Shettihalli Church - Gorur Dam - Hassan

Planned plans may fail..but failed plans sometimes clicks!!!...too tricky words..!!!

Yes you are right..when I first heard about a structure submerged in the back waters of a dam, my instinct always wanted to capture those frames. But did not know exactly where this structure stood in the back waters.  Surfing for information, and few pictures here and there, gave me a half baked information about the church in a dam. Digging the bore-well for the information..my eyes lit with a 10000 watts light!!!. 

Arey! what is this? this place is so near to my native place, and also I had been to the dam back waters many times!. 

Okay okay..don't press Ctrl+F to search me, and hit me black and blue. Am talking about Shetty Halli Church, which will get submerged during the monsoon in the Gorur Dam, but surfaces to show its glory in the summer or when the water level is low. The Gorur dam was built by the Government around 1960 to reserve & re-serve the waters of the river Hemavathy for irrigation and drinking projects. 

The Shettihalli church in the Gorur Dam

As many write-ups,  and many wiki reveals that,  this church had been built in 1860 by the french missionaries for the people in  Hassan, Sakaleshapura and its surroundings.  During the summer, when the water level is low, any vehicle will go almost inside the church :-). The structure, and the landscape around gives a good feel.  Even though we feel disgusted,  when we see the campus is littered with broken bottles, @#$#@ things, but still the landscape amazes you, and so the church...standing in a crumbling state. 

One more shot from the other side

But if we are able to turn the wrist watch backwards, we can visualize the majestic structure, the village ambiance, crystal clear voice of the birds, fragrance of flowers.....the mother nature at her best!

As seen from the bed of the back waters

From the main road the church stands at a stone throw away distance, since the water level was too low, we reached comfortably at the door step (sorry no doors..it is an open air theater from all the sides!!).

One of the few towers still standing

 Since we are at the site in the glaring sun, the monument showed all its sides, the majestic entrance, the walls, the towers everything was amazing. 

Probably the main hall of the church

One more look

The tall wall as seen from the floor!

Even though the pieces of the structure scattered here and there, since it had lost its muscles, but still standing on the bones, it will be a photographer's delight all the way! 

Road map from Hassan

The family..!

Hardly about thirty minutes drive from the center of the Hassan, and the condition of the road is also good, except few stretches, and a few hours spent in this campus can bring the light in to the frames.   Since there is no near by shops, better to carry food and water but caution to be taken not to lit the place. Even though sitting late in the evening for the sunset is not advisable, but if we do with caution, it will provide some stunning magical show of light and shadow!!!