Ruins of Shettihalli Rosary Church in Karnataka, India

© Amith Nag Photography/Getty Image

India’s only ‘floating church’

Today, you are witnessing Shettihalli Rosary Church, an ancient catholic church built in the 19th century by the French missionaries. Located 22 km from Hassan in Karnataka, the church was abandoned in the 1960s and is currently in ruins. The uniqueness about the church is that it gets submerged in water and creates an illusion of a floating monument every monsoon and for the same reason, the ruined church has become a popular tourist attraction in the region.

The church reflects the French Gothic style of architecture that was used by the British to attract wealthy estate owners. The towering columns along with the arched walls are still visible with black and grey tints, rising above the blue rippling water. Standing tall in the middle of barren fields, the church doesn’t have a roof and echoes with the silence of the surroundings and the chirping of the birds. Overall, it is a great sight in Karnataka and definitely worth the venture.