Shivanasamudra or Shivanasamudram

Shivanasamudra is a small town in the Mandya District of Karnataka. It is situated on the banks of the river Kaveri and is the location of the first Hydro-electric Power station in Asia, which was set up in the year 1902. Distance from Mysore, Karnataka to Shivanasamudra falls is 77.5 km and travel time is around 1 h 34 min. Distance from Bhadravati to Shivanasamudra is 279.0 km and takes around 5 h 30 min via Bangalore-Shimoga Road. Distance from Talakadu to Shivanasamudra is 29.9 km and travelling takes around 42 min via Talakadu - Malavalli Road and Belakavadi - T Narasipura Road.



The Shivanasamudra Falls is on the Kaveri River after the river has wound its way through the rocks and ravines of the Deccan Plateau and drops off to form waterfalls. The island town of Shivanasamudra divides the river into twin waterfalls. This creates the fourth largest island in the rivers course. A group of ancient temples are located here and there likely was a village.



Shivanasamudra Falls is a segmented waterfall. Segmented waterfalls occur where the water flow is broken into two or more channels before dropping over a cliff, resulting in multiple side by side waterfalls. It has an average width of 849 meters, a height of 90 m, and an average volume of 934 cubic meters / sec. The maximum recorded volume is 18,887 cubic meters / sec. It is a perennial waterfall. The time of best flow are the monsoon season of July to October.

A common misconception about these waterfalls are that the left segment is called Gaganachukki and the right segment is called Bharachukki. In reality the Bharachukki falls are a few kilomoters to the south-west of the Gaganachukki falls. This is due to the Kaveri river itself splitting a few kilometers to the south into western and eastern branches. The western branch results in the twin waterfalls of Gaganachukki, whereas the eastern branch results in the Bharachukki falls. The Gaganachukki waterfalls are best viewed from the Shivanasamudra watch tower. Most of the pictures showing the twin waterfalls are taken from that location. There is another approach to the Gaganachukki falls from the Darga Hazrath Mardane Gaib. Despite warnings being posted, people climb down the rocks and attempt to view the waterfalls from behind/top, resulting in many fatal accidents. it is 139km far from the bangalore.

Asia's first hydro-electric power stations, still functional, is located at the Shivanasamudra waterfall. This station was commissioned by the Diwan of Mysore, Sir K. Seshadri Iyer. The electricity produced here was initially used in the Kolar Gold Fields. Thus, Kolar Gold Fields became the first town in Asia to get hydro electricity.

KSTDC Conducted Tours to Shivanasamudra

Barachukki and Gaganachukki are two waterfalls situated near the island town of Shivanasamudra in the Mandya district of Karnataka. The waterfalls are created by river Cauvery that runs down a 75 metre gorge before it divides into two branches that flows around the island of Shivanasamudra.

Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary

Surrounding the Shivanasamudra waterfalls are hill forests of the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary. The Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area located in the Mandya, Chamarajanagar and Ramanagar districts of Karnataka, India. The Cauvery River passes through its midst. It was established on 14 January 1987 under Section 18 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1973 with the objective of providing protection, conservation and development of Wildlife and its environment.

Among the many faunal species found in the sanctuary, malabar giant squirrel (Ratufa indica maxima), grizzled giant squirrel (Ratufa macroura) are under the highly endangered category. The sanctuary is also home to many reptile species, 280 bird species which include 19 new species and 25 bird species of Malayan Tropical Dry Zone.

Bangalore to Shravanabelagola Bus Services

KSRTC runs only few direct buses from Bangalore to Shravanabelagola, except the luxury services going to Hassan which stops at Hirisave and Channarayapatna. You can get down at Hirisave which is 18 km away from Shravanabelagola but there is no frequent connectivity to Shravanabelagola. Either you wait for the KSRTC bus which may be a long wait or hop into any shared auto (14 Rs) to Shravanabelagola. To Channarayapatana which is 11km from Shravanabelagola there are ample number of KSRTC buses available from Bangalore. From Channarayapatana there are many KSRTC buses available to Shravanabelagola.

Distance from Buddhi School, 8th Main Road, Rachenahalli, Thanisandra to Shivanasamudra is 193.6 km and takes around 4 h 7 min via NH209. Distance from Vijayanagar to Shivanasamudra is 131 km and takes around 2 h 36 min via NH209. Distance from Bannerghatta Main Road to Shivanasamudra Falls is 119 km and travel time is around 2 h 29 min via NH209.

Visiting Shivasamudram Falls Bangalore - Shivsamundram Fall from Bangalore Address -