Lazy weekend drive to Muthathi

Muthathi - Cauvery River

Location:
Muthathi
Mandya District

Distance:
Bangalore to Muthathi - 100 Kms

Route:
Bangalore - Harohalli - Kanakapura - Sathanur - Muthathi

Estimated Travel Time:
Two Hours Fifteen Minutes

Best Time to Visit:
August to January

Stay:

There is a jungle lodge in Bheemeshwari Fishing Camp at a distance of 5 kms from Muthathi to stay. However, it is little bit expensive.

None of my roommates were ready for a trip on Sunday.So, I almost dropped my plans of having a trip. Suddenly, I got a call from an old friend Mr. Nageshwar asking for a trip.  Though it was late to start I picked him up from his house and immediately started to Muthathi on bike. In about an hour and fifteen minutes we reached Kanakapura and had chat along with few snacks and tea. it took about twenty five minutes for us to reach Sathanur. There was lot of dust as the road widening work was under process. 

We have to go into the forest to reach Muthathi from Sathanur. At the entrance of the forest, there is a watchman with a register. We have to enter our name, Vehicle number and mobile number in the register before proceeding into the Forest. There is no entrance fee here.

Entrance to the Forest

Though the road has many pit holes the ride in the forest will be magnificent with spectacular views of the valleys and the road is constructed close to the valleys. The climate was very hot in the afternoon and many trees in the forest were dried up. It looks like lot of rains are required to revive the forest.

We travelled 18 Kms further from Sathanur in the forest to reach Muthathi. The ride in the forest in a narrow road just next to the huge deep valleys is an unforgettable experience. There are lot of hair pin turns inside the forest on the way and we have to be careful at these points.  

Statistics of people died in Muthathi

Board displaying whirlpools

Many people have died in the waters of Muthathi and the number of people died in the respective years is displayed at the entrance. It is believed that the people died here because of whirlpools & crocodiles. So be careful not to go deep into the water.

There is ample parking space for parking your vehicles at free of cost. Lot of people come here, cook their own food and leave. It is believed that it is good deed in life to cook food, offer to the god and have it as prasadam. The food is cooked by the visitors using firewood.

Parking space 

After cooking the food, the wastes are left here without disposing properly by the visitors. This is making the place dirty and unhygienic and the same needs to be taken care immediately.

Area where food was cooked before

Stone eroded by water flow

Muthathi is situated on the banks of Cauveri river surrounded by dense forest which comprises of Cauveri Wildlife Sanctuary. Various shapes of stones can be seen which are formed by the continuous flow of water.

It was very easy for us to play as the water level is low and we played in the water for about one hour and moved to Anjaneya Swamy Temple.

My friend Mr. Nageshwar

Anjaneya Temple

This place also has connection with Ramayana. It is believed that goddess Sitha lost her nose studd in the water while taking bath and the same was found by Anjaneya. By this anjaneya gets the name of "muthetharaya" from then. A temple dedicated to Anjaneya is also constructed here. Before the temple there are various stalls which sell flowers, coconuts, snacks etc.,

Entrance Arch to the temple

There is a custom in this temple that, the visitors get a holy thread ("thayethu" in the local language) tied to the hand which is believed to be very powerful and protects the people from demons and devils. lot of people who had fear were tied with the holy thread by the priest in the temple.

For trekking in the forest, permission from the Forest department should be obtained. There is a small park and Forest Office near the Anjaneya Temple.

After spending enough time, we moved back to Sathanur and were very thirsty. There was a small shop on the main road selling coconuts and we had very sweet coconuts at cost of twenty rupees per coconut. With the energy from the sweet coconuts we landed in the home without taking a break.