadu where it comes alive once again at Hogenakkal.
The Bharachukki Falls was swarming with thousands of tourists who had come there to witness the Jalapatha Utsav. CHESCORP has illuminated the falls. Chittimela, Gorawara Kunitha, Siddapaji Padavaibhav and Sangeetha Sanje (folk dances) performed by various artistes enthralled the people gathered there.
Classical singer Sangeetha Katti sang vachanas and poetry written by Da. Ra. Bendra, which was set to music. Kikkeri Krishnamurthy, Mahendra and others took party in Sangeetha Gange.
There was also a ballad performed to the tunes of classical and devotional songs by the the Bhushan Academy of Visual Arts, Mysore, as well as a performance of his songs by music director Gurukiran. The “Jalapatha Utsav” concluded on Sunday.

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