Shimsha

;Origin

Shimsha originates at an altitude of 914 m in the Devarayanadurga hill located in Tumakuru Taluk [https://www.deccanherald.com/content/369669/rise-fall-river-shimsha.html] which is also the location of two temples of the Hindu God, Narasimha.

;Course

After originating in the Tumkur district, The Markonahalli Dam has been built across it, the river takes a southerly course and enters the Mandya district. In Mandya district, the river flows in a south-eastern direction and enters the Ramanagara district where HD Devegowda barriage is constructed in the Village of Iggaluru, Channapatna, which provides water for irrigation of Channapatna and Malavalli talukas. Then it enters Malavalli taluk where it has awaterfall at Shimshapura. Just after Shimshapura it reaches the border of Chamarajanagar district where it joins the river Kaveri.{{cite web|url=http://www.mapsofindia.com/maps/karnataka/districts/mandya.htm|work=Online webpage of MapsofIndia.com|title=Mandya district|access-date=2007-08-26}} The confluence of Shimsha and Kaveri is also near the Shivanasamudra falls. The total length of the river is {{convert|221|km|0|abbr=on}}. and the river has a catchment area of 8469 km².

;Sub-tributaries

In its course the river is joined by Kanva river near Saraguru,Channapatna and other streams such as Veeravaishnavi, Kanihalla, Chikkahole, Hebbahalla and Mullahalla.

;Towns and cities

Maddur and Halaguru are the major towns that lie on this river.

;Markonahalli Dam

Markonahalli Dam is a dam built across the river Shimsha in the Kunigal Taluk of Tumkur district. It was built by Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV, the king of Mysore under the guidance of his Diwan, Sir M Visweswaraiah.{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2000/10/11/stories/0411402v.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001062130/http://www.hindu.com/2000/10/11/stories/0411402v.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2007-10-01|title=Incessant rain: Part of Markonahalli Dam broken open|access-date=2007-08-27|location=Chennai, India|work=The Hindu|date=2000-10-11}} It was built to irrigate 6070 hectares of land and has a masonry structure of 139 m and a pair of earth dams extending to 1470 metres on either side. The reservoir has a catchment area of {{convert|4103|km²|0|abbr=on}} and can hold a volume of {{convert|68000000|m3|ft3}} of water at a full reservoir level of 731.57 m above the mean sea level.{{cite web|url=http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/003/V5930E/V5930E06.htm|title=Reservoir fisheries of India: Karnataka|work=Online webpage of FAO|access-date=2007-08-27}} 27 species of fish, including 13 species of commercial fishes have been recorded in the reservoir with Puntius being the dominant species of fish found here. Cirrhinus reba and Labeo calbasu and other transplanted carps are also found here. However, the maintenance of the dam has been poor. In 2000, a part of the dam had to be demolished to prevent floods and save 25 villages. Water started overflowing the dam and only 1 crest gate could be opened. Nearly 150 feet of the dam was demolished to allow excess water to flow out.

;Iggaluru Dam

;Iggaluru Dam, also known as the Iggaluru Barrage, is constructed across the Shimsha River in Iggaluru,Channapatna. The dam stands at a height of 60 feet (18.29 meters) and features a composite structure with a central masonry spillway flanked by earthen sections.

Shimsha has a waterfall at Shimshapura in Malavalli Taluk. This is also the location of the Shimsha Hydro Electric Project which has an installed capacity of 17,200 kilowatts. The plant was established in December 1937 to augment power supply of the Shivanasamudra Project (1902). The foundation stone for project was laid by Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV, the king of Mysore.{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2004/07/05/stories/2004070506280400.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040804021543/http://www.hindu.com/2004/07/05/stories/2004070506280400.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2004-08-04|title= 100 years of hydel power in State|access-date=2007-08-26|location=Chennai, India|work=The Hindu|date=2004-07-05}}

The sand found on the river bed of the Shimsha river is mined and used for construction activities, sometimes illegally. Due to the environmental issues that can be caused by sand mining, this activity is currently banned.{{cite web|url=http://news.oneindia.in/2006/03/16/stop-sand-mining-at-shimsha-river-bed-hc-tells-ktaka-govt-1142563423.html|title= Stop sand mining at Shimsha river bed, HC tells K'taka Govt|work=Online webpage of OneIndia.in|access-date=2007-08-26}}

Discharge of waste from towns and cities on the way are major contributors to pollution in the Shimsha. However, the Government is trying to clean up the river and has released funds for the same.{{cite web|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/Archives/jun72005/district163928200566.asp|title=Rs 2 cr to clean Shimsha|work=Online Edition of The Deccan Herald, dated 2005-06-07|access-date=2007-08-26 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070929124255/http://www.deccanherald.com/Archives/jun72005/district163928200566.asp |archive-date = 2007-09-29}}

• Pharping Hydro Power Project

In 1897, a railway bridge over this river collapsed during a heavy flood, killing about 150 passengers.

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{{Kaveri River}}

{{Hydrology of Karnataka|state=expanded}}

Category:Rivers of Karnataka

Category:Geography of Tumakuru district

Category:Tributaries of the Kaveri River