Shivanasamudra is a small city in the Mandya District in Karnataka, India. Situated on River Cauvery, it is a popular tourist places in Karnataka, especially for one day trips and weekend breaks. The island of Shivanasamudra divides the river into two: Gaganachukki and Barachukki.

At a distance of 130 km from Bangalore and 81 km from Mysore, Shivanasamudra is a famous waterfall that is perennial. Known as Shiva’s Sea, it is one of the best waterfalls near Bangalore and lies on the Cauvery River close to ancient temples.

• Total Height: 98 m /90 metres (300 ft)
• Flow rate: 934 m³/s   (33,000 cubic ft/s)
• Number of drops: Gaganachukki, Bharachukki
• Watercourse: River Cauvery
• 2 hours 38 minutes from Bangalore
• Distance (From Shivanasamudra Falls): 68 kms
• Trip Duration (From Shivanasamudra Falls - Including Travel): 1-2 Days

What to do

Camping

Coracle Boat Rides

Waterfall viewing

Nature treks

Temple visit

Temples

Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple is built on Dravidan lines of architecture. Among the three Rangas, the deity here is believed to represent the youth form of the God and hence is also referred to as 'Mohana Ranga' and 'Jaganmohana Ranga'.

The ancient, famous Sri Someshwara Temple is believed that the Someshwara Linga here has existed much before the Ranganantha idol.

The Shakthi Devathe Temple of Vanadurga Devi is 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) away from Someshwara temple.

Travel Tips

1. Best time to visit: Mesmerizing during the monsoon season of Aug to October, but beautiful all year around as it is perennial.
2. Avoid entering the river at the waterfalls, as the current is swift.
3. At Talakadu visit the temple first, have lunch and then relax on the beach.
4. Hire a local guide for a nominal fee to learn more about the place.
5. If you have a tent, pitch it under the leafy, shady trees by the river.
6. Staying overnight? Choose from Raya Resort or Jaladhama Resort
7. Explore Mudukuthore and spectacular Hoysala temple of Somnathpur.
8. There is a State government resort near Gaganachukki.
9. Wear a good hat and apply sunscreen

The Circuit

Bangalore – Kanakapura – Malavalli – Gaganachukki falls – Bharachukki falls – Talakadu – Bangalore

Distance: 315 KMs      Road condition: Very good     Route : Google Map of the circuit

The Itinerary: 6.30 am – Leave home and hit NICE road close by. Exit at Kanakapura Road. Enjoy the countryside and lakes, leaving the traffic behind.

8:00 am – Halt for Breakfast at Kanakapura. Vasu Hotel is an excellent option. A traditional self-service hotel has a menu of excellent Idlis, Vadas and of Masala Dosa.

8.45 am – Depart Kanakapura and drive along NH 209 (New No is 948). At Malavalli, continue on the bypass road and drive straight to the first of the two falls at Shivanasamudra – Gaganachukki. Follow excellent signage from the highway to the falls.

10:00 am: Arrive at Gaganachukki falls. Proceed to the view-point. Enjoy the spectacular view of the falls. Gaganachukki as name suggests cascades from the tall rocks and forms a lovely waterfall. Do not venture to walk down to the bottom of the falls and try to swim in water which has whirlpools. It is also dangerous as rocks are slippery.

Gaganachukki Falls.

Falling from taller cliffs, Gaganachukki offers a spectacular view with a huge horsetail shaped waterfall dropping from a height of 90 m and two large parallel streams that cascade down through a rocky bed from a height of over 320 feet. Swimming is not permitted here.  

10:45 am: Depart from Gaganachukki and proceed towards Bharachukki. It takes 15 minutes. Stopover and enjoy the panoramic view of the huge lake formed by the barrage against River Cauvery. Go to the view-point and enjoy the panoramic view of the falls. Spend 30-45 minutes here.

Bharachukki is situated about a km from the Gaganachukki (Dargah point). It is more spread out, voluminous and more popular than that of Gaganachukki. It cascades from a height of 70m. There is well laid flight of 200 steps that leads down to the waterfall, which is safe as it fenced with railings with benches to sit on and relax. July to January is the best time while August to October is the peak season.

11.45 am – Depart for Talakadu in a comfortable vehicle for 45 minutes. Reach Talakadu. After the vehicle is parked in the parking zone, you can enjoy the lovely sandy beach! Swimming is not recommended though playing in the sand is! Do be careful of sudden depths due to loose sand pattern. You could rent a coracle boat at your own risk. Insist on a life jacket.

1:30 pm – Enjoy your lunch at one of the two resorts: Raya Resorts or Jaladhama Resort

3:00 pm – After lunch, you can visit the 30 temples in Talakadu. Some of them buried under sand and some of them excavated. The five temples of Shiva – Pancahalinga – are all excavated and opened for darshan. Also don’t forget to visit lovely Keerti Narayana Temple built in Hoysala Style.

4:30 pm – Depart for Bangalore. You can stop at Vasu hotel or MTR near Art of Living ashram for snacks before reaching home around 7:30pm.

Hotel Haripriya at Mandya (http://www.haripriyahotel.com) offers good rooms at an affordable cost. Even though we visited this place during August September we were not lucky enough to see the full glory of the waterfalls.

Somnathpur

At a distance of 137 km from Bangalore, 35 km from Mysore and 50 km from Shivanasamudra Falls, Somnathpur is well known for the breath-taking  Prasanna Chennakesava Temple, one of the three famous and finest representations of Hoysala architecture (other two being temples at Belur & Halebid). This is one of the three Hoysala temples nominated for UNESCO World Heritage Site status. This is one of the popular tourist places to visit near Bangalore and Mysore and one of the wonderful weekend getaways from both the cities. The Hoysala temples are known for minute and intricate carvings and sculptures with metal like polishing. It is one of the well-known Karnataka tourist places and also one of the best places to experience Mysore Tourism.

Distance (From Shivanasamudra Falls): 46 Kms

Trip Duration (From Shivanasamudra Falls - Including Travel): 4 Hours/Half Day

Mysore

At a distance of 139 km from Bangalore, 476 km from Chennai, 247 km from Mangalore, 203 km from Coimbatore and 128 km from Ooty, Mysore is the second largest city in Karnataka. It is the erstwhile capital of the Mysore Maharajas, who ruled the Mysore State between 1399 and 1947. Mysore still retains its old world charm with its palaces, heritage buildings, traditions and temples. At an altitude of 763 meters surrounded by hill ranges from north to south, it is known as the City of Palaces. Mysore is one of the top destinations to visit as part of 2 day trip near Bangalore and Mysore Palace is among the must include place in your Mysore Tour Packages.

Travel

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