Talakadu Trip

June 06, 2009

At 7am, we left for Shivanasamudra falls. A set of falls in the cauvery river, which is quite a sight apparently, when the season is right. We were a tad bit early (the rains have just started), but there was just enough water to let our spirits swim, if not soar. This link has some awesome pictures of the falls in full force.

The Gagana Chukki, with the treacherous rocks, looks beautiful! Because there was not much water, the left branch of the twin falls is barely visible in the pictures. Not much to do here though other than enjoy the view. When you drive around the falls and come through the Durgah area, you can see the water leading toward the falls. With the right shoes (or barefoot), one could theoretically hop the rocks to access the water upstream before it drops vertically quite a bit! A few kilometers away is the Bhara Chukki area which sports a whole series of falls on the ridge line. We took a coracle ride to the base of one that flowing well and dreched ourselves in the mist. Cool!

As we approached Talakadu, we were quite hungry and needed a clean place as well. The bad roads don't help much in this matter :). Unfortunately, the one resort (Jaladhama) across the river does not allow walk-ins (very strange); and neither my pleading nor my forceful tactics to talk them into it letting us in went anywhere. They have no idea of customer service (esp. for one who is willing to shell out the bucks). Anyway, we reached the temple(s) area. Read about the interesting history of the Talakadu area here first.

The temples are all 10-12 centuries old and the carvings are on hard granite! Unbelievable. The guide was quite useful and took us around in the pouring rain. There is a whole city buried in there; every year, the archaelogists unearth more and put the structures back together. Kinda like doing a giant jigsaw puzzle. After enjoying the temples, we headed toward the beach area by the river.

The river is wide and expansive here and flows very smoothly. And it was time to get wet :). I managed a few laps till the middle of the river with chest-high water. No undergrowth. No rocks. Ultra clean.

Apparently, during the festival times, about 15-20 lakh people descend on this little town. I suggest you stay away from the water, if not from the town, during that time.

The plan was to see the famous Somanathapura temple boasting of the Hoysala architecture as well. But they shut that place down at 5.30pm in the evening. The 20 km bad road ride in front of us while we stared at 5 o' clock made it clear that it had to be deferred. What a shame! So, we had to just head back to Bangalore. Of course, after a pit stop at the now familiar Cafe Coffee Day at Maddur. As usual, the Bangalore traffic slowed down the return by quite a bit.

Another trip is definitely in the books to see the falls in full display, cover the Somanathapura temple and may be see a few more unearthed temples in Talakad. Just don't know when. May be you can join me too.