Continuing the West coast ride story
Just less than 10 kilometers from Belur while going towards Chikkamagalur comes a huge water body on the left side of the road. In my previous journeys in that route, I had assumed this place as just another lake, a huge one. Very recently I came to know that it’s Yagachi dam (or reservoir) built across river Yagachi (one of the important tributaries of river Kaveri).
Yagachi dam is relatively new to the list of reservoirs in India, which was dedicated to the nation in 2004. The main purposes of the dam are irrigation for thousands of acres of land in Hassan & Chikkamagalur district and source of drinking water for Belur & Chikkamagalur cities.
We parked our bikes near the front gate only to see a couple of policemen sitting in the shade & the words on a board which said ‘No entry to visitors’. While we were contemplating whether to continue with the ride or to speak to them, one of them waved at us. They were a bit curious looking at us, our bikes & the luggage. Like it happens most of the time, they were surprised to hear our ride plan. When we inquired about entry to the dam, we were told that due to security reasons no one is allowed to enter the dam premises, but can go till a place where they had placed barricades. We were more than happy to listen to that. We roamed around the place, looking at the blue water collected in the reservoir. View was amazing. After spending almost half an hour, we bid adieu to the cops & caretakers of the reservoir and were back on the saddles.
While we were there, a couple of tourist vehicles stopped by. They also paid a visit to the dam & were gone in 5 minutes. I wonder why visit a place if you don’t have time to enjoy the place for a few moments!
The ride: Start – Belur – Yagachi dam – Sringeri – Agumbe – Udupi
People go to Dharmasthala all the way to have darshan of God, but when they are about to that, they mess it all by shouting on their family members asing them to come fast, asking them to keep quiet(funnier), shouting on children for not prostrating before the God. And end up blaming the temple town for becoming more commercial! The point you have made is much in line with this. The people are peculiarly similar in pattern, wherever one goes.
Wonderful log.
Google map
Is the route shown and place identifies correct ? Very nice place man
Hi Prashanth: I wonder if you rode through Shettihalli. You can see a half-drowned Church among the backwaters there.
I love the yagachi dam and do go to Shettihalli if you havent been there before..
lakshmi
Thanks Srik 🙂
Karthik, yes the same place.
Shashikiran, yet to visit Shettihalli. Sent a mail asking for directions
Lakshmi, same here. Yagachi is a nice place.
The google map is alright.
The church at Shetty halli is in the backwaters of Hemavati dam at Gorur, near the confluence of Yagachi and Hemavati rivers.
This dam, is on Yagachi, about 30-40 km upstream from Gorur dam.
This is my lovely place yar…………..!!!!!!!!!
nice to see. i am proud to say that i was one of the engineer associated with construction of yagachi dam
Thanks for commenting sir! Feels good to get a comment from someone who was behind the construction of the dam!