- Mari Kanive
Mari Kanive (
Kannada : ಮಾರಿ ಕಣಿವೆ) is adam nearHiriyur Taluk ,Chitradurga District , in theIndia n state ofKarnataka . It is the oldest dam in the state.The dam was built by the
Mysore Maharajas pre-independence across the riverVedavathi . The dam is an exquisite piece of architecture, an engineering marvel for that time, and provides water to lots of surrounding cities, towns and villages, which are largely dry lands of theDeccan area of CentralKarnataka .ignificance
This dam is the source of domestic water for
Hiriyur andChitradurga . It irrigates more than 100 km² of land inHiriyur andChallakere taluks through right and left bank canals. This place is 160 km fromBangalore on the NH-4 highway and 40 km fromChitradurga .History
The dam was constructed by a team led by an Engineer called 'Tara Chand Dalal' at the order of his Highness the
Maharaja ofMysore SriKrishnaraja Wodeyar IV .Tourism
The dam has been a tourist attraction for many years, but has been apparently neglected as a prime
tourist destination . Recently, though, the development work undertaken by the forest department to restore the nearby forest cover, and the 'panchavati' gardens - a garden of medicinal plants with the old Indian cultural theme has improved the tourist figures, making it a popular weekend picnic spot. The 'panchavati' garden has medicinal plants lined up representing cultural themes - the 'Rashis', 'Sapta swaras', 'Nava grahas' and many more. The tourists who visitChitradurga andHosdurga often visit Mari kanive on the way. The historic maarikaamba temple here also attracts many tourists. The place is around 20 km drive fromHiriyur on a deviation from NH4 (Bangalore -Mumbai National Highway).
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