Adventure Tourism: 2015

Abbey Falls

Nestled 9 kms away from the town of Madikeri, the Abbey Falls in Coorg, Karnataka is a spectacular sight popular amongst tourists. A narrow road twisting through the green and dense foliage of beautiful coffee plantations, stocky coffee bushes and spice estates with trees tangled with pepper vines, leads to the Abbey Falls. One can reach the Falls either on foot or by a joyful two wheeler ride.

While walking towards the Falls you will be able to hear the sound of the gushing waters cascading down a rocky gorge. During the monsoon season the Abbey Falls swell up with continuous supply of rain showers and the water rushes down the mountain at enormous speed. The scenic locales around the Abbey Falls make it an ideal picnic spot.

The falls is in the midst of thick coffee bushes and tall trees entwined with pepper vines. One must walk on the hanging bridge to get a good view of the falls.

Enjoy this roaring beauty by taking a dip in the cool waters. But bear in mind that the water flow is heavy during monsoon months and the rocks are slippery, so do not try and get into the waters without assistance. It is advisable to enjoy the water within the fenced area. You can also stand on the hanging bridge built across the gorge that offers a spectacular view of the Falls and click pictures.

Location

State: Karnataka

Exact Location: Chunchanakatte Falls is located in Krishnaraja Nagar taluk of Mysore district

Nearest Town: K R Nagar, Mysore

Distance from Bangalore: 270 km

How to Reach

To reach the falls one has to go down from the road amidst coffee estate. A path through coffee and cardamom plantations leads to the waterfalls.

Best Time to Visit

All year round, but best time is during the monsoon or before winter.

Chunchanakatte Falls

Chunchanakatte Falls is part of the river Kaveri, Krishnaraja Nagar taluk of Mysore district. It is famous for the Kodanda Rama temple on the banks. It is believed that Goddess Sita took a bath in this holy waters at Dhanuskoti thus rendering a tumeric tinge to the water.

Brahma Rathotsava (car festival) is held on January 15th of every year. A holy dip in the river could be considered but one must take caution of the high current during monsoons. A big cattle festival is held during August.

Besides the picturesque falls this place boasts of greenery and migratory birds. There is an Hydral power station nearby. The power plant was started during 1994 and completed (two units) in 1998. The power station has a capacity of 18 MW (9 MW each).

Here river Kaveri cascades from a height of about 20 meters. The river falls in two small cascades before joining again to flow as one.The uniqueness of this place is that the sound of the waterfalls can be heard all over except inside the sanctum sanctorum of the centuries old temple. It is believed that Lord Rama has cursed females that tongue of a woman should not be sharp (should not speak much) and since river Kaveri is considered to be female, the sounds is not heard inside the temple.

The temple dedicated to Lord Kodanda Rama temple is situated just beside the waterfalls.

It is also believed that Goddess Sita took holy bath in this river and till now the color of the water looks like mixed with turmeric, oil and shikakai (fruit for hair - natural shampoo). These shades are visible even today when there is huge amount of water flowing in the falls.

Kappadi kshetram, another holy place is located nearby. On the banks of river Cauvery, Arkeswara swamy temple, near KR Nagar, located at the outskirt which is worth visiting.

Accommodations are available at K R Nagar or Mysore.