The Coracle Ride

The parisal - a round basket boat of bamboo and hide, unchanged in design for centuries - is the reason most people come. A single coracle carries around six passengers plus the boatman, who spins it deliberately in the current at least once to general screaming. Rates are per boat rather than per head, so a larger group splits the cost better. Agree the price and exactly what the ride covers before you get in, ask for life jackets, and choose an operator who provides them without being asked.

The Hanging Bridge and Viewpoints

The suspension bridge over the river gives the best wide view of the gorge and is the standard photograph everyone takes home. Several marked viewing decks above the main falls offer different angles, and in full post-monsoon flow the sound from them is genuinely startling. Early morning light is much better than midday for photography, and it is also the only time of day the rocks are comfortable underfoot.

Kaveri Fish and the Riverside Stalls

The freshly fried river fish is not a tourist gimmick but the local trade. Women at the stalls will show you the catch - katla, rohu, keluthi, valai and others - clean and fry it in front of you, and serve it hot with lime. Prices are negotiable and worth agreeing first. If you eat fish at all, this is the single best thing you will consume anywhere on this route, and it is the reason many people plan the trip around lunch rather than the falls.

Crocodile Rehabilitation Centre

A short walk from the falls, this small government-run facility houses a sizeable population of rescued crocodiles alongside a herbal garden and an eco shop selling honey, tea and herbal powders. It is modest rather than spectacular, and half an hour covers it, but children enjoy it and it makes a useful break from the sun. There is a nominal entry fee and it is generally open through the day.

Melagiri Hills and Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary

The hills you drive through on the Anchetty route form part of the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, a dry deciduous forest belt that is an important elephant corridor between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, with leopard, sloth bear, four-horned antelope and a strong bird list. There are trekking routes on the Karnataka side around Anchetty and Muthathi. Drive this stretch slowly at dawn and dusk - elephant crossings are real and signage is limited.