The Chitravathi is an inter-state river in

southern India South India, also known as Southern India or Peninsular India, is the southern part of the Deccan Peninsula in India encompassing the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana as well as the union territories of ...

that is a

tributary A tributary, or an ''affluent'', is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream (''main stem'' or ''"parent"''), river, or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean. Tributaries, and the main stem river into which they ...

of the

Penna River Penna (also known as Pinakini, Penneru, Penner, Pennar, Pennai) is a river of southern India. After originating from Nandi hills, it flows as two different streams, one in North and South directions. The Penna rises in the Nandi Hills, India, ...

. Rising in

Karnataka Karnataka ( ) is a States and union territories of India, state in the southwestern region of India. It was Unification of Karnataka, formed as Mysore State on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, States Re ...

, it flows into

Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh (ISO 15919, ISO: , , AP) is a States and union territories of India, state on the East Coast of India, east coast of southern India. It is the List of states and union territories of India by area, seventh-largest state and th ...

and its basin covers an area of over 5,900 km². The pilgrim town of

Puttaparthi Puttaparthi (IAST: ''Puṭṭaparthy'') is a municipality and district headquarters of Sri Sathya Sai district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is located in Puttaparthi mandal of Puttaparthi revenue division. The original name of Put ...

is located on its banks.

Course

Chitravathi river originates at

Chikkaballapur Chikkaballapur or Chikkaballāpura is the district headquarters of the newly created Chikkaballapur district in the state of Karnataka, India, which was carved out from Kolar district. It is located within 3 km of Muddenahalli (the birthpla ...

and flows through the Chikkaballapur district of Karnataka before entering Andhra Pradesh where it drains the districts of

Anantapur Anantapur, officially Anantapuramu, is a city in Anantapur district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is the mandal headquarters of Anantapuru Tehsil, mandal and also the divisional headquarters of Anantapur revenue division. The city ...

and

Cuddapah Kadapa is a city in the southern part of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is located in the Rayalaseema region, and is the district headquarters of YSR Kadapa district. It is located south of the Penna River. The city is surrounded on three sides b ...

before joining the

Penna river Penna (also known as Pinakini, Penneru, Penner, Pennar, Pennai) is a river of southern India. After originating from Nandi hills, it flows as two different streams, one in North and South directions. The Penna rises in the Nandi Hills, India, ...

. The Chitravathi river basin covers an area of 5,908 km². The mandals that it drains in the two states are

Bagepalli Bagepalli is a town municipal council in Chikkaballapura district in the state of Karnataka, India. Bagepalli is situated 100 km north of Bangaluru on the Bangalore-Hyderabad National Highway. The region is just below the southern border ...

, Gorantla,

Hindupur Hindupuram is the largest city in Sri Sathya Sai district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is located to the edge of the Andhra–Karnataka border and is the headquarters of Hindupuram mandalam. Hindupuram is the Parliamentary Cons ...

, Bukkapatnam, Dharmavaram,

Tadipatri Tadipatri is a city in Anantapur district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh at the border of Nandyala district and Kadapa district. It is a Selection Grade Municipality City Council. Tadipatri is a headquarters of Tadipatri mandal in An ...

and Mudigubba. The river joins the Penna at Gandikota in Kadapa district where the Gandikota irrigation project is being undertaken by the

Government of Andhra Pradesh The Government of Andhra Pradesh, abbreviated as GoAP, is the Administrative division, state government and the administrative body responsible for the governance of the States of India, Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Amaravati is the capital ...

as part of its Jalayagnam project. Chitravathi is a seasonal river that comes alive after the

monsoons A monsoon () is traditionally a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with annual latitudinal oscil ...

. Along with the Papagni, it forms a part of the middle Penna sub-basin and is a right bank tributary of the Penna. Chitravati Balancing Reservoir at parnapalli on 15th January 2018

Chitravati Balancing Reservoir at parnapalli on 15th January 2018

Paragodu project

The proposal to build a barrage at Paragodu by the

Government of Karnataka The Government of Karnataka, abbreviated as GoK or GoKA, formerly known as Government of Mysore (1956–1974), is a democratically elected state body with the governor as the ceremonial head to govern the Southwest Indian state of Karnataka ...

has been opposed by politicians from Andhra Pradesh who argue that the move is likely to affect the availability of water for the various tank irrigation projects that exist in the Andhra districts.

Ecological issues

Sand mining Sand mining is the extraction of sand, mainly through an open pit (or sand pit) but sometimes mined from beaches and inland dunes or dredged from ocean and river beds. Sand is often used in manufacturing, for example as an abrasive or in conc ...

, much of it illegal, is rampant in the Chitravathi basin and this has resulted in severe depletion of groundwater resources in the region.

Religious significance

Chitravathi is also known as the ''Deva Kanya'' and it flows through the pilgrim town of Puttaparthi, the place of Indian spiritual leader

Sathya Sai Baba Sathya Sai Baba (born Ratnakaram Sathyanarayana Raju; 23 November 192624 April 2011) was an Indian godman, guru and philanthropist. At the age of 14, he claimed to be the reincarnation of Shirdi Sai Baba and left his home saying "my devote ...

. It is considered sacred by many people on account of its association with Sathya Sai Baba.

References

{{Hydrography of Andhra Pradesh Rivers of Andhra Pradesh Rivers of Karnataka Penner River Geography of Chikkaballapura district Geography of Kadapa district Geography of Anantapur district