Fun filled day trip to Mekedatu

Location:
Ramnagar District
Karnataka

Distance from Bangalore: 100 Kms

Estimated Travel Time by Car:
Three Hours

Route: 
Bangalore - Kanakapura - Sathanur - Sangama - Mekedatu


Best Time to Visit:
Post Monsoon is the best time to Visit. (August to December)

Stay:
Bangalore. Accommodation available near Sangama also can be kept as an option.

The visit to Mekedatu was planned in January and finally we went in July, 2015 as we all were waiting for Shrawani. Mr. Vinod, Mr. Harish Babu, Ms. Shrawani, Mr. Vishnu & Mr. Prudhvi started at 07:13 AM in Ulsoor and picked me in Banashankari after forty five minutes. After a delay of fifteen minutes made by me, we started to Mekedatu and stopped near Adigas Hotel in Kanakapura Road for refilling the tummy.  

Mr. Vishnu, Mr. Prudhvi, Ms. Shrawani, Mr. Harish Babu & Mr. Vinod (Left to Right)

Just a few kilometers before Mekedatu, we stopped for giving some work to Camera and clicked some beautiful shots in the road and also in the greenery by the side of the road.

For going to Mekedatu, we can drive only up to Sangama. There are many stalls selling fresh Fish on either sides of the entrance to Sangama.

Stalls on either side of entrance to Sangama

A walk through the entrance leads to Kavei river - Arkavathi river Sangama from where, we have to go to the other side either in Coracle (Locally called Theppa) or by walking in the water if the water level is low. Ride in coracle costs Rs. 40/- per person for to and fro. 

Kaveri - Arkavathi Sangama

Coracle ride

On the other side of Sangama, there will be buses available to drop us near Mekedatu which is about 4 Kms from Sangama and costs Rs. 60/- per person on both sides. It takes about ten to fifteen minutes to reach Mekedatu from Sangama in bus. Alternatively few people reach Mekedatu by walk.

Bus to Mekedatu from Sangama

Finally, we reached our destination Mekedatu at 11:15 AM and gave lot of work to the camera. One has to go to this place to watch the river water stream cutting through huge rocks on either sides and also different rock formations formed due to erosion by water.

Brave people sitting on the edge of the rock below which is about 100 feet deep

It is believed that long time ago, a herdsman noticed a goat making a desperate giant leap from one side to other side from saving itself from a tiger. However, the tiger did not attempt the feat and abandoned the chase.  It is also believed that the goat that leaped here is none other than "Lord Shiva". 

This is also a very dangerous place where many people died by trying to swim in the water or by slipping the cliff. The rocks will be very slippery during monsoon. It is also believed that there are crocodiles in the water. 

Meditating Babu

After spending about one and half hour, we came back by climbing the steps which we climbed down earlier. It was very sunny and our feet burned without slippers.

There is a shelter to protect us from the burning Sun also there is a stall selling cool drinks and water bottles. There are no other stalls here and so its better to take food with us.

Shelter from Sun

Enjoying the cool drinks in Hot Sun

Bus travel while coming back

We  came back to Sangama, had food and traveled back to Bangalore. This was a fun filled day of the year. Heavy Fun it was !!!!.