Shettihalli Church is located 22 km away from Shettihalli in Karnataka. The church was built in 1860 on the banks of Hemavathi River, near Hassan, by French missionaries for the then wealthy British estate owners.
The church is a magnificent structure of Gothic Architecture.
The really interesting fact about this church is that the entire structure is submerged in the river during monsoons. In 1960 the construction of the Hemavati Dam and Reservoir led to an abandonment of the church.
All the inhabitants were relocated to nearby villages and the church was abandoned forever.
It has been 200 years since the church was built and more than 25 years since dam waters started flooding and submerging the church, the walls still stand there with such understated charm.
It attracts a lot of visitors who want to see the ruins in this spectacular sight. Even when the church is half under the water, tourists can go near it on a cotacle.
The architecture is preserved that people can imagine what it used to look like. Areas around the church have become shooting locations for regional movies and serials.
The church was built with mortar and bricks, and a mixture of jiggery and eggs. The entire roof has caved in, while part of the altar and the central nave still stand, there are no stained glass windows, pews or even windows left in the church.
The massive skeleton of the ruined church is a must see. Today, the church is home to birds who catch fish in the lake, and a very silent and peaceful place. A photographer’s paradise, the blue skies reflect through Hemavathi Reservoir while the ancient church sits in the backdrop.