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Shivanasamudra (or Shivasamudram) is a small town in the Mandya District in southern Karnataka, India near Mysore. The town is situated in Malavalli taluk, Mandya District.

• From Bangalore: There are 2 routes, both 120 km.

a) Take Bangalore-Mysore Highway towards Mysore. At Maddur, (80 km from Bangalore), take the left, rural diversion (the continuation of Bangalore-Mysore Highway, takes you to Mandya and Mysore) and drive towards Bharathinagar (formerly KM Doddi), and Malavalli. At Malavalli, you will join NH209. Drive 15 km towards Kollegal. Make a left at Rottikatte, and drive 2 km to reach destination. After Malavalli, if needed, speak to the locals and they can guide you. One could return via the same route. This route has good roads and one can enjoy the new Bangalore-Mysore Expressway too. Drive time: Around two and a half hours after crossing Kengeri.

b) Alternatively, take National Highway209 (Bangalore-Dindigul) from Kanakapura Road. Drive to Malavalli, continue towards Kollegal on NH209, make a left at Rottikatte, and drive 2 more km to reach destination. (This is the route to reach Bheemeshwari Fishing Resort). This road was under construction in mid 2007. So expect around three hours of travel time after crossing METRO Cash and Carry.

• From Mysore: There are two routes.

a) Take Bangalore Mysore Highway towards Mandya. Make a right at Mandya towards Bharathinagar (formerly KM Doddi). This is a rural one laned route. Continue towards Malavalli and drive 15 km more on NH209 towards Kollegal, make a left at Rottikatte, and drive 2 km further. Distance: 90 km. Drive time: Around two hours. Alternatively, instead of making a left at Mandya, one can drive towards Maddur and make a right towards Bharathinagar there. An extra 10 km but the roads are better and you might save about 15 mins in drive time.

b) Drive towards Malavalli on the rural one laned route via Bannur (State Highway 86). At Malavalli, join NH209 and drive 15 km towards Kollegal, make a left at Rottikatte and drive 2 km further. Distance: 65 km. Drive time: around one and a half hours.

• Best time to visit: June through February. Expect heavy crowds during weekends and holidays. Parking could be a problem at Gaganachukki Falls. There are many petty shops that sell gooseberries, churmuri, and tea. There is a hotel run by KSTDC. There is no Wheelchair access. There are no accommodations.
• Please note that there is a security check post at Shivanasamudram which prohibits the visitors from visiting between 6 PM and 6 AM.

Gaganachukki Falls just after the monsoons

Near the town is the famous Shivanasamudra waterfall. The Kaveri River splits here into two branches and each branch cascades down rocky cliffs. The more popularly viewed cascade is known as Gaganachukki and the other cascade is known as Bharachukki. These spectacular waterfalls are surrounded by hill forests of the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary.

The Gaganachukki is 98 m tall, and has a maximum recorded flow of 667,000 cubic feet per second (19,000 m³/s). One of Asia's first hydro-electric power stations, still functional, is located at the waterfall. This is where hydroelectric power was harnessed for the second time (after Darjeeling) in Asia and the electricity thus produced was used in the Gold Mines of Kolar. Thus, Kolar Gold Fields became the first city in Asia to get hydro electricity. One can view these waterfalls from the Hydel Power viewing end or the Dargah end. The Gaganachukki itself has 2 facades, the western facade and the eastern facade. Many enthusiastic youngsters trek down the hillside towards the cascade and enjoy the water spray. One can ask the locals for directions to the Dargah and view the upstream end of the falls. The upstream is particularly awe inspiring after the monsoons when the Kaveri River is full.

The Bharachukki is about a kilometer away from the Dargah. Bharachukki has a wider cascading edge. One section resembles a 'U' section, like the Niagara Falls. It also has nice graceful cascade along the side. There are much fewer visitors to this falls and there is no viewing gallery here.

Gaganachukki (Shivanasamudra Falls)

Barachukki (Shivanasamudra Falls)

(Gaganachukki Panoramic View)

Swimming is not advisable. The currents are quite strong and the gorge is quite deep. A number of lives have been lost attempting to swim here.

• The Sir Sheshadri Aiyar Hydel power Project. Asia's first hydroelectric power station, began generating power in 1902, used to power Kolar Gold Fields and later Bangalore.
• Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple - Madhya Rangam

(Note: Srirangapatna temple is called Aadi Rangam and the Ranganathaswamy Temple at Trichy (Kollidam) is called Anthya Rangam. All these three Ranganathaswamy temples are located on land where river Cauvery flows on either side of it. Or simply, where Cauvery branches out and rejoins back downstream.)

• Dargah of a Muslim Peer - very close to the other side of Gaganachukki Falls.
• Chunchi Falls - if time permits. You have to travel on Kanakapura Highway towards Bangalore to reach the diversion for Chunchi Falls. It is supposed to be a beautiful spot.