It is located on Brahmagiri hills near Bhagamandala in Kodagu district (Coorg), in the South Indian state of Karnataka.

Despite its traditional status as the source of the Kaveri, there is no permanent visible flow from this place to the main rivercourse, except during the monsoon rains.

The river originates as a spring feeding this tank, which is considered to be a holy place to bathe on special days.

On Kaveri sankramana (colloquially changrandi) day, the first day of Tula Masa month of the Hindu calendar, which normally falls in mid-October, thousands of pilgrims from neighboring flock to the river's birthplace to witness the rise of the fountainhead, when water gushes up from the spring at a predetermined moment.

The temple at Tirumakudalu Narasipura (confluence of Kabini, Kaveri and the legendary Spatika Sarovara)) is also dedicated to Agasthiwara.

It is believed that Mayura Varma, and the Kadamba king Narasimman, who ruled vast areas of southern and central India in the 4th Century A.D., brought Brahmins from Ahi Kshetra and put them in charge of various temples in Tulu Nadu.

One night God appeared in Lingaraja's dream and indicated that there was a Brahmin family currently visiting Talakaveri.

[citation needed] Lingaraja received Venkappayya and requested him to start daily puja at the temple.

It is situated in the dense forests of the Western Ghats and gets very heavy annual rainfall of close to 700 cm (280 in).