The Kumaradhara river basin extends from 12^o29’4” to 12^o58’33” N and  75^o9’58” to 75^o47’48” E with the catchment area of 1776 sq.km (Figure 1). Kumaradhara river originates in central Western Ghats at an elevation of 1480 m AMSL at Kodagu and the river drops down to 33m AMSL at Uppinangadi, Putturtaluk and joins river Netravathi (Figure 2). The river basin is spread across three districts: Hassan, Kodagu and Dakshina Kannada (Figure 3).

Figure1: Kumaradhara River Basin

Figure 2: Kumaradhara Drainage network and Basin on Google Earth

Gundia river that flows in Sakleshpura taluk (as tributary) joins Kumaradhara (that flows from Kodagu) at Dolpadi Village and Koodige Ulippu of Kuttruppady Village, Puttur Taluk, Dakshina Kannada district.  This river further joins Netravathi river at Uppinangadi village of Puttur taluk.

Figure 3: Administrative regions (taluk and village) under Kumaradhara River Basin

The river is located in the Malnad region of Western Ghats, the topography is undulating with moderate hills and linear ridges. Rainfall in the basin varies from 3000 mm to over 4250 mm annually. Spatial variation of rainfall based on the data for the period 1901 to 2010 is depicted in Figure 4.

Figure 4: Spatial variation of annual rainfall (1901 – 2010) in the river basin