During the monsoons, if you visit Shettihalli in Karnataka’s Hassan district, about 200km from Bengaluru, you will find a church floating in the backwaters of the Hemavati River. The 212-year-old Shettihalli Rosary Church has been submerging in water between July and October annually since 1960. Only the top one-third of the structure is visible during the monsoons.
Also known as the floating or submerged church, it was abandoned in 1960 after the construction of Hemavati Dam and Reservoir which redirected the waters of the river and submerged 28 villages in the vicinity.
Built by French missionary Jean-Antoine Dubois (January 1765 – 17 February 1848) in 1810, the church with Gothic architecture was initially a single-storey building with two bells. It was renovated in 1860 when the area was expanded and a lot of decorative items were imported to adorn the church.
Apart from mortar and bricks, a mix of jaggery and eggs was used in its construction.
Both jaggery and eggs have been used in many historical monuments as well as homes across India. Jaggery is believed to be a strong binding agent while eggs give a shine to the walls. The use of eggs is also common in Tamil Nadu’s Chettinad architecture where masons use them to give a mirror-like finish to the walls.
The church is an example of Gothic architecture, which was prevalent in Europe from the 12th to the 18th centuries.
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The prominent Gothic features like pointed arches, ribbed vaults and spires can still be seen in the ruins of the church.
But imported stained glass doors, windows and artefacts have all been lost. The structure’s entire roof has caved in, unable to withstand the elements of nature, but the altar and the central nave are still standing.
Dubois’ church was the worship place for the wealthy British estate owners in Sakleshpur and Alur besides locals from Changaravalli, Shettihalli, and Madanakopplu. While Dubois had come to India to convert the locals to Christianity, and setting up the Shettihalli church was a part of his project, he ended up adopting the Hindu way of life including vegetarianism, local clothing and language.
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As a result, the Shettihalli Rosary Church became a place for helping the poor and the needy irrespective of their religion. Dubois left India for France in January 1823 and authored a book of Indology — Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies.
It is said that many Christian scholars including B L Rice, Rev. F Kittel, and Hermann Moggling stayed at the church during their research work.
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The Shettihalli Rosary Church is a much-loved tourist spot and during the rainy season, visitors can see the floating church from the bridge across the dam. More pictures here:
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