[mpksuhas]

26-07-2014-Shivanasamudra - Gopalaswamy betta trip

Was planning of visiting Shivanasamudra water falls since a long time. Each time we planned got conflicting reports about water level, however this time there were multiple reports of continuous release of water from KRS. Similarly each time we pass through Gudalur - Gundulpet route we had planned of visiting Gopalaswamy betta, again this never worked out due to time constraints. So thought of combining both the locations and plan a one day trip from Bangalore.

06.00 AM
We start off from Marathahalli and head towards Kanakpura road after picking my cousin from Domlur. Selecting Kanakpura road over Mysore road was a no brainer since this is our prefered route of travel towards Gundulpet. Minimal traffic and no speed breakers means a peaceful drive always, however drawback of this route is lack of any food options.

It is around 07.00 by time we get out of Bangalore and reach outskirts of Kanakpura, saw this hotel called The Kitchen on road side. Thought of giving it a try and was not disappointed. Good food and clean restroom.



After a break of around half hour we start towards Shivanasamudra, traffic was moderate in Kanakpura town. Traffic was thin after Kanakpura and we reach turn off towards Shivanasamudra falls by 08.45.

There are two falls in Shivanasamudra, Gaganachukki is the first one when driving from Bangalore. The turn off towards Gaganachukki is around 10 KMS after Mallavali, If opting for Bangalore - Mysore road you would be joining NH 209 at Mallavali. There are lots of sign boards all around for both Gaganachukki falls and KSTDC hotel Mayura which is next to the falls.

Turn off from NH 209



Entry to the complex, you need to enter your vehicle details and passenger count here.



Entry is free



You cross living quarters and canal on the way.





Parking lot at the falls, the building in background is Mayura hotel.



View of waterfall from parking lot.



Few steps down from parking there is a viewpoint, it is not possible to get below the falls here.



We spend sometime enjoying the falls and start towards Barachukki falls.

Route from Bangalore to Gaganchukki falls.



Barachukki falls

Barachukki falls is on the other bank of Kaveri, you need to get on to NH209 and drive towards Kollegal. Few KM's down you cross the bridge over Kaveri. Since the bridge is weak it is now closed for heavy vehicles.



On crossing the bridge there is a junction with sharp right turn. For Barachukki falls you need to take left here. Again there are signboards around.



Thanks to the rains, it is green all around.



You again cross Kaveri, the third bridge in background is the same NH209 bridge in pic above.



Few KM's on this road we reach the entry for the falls. Four wheeler entry is Rs. 20 here.



View of parking area



Falls from parking area



Just like spotting TBHPians, during every trip we now spot Zoom cars.



These guys were not that happy with rains I guess.



The area around falls are well kept, this is one of the best maintained tourist area in Karnataka I have seen. On top of that the only charges is the vehicle entry paid earlier (Rs,20 for cars).



Steps leads to bottom of the falls



There are few viewpoints enroute



Steps are bit steep and large in count, it may be tougher on a sunny day.



Views of the falls keeps you going



At foot of the falls it is possible to take coracle ride when water flow is less. However due to strong water flow, rides were suspended.



View from the foot of falls were superb



However due to heavy water flow we were asked to leave the area. By the time we reached back authorities had closed entry towards to foot of the fall.

It is around 11.30 and crowd was building up.



Gaganachukki- Barachukki route





Our next destination was Gopalaswamybetta. We continue on NH 209 towards Chamarajanagar and then take a right towards Gundulpet, enroute we stop for having lunch we had packed with us. Please note that there are no decent food options on NH 209 apart from Nijaguna in Chamarajanagar. However on previous trips we have found that food there is only average.
Barachukki - Gopalswamybetta route.

[mpksuhas]

Gopalswamy betta

It seems our travel was coinciding with some festival. There was huge rush in all temples and roads were overrun with people and two wheelers. We decide to take the painful Mysore- Bangalore route on way back in evening.



