Shivasamudram (also known as Shivanasamudram) is a tiny island-town of scenic beauty on River Cauvery. It is located in
Malavalli taluk, an administrative unit of
Mandya District, southern
Karnataka. Just about 4.8 km long and 1.2 km wide, Shivasamudram is nearly 120 km south of
Bangalore and 65 km east of
Mysore.
The island is a protected national forest and is home to a variety of wildlife including peacocks, tigers, bears and elephants. The two streams of the Cauvery, split by the island, come down in spectacular cascades, forming the twin waterfalls-Barachukki and Gaganachukki, together called the Cauvery Falls or Shivasamudram Falls.
