Vani Vilasa Sagara Dam

Vani Vilasa Sagara Dam, also known as Mari Kanive, is a historic masonry dam across the Vedavathi River near Hiriyur in Chitradurga District, Karnataka. Built between 1897 and 1907 during the regency of Maharani Kempa Nanjammani Vani Vilasa Sannidhana of Mysore, it is considered the oldest dam in Karnataka. Surrounded by low hills, the reservoir offers scenic views and remains a significant irrigation and water supply source for the region.

Visitors can expect a large masonry dam and expansive reservoir surrounded by low rocky hills and scrub forest. The site offers panoramic views of the water spread, dam wall, and spillway gates. There are paved viewpoints and garden areas near the dam for sightseeing and photography. The surroundings are open and windy, with picnic spots and small food stalls nearby. Boating is generally not available, and access to the dam crest may be restricted.

Constructed between 1897 and 1907 across the Vedavathi River, a tributary of the Tungabhadra. Commissioned during the regency of Maharani Kempa Nanjammani Vani Vilasa Sannidhana, regent of Mysore after the death of Maharaja Chamarajendra Wadiyar X, and named after her. The project was planned by the Mysore state engineers and is associated with early engineering work of Sir M. Visvesvaraya. It was the first major dam in the Mysore princely state and remains the oldest dam in Karnataka.

The dam is locally known as Mari Kanive and is a well-known landmark in the Hiriyur region. The reservoir and its surroundings are used as a recreational and picnic destination for local communities and are valued for their role in supporting agriculture and water security in the semi-arid Chitradurga region.