The Great Fall of the western branch of the Cauvery River, Sivasumudram

Water-colour view of a waterfall at Sivasamudram by Justinian Gantz (1802-1862) in 1833. Inscribed on the front in ink is: 'Just Gantz. 1833'; on the back in ink: 'The Great Fall of the Western branch of the Cavary at Shevasamadroo.'

The Cauvery or Kaveri is a sacred river in southern India. It originates in the Western Ghats, Karnataka State and flows for 475 miles (765 km) south-east across a plateau through Tamil Nadu. Upon reaching the Eastern Ghats the river cascades in a series of waterfalls such as the one at Sivasamudram before flowing into to the Bay of Bengal.