Mekedathu – Goat’s Leap
Whenever people staying near Bangalore feel like spending time near a river bank, the easiest option is to head to Mekedathu or Sangam. These are very popular picnic spots situated around 90 kms from Bangalore city. This is the place from where the Cauvery River, after its confluence with Kollidam River at Sangama, flows through a deep and narrow gorge.
This little gorge which is made of hard granite rock is only 10 meters wide and is believed to be so narrow that even a goat can cross over it in just one leap. Hence, this place is popularly known as Mekedatu in Kannada Language(Goat’s Leap)
Mekedathu is around 4 kms from Sangam. One has to cross the river at Sangam in order to visit Mekedathu. During summer, there will be less water and one can easily walk through the river but during monsoon & winter season one has to cross the river by small boats.
At Mekedatu, the river Kaveri runs through a deep, narrow ravine of hard granite rock. The river, which is more than 150 meters wide at the confluence at Sangam flows through the hardly 10 meter wide gorge at Mekedatu.
Story Behind the Name Mekedathu
There’s an age old story amongst the locals that once a herdsman from this area witnessed a goat, which was being chased by a tiger, leap across the gorge from one side to the other. However, the tiger did not make any attempts to cross the gorge and thereby letting the goat escape. Since then this place is popularly been termed by the locals as the Goat’s Leap.
There is also some mythological significance to this place(both Sangama and Mekedathu).The ancient story is that the locals believe that the goat which leapt across the Cauvery was Lord Shiva in disguise and the strange holes, which can be seen on both rocky cliffs of the gorge, can only be made by the divine goat.
Places of Attraction Near Mekedatu:
Besides this beautiful & historic narrow gorge at Mekedathu, tourists can venture a bit further and visit the following interesting tourist spots as well.
Shivanasamudra Falls, the second largest waterfall in India, is another popular attraction among the tourists.
The Chunchi Falls are situated near Mekadatu which falls before the Sangama.
There is a beautiful temple dedicated to Sangameshwara at Sangama.
Muthathi, Bheemeshwari and Cauvery fishing camp, Arkavathi Dam, T K Falls, Yogavana Hills, and Pyramid Valley are also close to Mekedatu
Some Safety Tips:
Despite the fact that many rivers are peaceful and wonderful sites, exploring them can be dangerous. There are several things to keep in mind to make the trip more productive and enjoyable.
Never drink & swim. Some students & young boys visit just to drink, and then enter the water. Though the water is only knee-deep, it has many sharp-edged stones on its bed as well as the bank, and even a slip can turn fatal.
I don’t recommend swimming at Chunchi falls or Mekedathu, because there are lots of Whirlpools and water force are very high. This is not to say that swimming should not be done, one should be smart when swimming since cold waters and strong currents can end a life easily. Visitors should be cautious and not overestimate their swimming abilities.
Near Sangam one can find some signboards warning about the crocodiles and dangers in water.
For trekkers, it is recommended to carry more than enough water, energy drinks, eatables, suitable cloths & shoes.
Beware:
Though thousands of people visit the Mekedaatu & Sangam every year, there is no one to tell the people how to be safe at either tourist spot. Due to the spate of deaths, there is a parasite gang operating at the Sangam. Their only mission is to go around finding injured or dead people and walk away with valuables.
There is another major problem faced by tourists at Sangam & Mekedatu is the difficulty in informing police in case of danger. There is no police outpost wherein people can walk in. As it's a low-lying area, mobile phone signals too are quite weak.
How to Reach Mekedatu:
By Road – It is around 80 Kms from Bangalore. This station is served by Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation(KSRTC) buses from Bangalore. The nearest bus stand to Mekedatu is at Sangama. It may be convenient to go by own vehicle.
By Train - The nearest railway station to Mekedatu is the Bangalore City Junction Railway Station.
By Air - The nearest airport to Mekedatu is the Bengaluru International Airport.
Food & Accommodation:
There are no good hotels or decent eat-outs at Sangam or Mekedatu. It’s better to have breakfast at Bangalore & pack lunch at Kanakapura. There are some home stays, resorts & budget hotels near Kankapura, but it is advisable to stay at Bangalore.
Best time to visit Mekedatu:
The best time to visit this place is during monsoons. The vegetation around the hills is at their greenest best and is a real treat to the eye. In summer season there will be less water and visitors can easily walk inside the river. In rainy season there will be more water with heavy flow. Both the seasons are enjoyable although differently.
Final Words:
Mekedathu is a great weekend getaway for the family and kids, especially during the summer. This place is motivating and addictive. The cool, misty waters cascading down in the backdrop of thick green forest and rocky terrain are a scintillating experience to visitors.
My Request:
These places are already very dirty and comparatively less maintained, I request to all my friends & tourists not to throw the plastic covers & empty beer bottles. This place really does not need those stuffs. Kindly keep the place clean and the way you want to see it.
