Floods now tourist attraction

Around 1.5 lakh cusecs of water flowing towards Tamil Nadu from the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) and Kabini for the last four days may have hit two major tourist spots around Mysore. But, the gushing water has also become a major tourist attraction.

Both KRS and Kabini have been discharging huge quantities of water "" a record in the recent few years "" flooding the low lying areas downstream. The famous Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, on the KRS-Paschimavahini road, is flooded affecting both the birds and visitors. The tourist spot has been shut for visitors with the cancellation of boating.

Among the other major tourist spots hit is the Brindavan Gardens at the KRS itself. The northern Brindavan Gardens, which has the musical fountain as its chief attraction, has been temporarily closed to tourists along with the path leading to it.

Boating from south to north gardens has also been cancelled following the excess water being discharged from the dam. The entrance for tourists has now been provided near the boating pond, linking only the southern gardens, which is open for tourists.

While these two tourist spots have been hit, the places nearby have become major attractions for a different reason "" the majestic river in its full flow "" which has been a rare sight in recent years.

People are seen thronging the nearly two-century-old bridge, originally named Wellesley bridge, after the Duke of Wellington who took over the reins, after the death of Tipu Sultan in the May 1799 Fourth Mysore War, and subsequently called the Dewan Purnaiah bridge, near Srirangapatna. The water is now flowing almost at the full level of the massive stone bridge here.

Similarly, people are visiting KRS to view the Cauvery in its full glory with over a lakh cusecs of water rushing downstream.

About 20 kms from Mysore, downstream, the pilgrim centre of T Narasipur, where Cauvery and Kapila (Kabini) meet, is offering a majestic view to the people. They are visiting the holy place of confluence in big numbers. Pilgrims are seen worshipping the sacred river.

Further down, the famous Gaganachukki and Bharachukki falls at Sivasamudram, where stands south-east Asia's first hydro-electric generating station, are in their full glory attracting large number of people.

With the KRS reaching full level, chef minister Dharam Singh is scheduled to perform Cauvery Pooja on August 8.