Fate of rainfall

No one will believe that the rainfall has also its fate! Naturally curiosity will rise... that who decides its fortune. And of course, one will be surprised to know that there is a stone pillar which decides the destiny of each rainfall. The pillar is located at Ridge Point in Sakleshpur of Hassan district in Western Ghats of Karnataka. This ridge divides the rain water flowing in the region between the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal. 

The stone pillar with inscription laid on a concrete platform situated at a scenic hamlet called Mankanahalli, is just five kilometres from Bisle village. The inscription makes a mention of the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and the ‘Ridge’. This is the point in the mountains that determines which way rivers or streams are likely to flow. 

During  the topographical survey of the Western Ghats, British officers explored this point from where rain water splits and reaches two different seas. The rain water from the series of hills and mountains to the left of this point flows towards the west drainage basins that feed into the Arabian Sea while water from the eastern side drains into the Bay of Bengal. After observing this regular phenomena of the Nature a stone pillar was laid here indicating the direction of flow of water between the two seas.

The small rivers and streams that flow westward from this ridge point join the Kumaradhara and Nethravathi rivers and finally meet the Arabian Sea. The eastward flowing water from this ridge links up with River Hemavathy, a tributary of River Cauvery, and  culminate its journey in the Bay of Bengal after flowing through Tamil Nadu.

According to Cauvery Neeravari Nigam officials, two such ridge points are also seen in the hilly regions of Western Ghats. One such ridge point is at Kalasa in Mudigere where water flows separately to Sringeri and Mudigere. Similarly, water flowing from Pushpagiri Hills of Madikeri gets ‘split’ into two - one reaches River Cauvery and the other River Kumaradhara.

And there is one beautiful scenic spot at the tri-junction of Hassan, Madikeri and Dakshina Kannada districts from where nature lovers can also see a panormic view of fabulous mountains.