Sirimane Water Falls

A wonderful waterfalls made by river tunga, while she descends over the western ghats. It was a long time wish of mine to visit this falls, as I had missed to visit during my college days with friends. It isn't that far from my native, and in fact its on the way back from b'lore to my native via Sringeri. A 16kms road from Sringeri leads to this amazing water falls.

This time when I started to native, I had in mind to visit this water falls, all information I had was it's about 5-6kms from Sringeri, and a nice road is there to reach to the place, but when I took turn to the falls at Sringeri, I found that its not 5, instead 15+ kms. anyways, I had made up my mind to go there, so we started to drive in that direction. I took almost 30+ min on that road, and I found that, the road is under construction we cant go any further, bike would have gone till falls. So I parked my car near a tree shade, and walked about a kms on mud road to reach to the falls.

It was worth the risk taken, risk I mean is that, I read in news papers, that Sringeri area is all occupied by Naxalites, so I was bit scared about going there since it is deep inside forests. In fact may be that is the reason there were no tourists except us. A couple came in bike, and asked about the route with me, that made me feel better as at least we are not alone. After seeing the falls, I was so happy as it was so silent all around and beautiful, and no crowd.

I think tourism department is making new roads to reach the falls, which makes it more accessible, already the mud road is complete and they are in the process of taring the same. Soon it will be complete, and once done, it will be more like Abbey falls in Madikeri. There is a stair case leading down to the falls, and a view point to watch the falls in case you don't want to get into the water. We have not brought extra clothes, and car was a kilometer away.

But we still got into water, it was so cold, and rejuvenating. The water falls is not that big, but it is really beautiful one. I splashed water on my face and felt heavenly feeling. Spent some forty minutes there playing in water and taking photos. There were none other than us, the couples who had come before us had left long back. We were already tired after the long journey from Bangalore, and this really made us little relaxing, but then we were hungry as it was already 1.00 PM, so we left from there with the memories captured in binary format.

Gaganachukki and Barachukki (Shivana Samudra)

These are the two falls formed by Cauvery River near Sivanasamudram. Cauvery river splits itself and makes these two Amazing waterfalls. The best time to visit this place is in the Monsoon, or just after the monsoon till October, I visited this place is in the 3rd week of August, it was wonderful at that time. We can either take Kanakapura road or Mysore road to reach this place, I preferred mysore road, as I heard that Kanakapura road condition is not good. We need to take a diversion near Maddur, and then proceed towards Malavalli. Shivanasamudram is about 20kms from there.

Gaganachukki falls has an amazing view, we reached early in the morning, when we reached there were no tourists at that time. It was all only us, tourism department had built a nice view point from there you can enjoy the water falling from, it is a falls which is spread over a width. It’s difficult capture the beauty completely in camera at one shot. We can't walk down to the place where waterfalls, all we can do is enjoy your time watching the falls and taking some nice snaps, that’s what we did. They had put up some boards mentioning the names of the people who dies in last few years, most of them being software engineers from Bangalore, so I did not dare to do any adventure there. There aren’t any good restaurants in the nearby vicinity, so better pack all your breakfast from home, we did pack from home, and had it there.

Barachukki falls is a few kms from there, just go back in the route you came here, you will get a junction and there you can see the board, you will find the way to Barachukki falls. I bet, you will enjoy more here than in the twin falls, as here you can go to the bottom of the falls, by stairs and even hire a “Teppa” (round shaped floating boat) for a reasonable price and have a wonderful ride in the water till the place water falls down. You can enjoy the water splashing on you from the falls. It will be very good experience, if you happen to go there don't miss this boat ride. Talakadu is few kms from here, may be you can visit Talakadu once you are done with Barachukki falls. But the road condition is very very bad and if you don't enjoy visiting temples and taking a bath in the river, forget about this place.

Irpu Falls and Nagarahole

Tumbling through the hills, The Lakshamanatirtha River thunders 51.8m into the valley. Flowing northwards from here to join another rivulet, the Ramatirtha, it changes course northeastward to join the Cauvery in Mysore district.

This is a wonderful place for a weekend trip. This one is little far from Madikeri if you happen to come via Madikeri, about 80+ kms, you need to go via Virajpet, Gonikoppa. If you start by afternoon from Madikeri you can reach by 3.30 PM or so, takes about 2+ hours to reach there.

