Shivanasamudram falls & Thalakad

Last Saturday, 3 of us decided to cool our heels in the majestic waterfalls. We started from Bangalore by 9.15 am - we started 1.5 hours later than planned because I decided to pack some food since we could not buy any ready to eat stuff the previous night. Shivanasamudram is 115 Kms from Bangalore on the Kanakapura road. We did not expect the road to be as good as the Mysore road or the Golden Quadrangle, but were shocked at the last 25 km stretch which was bad. Inspite of being a tourism spot, the Govt (whichever party) has not paved the road which happens to be the state highways! Such sorry state of affairs.
On reaching the falls, a bigger disappointment awaited us! there were only the majestic rocks and a thread of water. Everyone who had come there was shocked and trying to take pictures with whatever water around! It is only January and I wondered how drier the coming months are going to be! To see some water, we decided to go to Talakad and also to take the Mysore road.
After enquiries, we headed towards Talakad that is 30 kms away and the route between Shivanasamudram and Talakad was even worse.
On entering Talakad, we need to pay 10 rupees each for the village municipality and the forest department so that we get to see Cauvery. To our surprise and delight, there was plenty of water and crowd. Spent some time there and went on the watch tower. We decided to spread our picnic basket at the bank of river, but at a peaceful and lesser crowded place. So, we took the car and came to the place which we noted on our way forward. It was a beautiful place at the bank of the river and with lots of tree and hence shade. Nobody was around and we spread the blanket and started exploring the lunch. Stray dogs came from nowhere and started guarding us. One by one, beggars started coming and before we could wonder, two cars came our way and parked right in front of us. There was one more tempo traveller that followed and from that, I could see that a marriage feast and silver utensils were being unloaded. When I saw 5-6 milk packets, I wondered if they were going to set up stove and cook coffee/tea. We decided to leave the place for all these hungama and got up. Forgot to mention that a sole pig (yes!) gave darshan. When I exclaimed, that it is a "piggy bank", I got stares in my direction!
We wrapped up having a hearty lunch in a peaceful surrounding. We enquired the route to Maddur through which we can reach Mysore and continued our journey. Only then we figured out that there was no road at all in many places and mud was being filled in so many other stretches. I donot know if it is a state highway, but definitely, a stateless highway! And this time, we had to travel around 40+ kms to reach Maddur and that the worst route in the day. So, we went from bad to worse and then to worst. Since there is no more superlative degree, the next one has to be good and it happened to be the best - The Mysore-Bangalore road. We zoomed and reached home by 6.15 pm.
My suggestion to u guys:
1. If u have to goto Shivanasamudram falls, take the Tumkur road as it has only 25 Km of bad strtech and that is bearable than the other route
2. Donot goto Shivanasamudram as there is no water and no good road. Look for a better alternative. If I find one next week, I shall let u know!