Shivasamudra falls - Nature's delight

If you are looking for a day away from the hustle and bustle of city life and also want it to be light on your pocket then Shivasamudram is a good choice. Shivasamudram is situated in Mandya district of Karnataka. It is picturesquely situated along the banks of the river Kaveri and is home to the twin water falls: Gaganachukki and Barahchukki.

The road takes you through small villages and towns which seemed to have stopped in time. The road is devoid of even food joints. The only one "The Kitchen" stands out because all cars and bikes seem to be parked in front of it.Unlike many of the previous road trips this one was surprisingly devoid of pot holes. As you started approaching the destination you could view the mighty Kaveri river flowing along one side of the road.

Nature trails

Enjoying the ambience

An old bridge

Being a bit critical on Indian cleanliness I had assumed that this water falls would be like many of ill maintained littered places. To my surprise the place was well kept. One could view the fall from a certain distance. Being peak monsoon season it seemed to be gushing dangerously with water. The steps to reach the water was blocked midway. Although it was a disappointment that one could not get to feel and go near the water the safety reasons outweighed our disappointment. My husband's effort of packing an extra pair of clothing seemed to be wasted.

Gaganachukki falls

Barahchukki falls

There is not much to do around the place. There are few old villages like Talakaddu on the way which can be visited if you have interest in old temple architecture.

The best part of the trip was the overall journey. The small villages or broken bridges on the river bank where one could stop and just be with nature. This route seemed to be a favorite with bikers and trekkers. The water fall was beautiful reminded me of the several new year picnic we celebrated along these water falls in the Chota Nagpur plateau during school days. Overall it was a day well spent.