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{{Short description|River in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox river
| name = Suvarnavathi River
| native_name = {{native name list |tag1=kn|name1=ಸುವರ್ಣಾವತಿ ನದಿ|tag2=hi|name2=सुवर्णवती नदी}}
| name_other = Honnuhole, Honhole River

| image =
| image_caption =

| pushpin_map = India Karnataka#India Tamil Nadu#India
| mapframe = yes

| length = {{convert|88|km}}

| source1_location = Attugulipura, [[Chamarajanagar district|Chamarajanagara]], [[Karnataka]]
| source1_coordinates= {{Coord|11.8189|77.0550|display=inline}}
| source1_elevation = {{convert|720|m}}
| mouth = [[Kaveri River]]
| mouth_location = [[Hampapura, Mysore|Hampapura]], [[Mysore]], Karnataka
| mouth_coordinates = {{Coord|12.1754|77.0724|display=inline}}
| mouth_elevation = {{convert|770|m}}
| waterbodies = Suvarnavathi Reservoir
}}

The '''Suvarnavathi River''', also called the '''Honnuhole''' or '''Honhole''' river, is a {{convert|88|km|mi}} southern tributary of the [[Kaveri River]] in the Indian states of [[Karnataka]] and [[Tamil Nadu]]. Its drainage area is about {{convert|1787|km2|sqmi}}.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZKs1gBhJSWIC&dq=suvarnavathi+river&pg=PA707 |title=Hydrology and Water Resources of India |isbn=9781402051807 |access-date=May 19, 2023 |last1=Jain |first1=Sharad K. |last2=Agarwal |first2=Pushpendra K. |last3=Singh |first3=Vijay P. |date=16 May 2007 |publisher=Springer }}</ref>
The river begins at Badibadga in the Nasurghat hills of southern Karnataka's [[Mysore district]] as the convergence of two streams, the Niredurgihalla and Araikaduhalla. It is joined by two significant tributaries, the Chikkahole and the Yenehole, on its journey, generally to the east, to the Kaveri.<ref name=rotti>{{cite web|url=http://www.karnataka.com/mysore/river-suvarnavathi/ |title=The River Suvarnavathi or The River Honnuhole |date=18 November 2013 |author=Jolad Rotti |access-date=May 19, 2023 |publisher=Karnataka.com}}</ref>

{{anchor|Suvarnavathi Reservoir|Suvarnavathi Dam}}
The '''Suvarnavathi Reservoir''', entirely in Karnataka, is formed by the '''Suvarnavathi Dam''' built across the river.<ref>{{cite web|first=K H Obalesh | last=Chamarajanagar | newspaper=Deccan Herald |url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/512101/twin-reservoirs-chamarajanagar-close-full.html |title=Twin reservoirs in Chamarajanagar close to full | date=2015-11-16 |accessdate=2016-07-08}}</ref> The dam is adjacent to the Karnataka State Forest near Punajanur along the border between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

== Dam ==
The Suvarnavathi Dam is located near the village of Attugulipura, [[Chamarajanagar district|Chamarajanagara District]], [[Karnataka]], [[India]]. It is adjacent to [[National Highway 948 (India)|National Highway 948]], and is about {{convert|14|km}} from [[Chamarajanagara]],<ref name=rotti/> a town of about 70,000 (as of 2011) which is headquarters of the district. The reservoir was built in 1977 on the [[National Highway 948 (India)|National Highway 948]] between Bengaluru and [[Coimbatore]]. Suvarnavathi reservoir has a storage capacity of {{convert|8,576,400|m3|abbr=on}}. It was constructed at a cost of about [[₹]] 299.60 lakhs in 1977. The dam is {{convert|1170|m}} long and is {{convert|25|m}} above the river bed level.

