Travelogue of An Armchair Traveller: The Submerged Rosary Church, Settihalli, Hassan, India

The Rosary Church, located in the small village of Settihalli in Hassan district, Karnataka, was built in the early 1860s by French missionaries. It was a beautiful example of colonial-era architecture and a remarkable fusion of European and Indian architectural styles.

Unfortunately, the church was deconsecrated and abandoned in 1960 due to the construction of the Hemavati Reservoir, which almost entirely submerged it. With the passage of time and due to water erosion, the beautiful building decayed and fell into ruin.

As the reservoir's water level depletes with use, its ruins gradually rise from the water, giving the impression of a floating church. During the summer months, when the reservoir water level has fallen considerably, the ruins fully emerge from the water, and visitors can easily access the church ruins.

With the arrival of the annual rainy season (Monsoon), the church ruins again get slowly submerged in their watery grave to soon rise afresh, like a phoenix rising from the ashes. Due to this cycle of emergence and submergence every year, it has become a tourist spot, and many people visit it to see its different stages of emergence.

The church is about 200 kms. (4 hours drive) from Bangalore.

Special thanks to Rashmi Gopal Rao for sharing this amazing picture on her blog, rashminotes.com. To the best of my knowledge, it is the only online photo of the church in all its glory. (Permission to use image is awaited)