Anjanapura dam garden soon to be a tourist hotspot
Anjnapura Dam, Shikaripur, Shimoga District, Karnataka
The Anjanapura dam garden in the Shikaripur Taluk of Shimoga to become one the favourite tourist attractions of Karnataka in the coming days. The dam was declared a public tourist place only recently. The State government had sanctioned Rs 6 crore to develop a garden in the vicinity of the dam area.
Cement sculptures of Dollu Kunitha artistes at Anjanapura dam garden (Photo Courtesy: Hindu)
The garden will be set up on a 6.5 acre land and has extensive lawns, a music fountain, pergola, walking path and fruit-bearing trees. The Esur freedom struggle – the uprising staged by the people of Esur village in Shikaripur taluk in 1942 against the unjust policies of the British government — has been recreated here through the medium of cement. The cement sculptures of freedom fighters conducting bhajan and khaadi weaving sessions in Esur village is depicted in the garden. Hanging of freedom fighters by the British is also portrayed.
Farmers doing their works in the fields, including transplantation of paddy and harvesting of arecanut etc. also been installed in the garden. Work related to developing the garden was completed in June. Yeddyurappa, Shikaripur MLA and former Chief Minister, inaugurated the garden on 20th July 2018.
Hanging of a freedom fighter – another cement sculpture in the garden (Photo Courtesy: Hindu)
There are plans to introduce boating at the backwaters of Anjanapura dam from next year, as informed by officials from Tourism and Water Resource departments. The plan to develop a similar garden in the vicinity of Ambligolla dam is also in the proposal.
Shikaripur taluk has a number of places with historical importance. Balligavi and Talagunda; Udutadi, the birth place of poet Akka Mahadevi; and Huchurayaswamy temple in Shikaripur town that has a picturesque lake and a garden are some of them. Anjanapura dam is a new addition to the tourist map of Shikaripur taluk.
The residents of Anjanapura commented that, it is necessary to declare Shikaripur taluk a tourist circuit and proper amenities for visitors to be provided at the venue to make it one of the best tourist destinations.