=== Reservoir ===
{{Infobox body of water
| name = Suvarnavathy Dam

| image = Suvarnavathy reservoir - panoramio.jpg
| caption = Suvarnavathy Dam

| coordinates = {{coord|11.8278|N|77.0262|W|region:ZZ_type:waterbody|display=inline,title}}
| type = Reservoir
| rivers = Suvarnavathi River
| basin_countries = India
| date-built = {{Start date|1977}}
| volume = {{convert|8,576,400|m3|abbr=on}}
| mapframe = yes
}}

{{wide image|Suvarnavathy reservoir சுவர்ணவதி அணை - panoramio.jpg|1280px}}
In 2019, it was believed that the twin reservoirs could go dry. In addition to the effect of general drought, this was due to the fact that Tamil Nadu had quietly pursued a program to build dozens of small dams in villages upstream from the reservoirs (villages including Kodipura, Thalamali, Nithapura, Egalur, Chikkahalli, Marur, Malajanapura) to preserve water for their use. Previously, a heavy rainfall in the Talwandi catchment area in Tamil Nadu would reach and fill the Chikkahole reservoir, and overflow from there would also raise the level of the Suvarnavathi reservoir. In 2019 however "despite good rainfall for a couple of weeks in Tamil Nadu, not a drop has flown into Chikkahole reservoir."<ref name=goingdry>{{cite news|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2019/jun/10/two-reservoirs-in-karnataka-may-go-dry-as-tamil-nadu-builds-dams-1988203.html |title=Two reservoirs in Karnataka may go dry as Tamil Nadu builds dams |date=10 June 2019 |publisher=[[The New Indian Express]] }}</ref>

An analysis published in 2022 assesses the dam's spillway capacity to be inadequate, and that a height increase of the dam is needed, else 46 villages and a city are at undue risk of flooding, which will be prohibitively expensive if it occurs.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Naveen Kumar |first1=B. S. |last2=Usha |first2=K. |last3=Kanchana |first3=M. S. |title=Hydrological Review and Dam Break Analysis of Suvaranavathi Dam Using HEC-RAS |journal=Sustainability Trends and Challenges in Civil Engineering |date=2022 |volume=162 |pages=733–754 |doi=10.1007/978-981-16-2826-9_46 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/354667131_Hydrological_Review_and_Dam_Break_Analysis_of_Suvaranavathi_Dam_Using_HEC-RAS |access-date=18 July 2025}}</ref>

About {{convert|3|km}} away is Chikkahole Reservoir, created by the Chikkahole Dam, which is linked to the Suvarnavathi Reservoir by a channel. The Suvarnavathi and Chikkahole are called twin reservoirs. Both of them are in the back drop of beautiful nature. Fisheries and horticulture are the main occupation of this area. The added attraction of these reservoirs are seen in the wandering of wildlife all around.

The Suvarnavathi Reservoir is the main source of water for irrigation in nearby villages; it usually is full by end of the monsoon season and dry during summer season. The main source of water for the reservoir is rainfall in the Punanjanur (Punajur) forest area during the monsoon. Also it is the source of drinking water for wild animals as it is adjacent to the thick forest.

== Accessibility ==
Numerous bus and train services provide transportation from [[Bangalore]] to the town Chamarajanagara town, and then it is around {{convert|10|km}} further to the Suvarnavathi Dam. Local transport bus service is available for the last leg.

==See also==
Nearby attractions include:

*[[Bandipur National Park|Bandipura Reserve Forest]]
*[[Bhavanisagar dam|Bhavanisagar Dam]]
*[[Biligiriranga Hills]]

*[[Shivanasamudra Falls|Gaganachukki and Barachukki Falls]]
*[[Male Mahadeshwara Hills|Male Mahadeswara Hill]]
*[[Sathyamangalam|Satyamangalam]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{commons category|Suvarnavathy Reservoir}}

[[Category:Rivers of Karnataka]]
[[Category:Rivers of Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Geography of Chamarajanagar district]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Chamarajanagar district]]

{{Chamarajanagar-geo-stub}}

Suvarnavathi River - Revision history

Mosphe: added place