2017.10.28 - marikanive (VaniVilasa Sagara)

On 28th October, Saturday, We left Tumkur at around 9 AM towards Mantralaya, (coincidentally it was 3rd Engagement Anniversary of my papa - Nagendra Raj Urs and mummy - Ramya Nagrendra Raj Urs) and on the way visited Vani Vilasa Sagara, popularly known as Mari Kanive, a dam near Hiriyur Taluk, Chitradurga District

Team: 

1. Nagendra Raj Urs
2. Ramya Nagendra Raj Urs
3. Ramaraju Urs
4. Jayalakshmi
5. Sowmya
6. Moulya
7. other 5 Members of my grandpa's friend

The land voyage - from Tumkur to Mantralaya was planned my grandpa - Ramaraju and his friend and a Tempo traveler was booked. ( I called it as a voyage, because, so as to save AP- RTO- Permit, Grandpa and his friend had a different set of plan, which made this a long journey covering a extra of around 100 KM)

Vani Vilasa Sagara, popularly known as Mari Kanive is a dam near Hiriyur Taluk, Chitradurga District, It is the oldest dam in the state. The dam was built by the Mysore Maharajas pre-independence across the river Vedavathi. the construction of the dam started on August 1898 and was completed on August 1907. 

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. This dam is the source of domestic water for Hiriyur and Chitradurga. 

This place is 160 KM from Bangalore, 115 KM from Tumkur and 40 KM from Chitradurga on the NH-4 highway, The place is around 20 km drive from Hiriyur on a deviation from NH4 - Bangalore Mumbai National Highway

The dam was initiated by the regent queen who was a widow of Maharaja Chamaraaja Wodeyar. She is known for her social works which were exemplary. 

For the construction of this dam royals of Mysore had to pledge royal jewellery due to shortage of money, that is why it was named as "Vani Vilasa Sagara". Vani Vilasa was the name of youngest daughter of the then Maharaja of Mysore. This dam is higher than KRS dam of Mysore.

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.

On the way, we also visited the temple of Sree Ranganatha Nearby and continued our voyage towards Mantralaya. 

                                                                                                           Mahitha N Raj