Though Jog Falls near Shivamogga has the pride of place for breathtaking beauty because of its sheer drop, Shivanasamudra or the Sea of Shiva, comprising the twin waterfalls of Gaganachukki and Bharachukki, is known for its width and volume during peak monsoon.
However, in the recent past the volume of water has been low because of drought and a slackening of monsoon. The last time the grandeur of the waterfalls reached its zenith was in July 2007 when the combined daily outflow from both the KRS and the Kabini reservoirs was at the rate of around 1.15 lakh cusecs.
But now, for the first time in recent years, the volume of water in the falls is high, thanks to copious rains and nearly 50,000 cusecs being released from Kabini.
Located about 80 km from Mysuru, Bluff, as the twin waterfalls are also called, has been formed by a split in the Cauvery which attains full force at T. Narsipur where its other major tributary — the Kabini or Kapila — merges with it.
The river cascades and flows along the rocky terrain and splits at Shivanasamudra island village; the eastern segment is called Bharachukki (which is in Chamarajanagar district) and the western segment is called Gaganachukki (in Mandya district). More than the vertical drop, the two waterfalls are known for their horizontal sprawl and plunge from a height of nearly 300 ft (at its maximum). The resulting cloud of mist and vapour rises to a height of almost 200 ft., making for a spectacular sight.
The two waterfalls have won rave reviews from medieval travellers and the Mysore Gazetteer, edited by Hayavadhana Rao, cites a geographer by the name of Francis Buchannan who waxes eloquent about its grandeur. In recent times, it has been listed in the World Waterfalls Database website, which provides comprehensive information on waterfalls across the world.