Talakaveri is famous as the source of Cauvery, the holy river. Situated on the slopes of the Brahmagiri hills in Coorg District(Kodagu) at an altitude of 4187 ft above sea level, the spot can be reached by a 2 km journey from Bhagamandala up the ghats.
Talakaveri has great religious significance attached to it. There is a holy kundike from where the river emerges as a small perennial spring, then flows underground again to emerge a short distance away. Taking bath in this spot on Tula Sankramana in October is considered very sacred.
The Shiva temple here houses a rare and ancient
Shivlinga, and another temple here is devoted to Lord Ganesh. This temple has a holy Ashwantha tree where, according to legend, the
Trimurtis - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva gave darshan to
sage Agastya. A flight of steps takes one up to the nearby Brahmagiri peak, where the 7 great sages called the Sapta Maharishis were believed to have performed a special yagna. A picturesque stretch of blue Brahmagiri hills feasts the eyes of the tourists from the peak as well as on the drive to Talakaveri.
A temple guest house and the nearby
Ashram provide accommodation to the pilgrims.
Coorg (Kodagu) can be reached only by road, since there is no railway or commercial air service that serves the area. The
Mysore - Mangalore high way passes through Coorg. Bangalore International Airport (260 km) and Mangalore Bajpe Airport(136 km)are the nearest airports. There are regular buses plying from Bangalore, Mangalore, Cannanore and Tellicherry to Madikeri, the district headquarters.
