Shivanasamundram

Shivasamundram, also known as Shivanasamudra, literally meaning Shiva's Sea, is an emerging tourist detsination, situated in a rocky terrain with traces of vegetation near Mysore in Karnataka. It is a small, pretty picturesque, calm town with lot of wonderful sights hidden under its calmness.

One of Asia's first hydro-electric power stations set up in 1902, which is still functional, is located here in Gaganachukki waterfall. This is where hydroelectric power was harnessed for the second time (after Darjeeling) in Asia and the electricity thus produced was used in the Gold Mines of Kolar, making it the first city in Asia to get hydro-electricity. A security check post at Shivasamundram prohibits the visitors from visiting between 6 pm and 6 am.

Near the town is the famous Shivanasamudra waterfall. Here Kaveri (Cauvery), the famous river in the region, splits into two, falls into a valley in two separate places called Gaganachukki and Bharachukki, two main attarctions in Shivasamundram and re-unites downstream. A good lot of water falls down from both the waterfalls.

Gaganachukki especially is a steep fall where water gushes down with great speed. The two waterfalls are around a 15-minute drive apart and make beautiful picnic locations. As the cascading water hits the rocky surface, a dense mist of vapor emerges to partially envelop the falls, providing a brilliant sight which is reckoned to be unmatched in its beauty. These spectacular waterfalls are surrounded by hill forests of the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary. Adventurous and enthusiastic tourists can venture out here for trekking and fishing.

There is more to the region. The island carved out of the two streams of the Kaveri is also a famous pilgrimage centre and is popularly called as Madhya Ranga. The Ranganatha Temple, constructed in the Dravidian style, houses the idol of Lord Ranganatha sleeping on Adisesha while an intriguing piece of sculpture is that of Takshaka, the lord of serpents, whose image is found to the right in the navaranga of the temple.

The weather is sunshine most of the year with rainfall being short, sharp spells.

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