Ropeway to link Gaganachukki, Bharachukki falls

 The popular Gaganachukki and Bharachukki waterfalls located in Mandya and Chamarajanagar districts, respectively, will be soon connected aerially.

This is the first ambitious project proposed by the recently constituted Cauvery Tourism Development Authority (CTDA). The authority had held their first meeting two weeks ago in Mysuru, where the 10-member team, headed by Tourism Minister R V Deshpande, decided to connect both the falls by a ropeway or cable car so that people do not have to travel by road between the twin falls.

The two falls are presently in their full glory, following rains. They are also popular film-shooting spots of the Kannada and Hindi film industry. A senior CTDA official told Deccan Herald, “We have orally communicated the same to the Cauvery Tribunal officials and they do not seem to be having any problems with the proposal because there will be no water lifted or disturbance caused to the free flow of water. Only infrastructure and tourism will be improved between the two destinations. The plan is to provide a connection between the two Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) restaurants located near the waterfalls sides of Gagana-chukki and Bharachukki.”

“This is the first plan of the CTDA and the idea is to increase footfalls at both destinations. A detailed project report for this is being prepared and will take around six months for completion. We will soon be appointing a technical committee comprising of experts and consultants who will prepare a feasibility report. In the meantime, we are also requesting citizens, stakeholders and companies to give suggestions, plans and inputs for ropeway or cable car connectivity. The best proposal will be implemented and the person suggesting it will be suitably rewarded,” the official added.

The two waterfalls are popularly called Shivanasamudra or Bluff Falls. They are popular for the Jalapatotsava that are held every year. The two falls are created by the Cauvery river which divides into two streams at the Shivanasamudra island. The eastern falls is Bharachukki and the western fall is Gaganachukki. They are at a distance of 139 km from Bengaluru and 60 km from Mysuru.