Soon we cross Gundulpet and head on Ooty highway. Around 10Kms from Gundulpet on Ooty road you need to take right for Gopalaswamy betta.



The road becomes empty and picturesque




Road cuts across fields



Farmers of sunflower field has become enterprising and ask for money for posing with flowers



Soon we reach the check post at foot of the hills.



Food items are not allowed inside, you will have to keep the food packs at checkpost and collect it on way back.

Entry charge for four wheelers is Rs.50. Entry to hills is allowed only between 08.30 - 16.00.

Road condition deteriorates on crossing the check post, road is narrow and shoulders non- existent.




View enroute to the top of hill






Climate changes suddenly and it is cloudy when we reach the top of the hill



Parking space on top of the hill




Temple on top of the hill



Suddenly clouds move out and we get a glimpse of blue sky



You get a good view of Bandipur forest from top of the hill



We spend sometime and start back, while getting the ticket at check post we are given a 2 hour timeline to return. Though we were able to return back within that time, it was not checked. Guess they enforce it strictly only when there is rush.

Route from Barachukki to Gopalaswamy betta



Barachukki-Gopalaswamybetta route.


It is around 04.30 PM by time we reach on Gundulpet - Ooty road, we decide to drive towards Bandipur forest entry to try luck in wildlife sightings. Bandipur forest is lush green after rains.



We spot heards of deer and langurs, once we reach Bandipur forest department office we turn back and head to Bangalore. As mentioned earlier we take Gundulpet - Mysore - Bangalore route, traffic was moderate since it was a saturday evening.

We reach Bangalore by 10.00 PM.

Odometer reading - 530 KM's


And a parting pic of our ride near Gopalaswamy betta.

[mpksuhas]

Epilogue

• Entry to waterfall is open from 06.00 AM - 06.00 PM.
• KSTDC Mayura hotel at Gaganachukki has restaurant also, however we did not try the same.
• Barachukki falls has restroom facility & refreshment sellers.
• Shivanasamudra route information link
• Gopalaswamy betta entry timings are from 08.30 AM - 04.00 PM.
• You are given two hours to spend time at top of hills and return to check post.
• There are no food or restroom facilities near Gopalaswamy betta, the nearest hotels are in Gundulpet or near Bandipur forest gate (near to Jungle lodges).
• Though the views from top are great, it may not be worth making a trip only to Gopalaswamy betta from Bangalore due to the distance.
• If travelling on Gundulpet - Ooty road and you decide to take a detour to the hills, budget approximately 2 hours for sightseeing and reaching back on the highway.
• If you are lucky you can spot herds of elephants grazing in the grassland below Gopalaswamy betta.

[GTO]

Thread moved from the Assembly Line to Travelogues. Thanks for sharing!

[condor]

@Suhas, good timing for the trip - and some lovely pics there

Guys, the road from the checkpost to the temple at Gopalswamy betta is bad - as you can see in the pics. We cannot go any further after the temple. There are no sellers / shops etc there.

And please ensure you are back within the 2 hours. Karnataka Forest Dept is quite strict about this, as has been seen in other places also where such restrictions are there.

[Samba]

Lovely travelogue with some beautiful pictures. Your xuv is also looking beautiful on the pic which is on the way to Gopalaswamy Betta. Your travelogue rekindled my sweet memories of my Bangalore week ends. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Am amazed to see so many changes! Now they have made a beautiful staircase for going down at Badachukki falls. Before 2010 when i visited Badachuki the scene was like this!



Even we saw the sunflower plantation and it was amazing. But in 2009 no one asked for money for clicking the field. Instead one of the farmer was really happy as i was clicking it and he was keen to see the photograph on my camera's LCD screen. Man how time changes people! Or may be it vary from person to person!



