Chunchi Falls, Mekedatu (aka Goat's Leap), Sivanasamudram (aka Shivanasamudram, Shimsha, Bluff)

 

Oct 06, 2007

Chunchi Falls

Mekedatu (aka Goat's Leap)

Sivanasamudram (aka Shivanasamudram, Shimsha, Bluff)

Since Kanu was visiting us, we decided to goto Mekedatu. I had earlier visited Mekedatu, but had not gone to Chunchi Falls which I had heard were on the way to Mekedatu. We saw a signboard and took a detour to goto Chunchi Falls while going to Mekedatu. We reached a dead end after passing through some villages. Parked the car, and started walking towards supposed Chunchi Falls. Passed a canal, some slope and we could see some rocky valley alongwith water. However, we couldn't see the Falls! Came back to car and proceeded to Mekedatu. 

Mekedatu is a place where the river Cauvery constricts itself to be able to able to pass through a very narrow gorge. The width is a couple of meters only and even a goat can leap across, hence the name Mekedatu (Mekadatu). You can imagine the velocity of water when the passage becomes so narrow with such a huge volume. We took the same old rickety bus that I have mentioned in my earlier travelogue. Only, this time, on the way back from Mekedatu, I even sat in the driver's seat and got a pic clicked!

After Mekedatu, there was still time to explore another place and we decided to goto Sivanasamudram waterfalls (aka Shivanasamudra, Sivanasamudra). On these waterfalls was built Asia's first hydro-electric power plant. The purpose was to supply power to the now defunct Kolar Gold Fields. It is always a sight to behold with GaganaChukki (aka Gagan Chukki, GaganChukki) and BaraChukki (aka BharaChukki) coming down in their majestic form. However, the road to Sivanasamudram was in the worst possible state. We had to go real slow (maybe at 10 kmph, pretty much in 1st/2nd gear). We regretted our decision to goto Sivanasamudram but after an arduous journey when we finally reached, it was all so worth it! Again, however, as compared to my last visit, the government have barricaded the path to the waterfalls. You can only go down a few steps and look at the waterfalls unlike earlier when you could go upto the falls themselves (my pics from earlier trip here). As we had reached the falls at around 1730 hrs, we couldn't spend too much time there, and started the journey back for home soon.

 

 

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Created: Jul 03, 2008 

Last updated: Jul 03, 2008