You can spend the evening there and then if you are coming back to Bangalore come via Nagarahole reserve forest, where it’s really soothing to your mind, you need to drive slowly and watch the animals in the Natural Habitat. Depending on your luck you can see many different animals, mostly you will see deers, and if lucky you can also see elephants, Wild buffaloes.

This is also known as "Rajiv Gandhi National Park" extend to 647 Sq. Kilometres. An excellent opportunity to witness wild animals of different kinds, from the majestic elephant to the Deer, Tiger, Cheetha, jackal etc. The forest comprises of valuable wealth like the teak, rosewood, sandal wood trees etc. Though plying of private vehicles is not allowed inside, the departmental vehicle takes the tourists.

Abbey falls, Madikeri

This is a beautiful falls close to Madikeri, about 7-8kms from the city. Many boards are there inside city which point you to the falls, you won’t find it difficult to get there. There are enough parking spaces, after you park your vehicle you have to walk about 100 meters so reach the falls.

The madikeri stream, also called Muttaramuttu, falls 21.3m between huge boulders to a deep rocky vally to form this picturesque waterfall called Abbi falls(abbi means waterfall in Kodavatak). The British called it the Jessey Water falls in memory of Jessey, the daughter of Madikeri's first chaplain. Every year a few unwary people meet an unfortunate end over the slippery rocks here.

Abundant in this region, Madduthoppu (Justicia wayanadensis) is attributted medicinal value believed to peak on 18th of Kakkada(July-August), when it is used as an ingredient in various delicacies.

There is misconception that this is of Cauvery River, but its not. But it’s a falls made by group of small streams called Madikeri streams. The falls is quite simple yet so beautiful, when there is enough water, i.e. between June to September it’s amazing, you can feel the cold breeze on the hanging bridge made by the forest department. The water is not deep under the falls you can get close to falls and even climb the falls with little risk. I had been on the rocks many times when I visited before 2006, now police will always be around and they won’t allow you to get into the water. But you can always enjoy the beauty from the hanging bridge.

Arasina Gundi Falls, Kodachadri

This falls resides deep inside the forests close to Kodachadri hills, so needs to be covered whenever you visit Kodachadri. When I visited we went through one route which is in the opposite side of the Kollur route, where in you reach to the bottom of the Kodachadri hills, you find a empty play ground type of vacant area, where there is small hotel and some small temples around. You see some local kids playing in that area.

If you are have reached this place then you can ask anyone there where to go to Arasinagundi falls, they will guide you to the falls, the route runs inside the forest sometimes its highly possible that you may get lost. We were running in the forst in groups to reach the falls early as possible, some places were so dense that we use get scared if we encounter any wild animals. There is another way which is more safer and you have a guiding route when you come from Kollur-Nagara road.

This is one wonderful falls and a must visit place, untouched by humans, and possibly when you go there you will not find anyone else. You can enjoy the whole falls to you self. It’s believed that the under the water fall its very deep and high risk to swim and try to reach there. I strongly recommend not swimming in that area shown in picture, but to take bath in the small streams further downstream, and enjoy the beauty of the falls from there.

Seeta Falls, Hebri

This is another nice waterfall which is also located deep inside the forest, but not as far as the Onake Abbe falls, you need to trek about 2 kilometres in forest. There is a road till some point and later you need to walk inside forest. The route is quite visible and no guide is needed. This fall is not that deep and you can walk to the point where water drops and take bath there. Water will strike your head like nails with such a force, so be careful when you put your head under a thick water stream.

As applies with the above falls here too you don’t get anything to eat, as it’s inside the forest so better get something to eat. Best time to visit this is around August to December. There is a road leading to this place from Hebri, you can ask someone in hebri to get the route.

Onake Abbe Falls, Someshwara

This falls is deep inside the forest and you need to do some real trekking to reach here. If you start from Udupi you need to go via hebri and reach Someshwara, a small town on the foot of Agumbe ghat, if you are coming via Agumbe then once you get down from Agumbe Ghat is this small town Someshwara where you need to start trekking, ask anyone around they will be knowing from where to start the trekking. This is a place to enjoy on a weekend, go here with all the energy and take some food along as you won’t get anything inside forest.

I am not sure how deep it is in the centre but you can swim and reach to the place where you can take bath under the falls, you have enough space there to sit and relax on the rocks. I suggest you to take extra caution in reaching this point. You can get some guide in Hebri to take you to this falls. Sometimes it’s difficult to find the way inside the forest.