Shivasamudram Falls

Western Falls

Eastern Falls

After getting drenched under the falls

We embarked on a more ambitious trip today to Shivasamudram falls about a 3 hour drive away. There are other places in Karnataka that are higher on my priority list but unfortunately can't be managed as a day trip.  We saw the western falls  - Gagana Chukki but they were not too impressive and we could not go down to the bottom of the falls. We did however enjoy the tender coconuts, totapuri mangoes and bhel puri with slivers of raw mango, very delicious! It was recommended that we go to the eastern falls - Bhara Chukki. There were far more visitors there and if you were willing to climb 200 stairs you could go to the bottom of the falls and hire a boat and visit some of the other inaccessible falls. Although the falls were not very strong mainly due to the hydroelectic plant, the kids and Prasad really enjoyed getting drenched under the falls. They were selling freshly barbequed and sauteed fish  which apparently looked delicious. Prasad was a bit disgusted by how much garbage was thrown near the falls, it's sad to see that they don't enforce cleanliness even at beautiful tourist locations. Later we had a picnic lunch at an open spot on our way back and another family was also having their lunch a few yards away. They were a much larger group and after their meal, they had left all their paper plates, cups and bags right on the ground, just simply irresponsible. It was lovely to drive through the Karnataka countryside, there were parts that reminded me of Kerala. What I enjoyed the most was seeing the bullock carts, I couldn't get a great shot of one, it's not easy in a moving van.