Its really sad Karnataka Government has made a rule that we have to come down with in 2 hours from Gopalaswamy Betta. I faced this rule first time when i went there by bike in 2011 but in 2009 when i went there by car there was no such rule. Earlier there were nice trek routes by which you can have a nice walk for hours and that used to offer some breath taking views. Sadly that's not allowed any more. Sharing a couple of pics from the trail we walked along on Gopalaswamy Betta in 2009.

[mpksuhas]

Originally Posted by condor

@Suhas, good timing for the trip - and some lovely pics there

Thanks, Condor.

Originally Posted by Samba

Lovely travelogue with some beautiful pictures. Your xuv is also looking beautiful on the pic which is on the way to Gopalaswamy Betta. Your travelogue rekindled my sweet memories of my Bangalore week ends.

Thanks.
I guess the 2 hour time restriction at hills was introduced once it became a popular spot. Also now the gates open only at 08.30 AM, I have read that it used to be 06.30 AM earlier.

I was not knowing that it was possible to trek near hills earlier. From the pics of your guess it would have been a great experience. Lucky that you didn't come across any elephant herd though.

I guess the Barachukki area was spruced up recently. The place looked well kept, hope it stays that way.

[iVento]

Thank you Suhas for the nice travelogue. Enjoyed reading it. The pictures are also beautiful.

Looks like Bharachukki was not that crowded. Has the "Bharachukki Falls" signboard broken? Yes, the place is maintained relatively well when compared to many other places with basic facilities like is a pay & use toilet & parking space.

The falls looks awesome after the rains.

Your XUV looks stunning in both pictures

[ampere]

Nice snaps. And indeed its sad that they have stopped trekking at Gopalaswamy Betta. The control is way too strict now. The temple in itself is more than 700 years old and is a sight to behold.

[mpksuhas]

Originally Posted by iVento

Looks like Bharachukki was not that crowded. Has the "Bharachukki Falls" signboard broken?

Thanks iVento.
There are Karnataka tourism's yellow color sign boards around; or are you asking about any other sign board?
Crowd was comparatively less since we reached early. By time we were back from the falls, crowd was building up.

Originally Posted by ampere

And indeed its sad that they have stopped trekking at Gopalaswamy Betta.

Thanks Ampere.
I guess the time limit may have something to do with increase crowd nowadays. Yes, trekking if possible would have been great. Though it should be noted that the area is frequented by elephant herds.

[NPV]

Excellent Pictures and nice travelogue Suhas, thanks for sharing
Question on the sign board for Goplaswamy betta - is this on Gundlupet-Bandipur-Mudumalai stretch ?
*I do not remember seeing this during my trip in May this year

[ampere]

Originally Posted by NPV

Question on the sign board for Goplaswamy betta - is this on Gundlupet-Bandipur-Mudumalai stretch ?

I think the board is that prominent. In other words, those who look for it would find it! I knew its about 8-9 km from Gundlupet Waynad/Bandipur exit points.

[mpksuhas]

Originally Posted by NPV

this on Gundlupet-Bandipur-Mudumalai stretch

Thanks Narayan.
Yes these sign boards are on Gundulpet- Bandipur road. Earlier it was only Karnataka tourism yellow boards, these are newer ones I guess.
They are marked on both sides, meaning if you are travelling from Bandipur to Gundulpet also you can see the direction marked.
Last time I travelled through this road was in Feb, even I dont remember seeing it then.
Maybe like Ampere said did not notice since we did not look for it (We were travelling to Coonoor).

[majumon]

Suhas, wonderful TL and perfect timing, its the right time to head out there with plenty of water. Have been to both these places but your TL is prodding us to go there again. We had stayed at Georgia Sunshine when we visted the falls way back in 2009.

[NPV]

Alarmed by the large number of tourists, the forest department is planning a ban on private vehicles to the hilltop temple from August 2015. Vehicles will have to be parked at the foothills and then one would have to take the forest department buses to the temple.

Source:Indian Express Bangalore edition, 4 July 2015 - Link