With steady inflow from Coorg owing to pouring rains, KRS is now full, and there is plenty of water flowing down in Kaveri. Hoping that this is the right time, I decided to make a quick day trip to Shivanasamudra. There indeed was plenty of water and we had a great time. Even though we started as early as 6am, we had no intention to reach the falls – 120km away, before 3pm. We stopped often along the way and drove easy. The stop-overs were breakfast at Kamat Lokaruchi, rocky terrains of Ramnagar and some lakes after Maddur. We decided to take a deviation to Talkad before heading to Shivanasamudra. Some photos..
on the way… building a hay stack..
a cart in the field..
every one seemed to be working with hay..
Life sprouting on a dry lake bed
Bharachukki falls with full strength
A section of Gaganachukki
Another section of Gaganachukki
And another section of Gaganachukki..
More information
* More about Shivanasamudra and how to get there
* More about Talkad
* Other places on the bank of Kaveri
* More weekend getaways from Bangalore
Activities for upcoming weekends around Bangalore
+ weekend photography workshop, Bangalore – every month
Some time back, I spent a week compiling places with water (rivers, waterfalls,..) that one can visit from Bangalore for picnic or as a day trip. This frequently updated list has now grown into a comprehensive collection of weekend destinations around Bangalore.
DAY-TRIP, LEISURE, PICNIC
1. Muthyala Maduvu or pearl valley
2. A morning in Nandi Hills
3. Muthathi
4. Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary
5. Sangama, Mekedatu and Chunchi falls
6. Shivanasamudra – Gaganachukki and Bharachukki waterfalls
7. Talkad
8. Balmuri Falls
9. Hogenakkal
10. KRS dam and Brindavan gardens
11. Melukote
12. Manchanabele
13. Devarayanadurga
14. Madhugiri Fort
15. Mysore Palace
TREKKING
1. Hiking in Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary
2. Trekking on the railway tracks to Yedakumari between Sakaleshapura and Subrahmanya
3. Bandipur National Park
4. Thadiyandamol in Coorg
NATURE, WILDLIFE
1. Driving to Coorg
2. Driving in rain: Jog falls, Karwar, Kali and Goa
3. Mullayyanagiri and Charmadi, Chickmagalur, in the monsoon
4. Bandipur National Park
5. Bhadra wildlife Sanctuary: Muthodi
6. A birding trip to Wayanad, Kerala
7. Dandeli: Wilderness and adventure
8. Ride to Kasaragod via Coorg
9. Waterfalls near Sirsi & Yellapur (new)
LEISURE, HISTORY, CULTURE AND MORE
1. Driving from Bangalore to Goa via Jog and Murdeshwara
2. Hampi
3. Belur and Halebeedu
4. Melukote
5. Gokarna
6. Badami and Banashankari
7. Aihole
8. Pattadakal
9. Mahakoota
10. Lepakshi
KRS is the largest dam built on the river Kaveri in Karnataka. It is around 130km from Bangalore. It was built in pre-independence time by famous diwan of the then Maharaja of Mysore – Sir M Visvesvraya who is well known for engineering many more such large scale projects. The reservoir of the dam looks endless and seems to have oceanic proportions. The wall of the dam is several kilometers long. Just besides the dam is the well known scenic garden – Brindavan Gardens. It has numerous fountains that it is known for. The best attraction is the musical fountain which attracts a lot of people during the weekends.
Fountains in KRS. In the background is the wall of the dam
Also see: Places around Bangalore on the bank of kaveri
Information
Krishnaraja Sagar dam is close to Ranganathittu and Srirangapattna. A trip to KRS can be combined together with a visit to Ranganathittu. Take Mysore road from Bangalore and drive for around 100kms till you reach Srirangapattna. Drive further on the highway for a few more minutes and turn right. This is the same road that takes you to Ranganathittu. Continue driving here for 10 minutes and you will see a right turn to KRS which is further 10 minutes drive from here. Best time to visit would be Sunday evening to view the musical fountains. You can start on Sunday morning and visit Ranganathittu, come back to Srirangapattna and visit Tippu’s grave and Sangama, and then go to KRS in the evening and return to Bangalore.