Netravati River

The Netravati River (Tulu: ನೇತ್ರಾವತಿ ತುದೆ )(Kannada: ನೇತ್ರಾವತಿ) (or Nethravathi River) has its origins at Gangamoola in Kudremukh in Chikkamagaluru district of Karnataka, India. This river flows through the famous pilgrimage place Dharmasthala and considered as one of the Holy rivers of India. It merges with the Kumaradhara River at Uppinangadi before flowing to the Arabian Sea.The Netravathi river joins Arabian sea at south of Mangaluru city. This river is the main source of water to Bantwal and Mangalore. The Netravathi railway bridge is one of the known bridges which serves as the gateway to Mangalore.

Earlier in the last century it was called as Buntwal River due to the important town of Bantwal on its banks. A reference to the River Nettrawutti, as it is mentioned in the book can be seen in the "Gazetteer of Southern India", published in 1855, as unfordable during South-West Monsoon. It has apparent breadth of about 200 yards with a bed encumbered by large rocky masses chiefly of hornblende rock, containing spangles of mica and small garnets. Sienites also occurs, fragments of a beautiful pegmatite with flesh coloured feldspar are seen in the beds of rivulets. The Netravati River is navigable by small country craft for many miles.

Many a times in the past Bantwal was submerged during the monsoon by overflowing river Netravati. Many had left the town and settled elsewhere and prospered. The major floods was as...
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