The Hemavati River starts in the Western Ghats at an elevation of about 1,219 metres near Ballala rayana durga in the Chikmagalur District of the state of Karnataka, in southern India. It flows through Hassan District where it is joined by its chief tributary, the Yagachi River, and then into Mandya district before joining the Kaveri near Krishnarajasagara. It is approximately 245 km long and has a drainage area of about 5,410 km².