Tungabhadra River - तुंगभद्रा नदी

The merging of the two rivers, the Tunga River and the Bhadra River at Koodli in Shimoga district of Karnataka, gives birth to the Tungabhadra River. The Tunga and the Bhadra Rivers flow down the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats located in the state of Karnataka. After its birth, the Tungabhadra River takes a northeast direction where it flows through uneven ridges formed by boulders, which is the Deccan Plateau. Granite stones in varied colors like grey, ochre and pink covers the entire region. The river flows towards Hampi where it creates a narrow ravine. As the river flows in the south direction, it enters a broad plain, which ends with the rising slopes of the Sandur hills. It is here where Hospet is located. The Tungabhadra River then flows in the east direction where it joins the Krishna in Andhra Pradesh. The Krishna River continues in the east direction and evacuates in the Bay of Bengal. The locked land that lies in the north of Tungabhadra River between the Tungabhadra and the Krishna River is called the Raichur Doab.

Hampi, the capital of the ancient Hindu dynasty of Vijayanagar stands on its right bank. There are several sacred places on the banks of the river. In Harihara there is a temple dedicated to Harihareshwara. There is a dam at Hospet built across Tungabhadra River called the Tungabhadra dam. The dam controls the flow of water and generates hydroelectricity.

Tungabhadra is a major river in the south Indian peninsula. Hampi is located on the south bank somewhere in the middle of this river's path. In this area the river takes a number of twists are turns owing to the rocky terrain. The river has immense significance in forming the political & religious history of Hampi. The river along with along with the boulder-strewn hills formed the northern barrier of the capital. It was not easy for an invading army cross the river without the fate of a sure defeat.

The river is in fact formed by the union of two rivers Tunga and Bhadra and hence the name. Both Tunga & Bhadra Rivers are originated on the eastern slops of the Western Ghats. Tungabhadra flows in a more or less northwest direction before joining the eastern river Krishna. The Krishna River finally ends into the Bay of Bengal.

In modern India a huge dam and hydroelectric project is constructed across Tungabhadra (about 20 kilometer southwest of Hampi), curtailing the original vigor of the river in this part.

The Vijayanagara kings took advantage of the river by constructing a host of irrigation canals and aqueducts. A highly networked water supply system fed the manmade water bodies in the urban core of the palace area. Many of the ancient canals are still in use to irrigate the surrounding agriculture fields.

The ancient name of the river was Pampa. According to the legends, Pampa, the daughter of Brahma (the God of creation) did penance to please Lord Shiva. Impressed by her devotion Shiva married her and taken the name Pampapati (means husband of Pampa). The name Hampi has origin in Pampa. On the banks if the river, there are numerous shrines and idols associated with the worship of Lord Shiva.

A chief confluent of the Krishna River is the Tungabhadra River. The Hindus consider this river sacrosanct and there is a mention of the river in Ramayana where it is referred to as Pampa. The river flows through the states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The river has a catchment area of 27,574 square miles. The tributaries of the Tungabhadra are Varada River and Hagari (Vedathy) River.

The Tungabhadra is formed by the union of two rivers, viz., the Tunga and the Bhadra, both of which rise at Gangamula in Varaha Parvata of the Western Ghats. This is also a perennial river, very deep in certain places and almost unaffordable even in the dry season. This river enters the district near Kesalapur village at the south-western tip of Koppal taluk. The general slope of the land in the district being north-west to south-east, the Tungabhadra has a large number of rivulets and streams serving as tributaries, as compared to the Krishna. But none of these streams is of any great importance by itself and they generally go dry during the summer.

Old Kannada inscriptions have hailed the river as the Ganga of South India. In the past, notably during the days of Vijayanagar kings, it had been dammed at several places for purposes of irrigation and, in this district also, anicuts of large blocks of stones were constructed in several places in Koppal and Gangavati taluks. Canals were laid along both sides of the river. Most of these canals had been silted up and the water courses were in a dilapidated state. If kept in constant repair, these canals can serve as effective means of irrigation for the cultivation of rice and surgarcane, in places not benefited by the recent Tungabhadra Dam at Munirabad. The Tungabhadra river also is reputed as one of the important rivers of South India.

The river which forms the southern boundary of the district flows for a distance of about 130 miles along the district touching Koppal, Gangavathi, Sindhanur, Manvi and Raichur regions and leaves the district to the south-east of Talamari village in Raichur taluk. As stated above, a number of streams and nalas flow into the river along its course in the district, the more important among them being the Maski nala (70 miles), Hirehalla (50 miles), Alawandi nala (20 miles), sindhanur nala (50 miles), Siddapur stream (32 miles), Marli stream (26 miles), Inchnal nala (50 miles), Kanakgiri nala (32 miles), Nandihal nala (26 miles) and Kapgol nala (24 miles).

Tungabhadra River is a chief tributary of the Krishna River and flows through the states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Tungabhadra River is formed by the Tunga and Bhadra rivers that originate in the Western Ghats. The capital of the ancient Hindu dynasty of Vijayanagar stood on its right bank. The river flows through Hampi and is said that on the banks of the river, the Goddess Hampi ( Parvathi) met Lord Shiva.

Tungabhadra River has a catchment area of 27,574 sq miles. Varada River and Hagari (Vedathy) River are its tributaries.