Located about 150 kms from Bangalore, Shivansamudram falls offer a spectacular view of grandeur of nature. The first view of the falls that you get from a watch-tower at the top of a small hill is majestic. You can go down to the point where the water falls down, through a steep flight of stairs. It is not just a spectacular view, but also an amazing feeling to be close to nature. Though the space at the bottom is quite less (logically so!), and rather packed with the visiting humans, and resident simians. The stairs are well built, though a bit difficult to get down, due to the incline. Climbing up was a lot more tougher!
We also
passed by an ancient temple, and made a stop there on our way back.
Though it didn't look quite so ancient from outside, once inside we
could see that the idols and the original shrines were really old.
We
also crossed the river Cauvery, and at one point the bank was quite
accessible from the road. We saw quite a few people stopping there, and
Sid made us stop there (and had a lot fun in water)! At this point, along
the concrete bridge, there was an ancient stone bridge, apparently no
longer in use, but in a remarkably good condition - they don't make them like that any more!!
Though we chose the wrong time - of the year (it was post monsoon, so
the flow of the water was not at its peak, but it could not be helped) -
and of the day (we reached only around noon, and it was pretty hot by
then). It was still a rewarding sight, and I'd love to go there again
some time, for two reasons. From what I learnt, these are actually two
falls, Gaganchukki and Bharachukki, and I think we visited only one of
them - the other one is a few kms away (though I am little unsure of the
facts here). Also, close by is Talakkad (Talakadu), a place that boasts of
ancient abandoned stone temples by the bank of river Cauvery.
