Miscellany

This large lake was once known as Yadavasamudra and Tirumala Sagara.

This sheet of placid water, surrounded by imposing hills, rocks, fields and birds flying in the horizon is home to many species of water birds like barbets, egrets, coots, cormorants, lapwings, darters and pond herons.

Thonnur Lake has long been a picnicker's preferred water spot for bird watching, boating, and swimming.

The eye-catchy water fall by the sid eof the lake is known as Ramanuja Gange or Thonnuru Madaga and the vast spread lake forming a beautiful islet marked for its quaint turtle-shaped rock, are the added attractions of Thonnur Kere.

A holy dip in Ramanuja Gange water fall is believed to cure skin diseases.

Thonnur Lake is a historic reservoir built across the Yadava River which originated atop Yadavagiri, the rocky hill range overlooking Thonnur.

Named Tirumala Sagara by the saint Ramanuja and moti talab (pearl lake) by Nasir Jung, a chieftain under Adil Shahis, the Thonnur Lake is a prime landmark of the village.

Occasionally, film crew are found shooting in the area. It is otherwise fairly unknown hence is unspoilt.

Associated with the 12th century Srivaishnava Saint Ramanuja and historically linked with the reign of Hoysalas, Adil Shahis and Tipu Sultan, Thonnur Lake is a part of the village valley and impounds the over flow of Yadava River.

A mud embankment (of about 400 feet in length and 80 ft in height) was built beside a pilgrim hill Padmagiri.

With its storage capacity exceeding 470 TMC every year, the perennial Thonnur Lake feeds thousands of acres of land yielding paddy, sugarcane and other local crops.

The reservoir, which according to locals has never dried up since generations, remains to be the most reliable irrigation and drinking water source for thousands of families in Thonnur and surrounding villages.

The lake is actually a tank that collects rainwater for irrigation.

But the fact is that even when it does not rain, the tank still has water.

The lake is spread across 2,000 acres. A dam between two rocky hills impounds water that flows from the hills and is 230 meters high and 145 meters wide.

Four ancient temples are situated around the lake. The hills have a few caves. A huge rock shaped like a turtle can also be found here.

Fishing in the lake is allowed by the authorities in country-made boats called theppa (dinghies), once a fortnight.

A canal was laid in 2009 that now supplies drinking water to 35 villages downstream and to Melkote, an important Hindu pilgrimage centre.