Markonahalli Dam

Markonahalli Dam is a gravity dam built across the Shimsha River at Markonahalli village in Kunigal Taluk, Tumakuru District, Karnataka, about 55 km west of Bengaluru. Completed in 1939 under the supervision of Sir M. Visvesvaraya, it is notable for its automatic siphon system that requires no electricity. The reservoir surrounded by low hills offers scenic views and is a popular day-trip and picnic spot.

Visitors can expect a long masonry dam wall with a series of automatic siphons, a wide reservoir bordered by gentle hills and agricultural fields, and open viewpoints along the dam crest and downstream area. The setting is quiet and rural with opportunities for sightseeing, photography and short walks along the reservoir bund. Water flow over the siphons is best seen when the reservoir is full after the monsoon.

Constructed in 1939 across the Shimsha River, a tributary of the Kaveri, under the guidance of Bharat Ratna Sir M. Visvesvaraya, then Diwan of Mysore. It was built to provide irrigation and drinking water to Tumakuru district and is considered an early example of automatic siphon technology in India, where 12 siphons automatically discharge excess water without power or manual operation.