Talakaveri (Kannada:ತಲಕಾವೇರಿ), is the place that is generally considered to be the source of the Kaveri River. It is located in the Brahmagiri hill (not to be confused with the Brahmagiri range further South) near Bhagamandala in Kodagu district, Karnataka, 1,276 m. above sea level. However, there is not a permanent visible flow from this place to the main rivercourse.

Pilgrim center - Talakaveri:

The temple here is dedicated to Lord Agastheeswara, which denotes the link between Kavery and Sage Agasthya.

The legend goes that, Kavery was held in a Kamadalam by Sage Agasthya. Vinnaayaka took the form of a crow and perched on the kamandalam of Agasthya when Agasthya was meditating. When Agasthya realised this, he shooed away the crow. But the Divine Crow tipped the kamandalu and toppled it. Out, poured Kaveri which started flowing. The crow disappeared and in its place stood a small boy. Agasthya thought that the boy was playing some prank and clenching both his fists, went to pound the head of the small boy. But the boy escaped and Agasthya gave chase. Finally the boy vanished and Vinaayaka showed Himself to Agasthya. Agasthya was aghast at the realisation that he had just tried to knock the head of Vinaayaka Himself. As atonement, he knocked his own head with both of his clenched fists.

The link between Kavery and Vinnaayaka also extends to Srirangam as well, in Lord Ganesa's role in setting up the Ranganatha temple there. Not surprisingly, the temple at Tirumukkudal Narasipura (confluence of Kabini (aka Kapila), Kavery and invisible Spatika Sarovara) is also dedicated to Lord Agastheeswara.

On Tulasankramana day (first day of tula month normally falls in mid October) thousands of pilgrims flock to the river’s birthplace to witness the miraculous rise of the fountainhead, when water gushes up from the spring at a predetermined moment. The tula snanam is observed across pilgrim towns in Kavery's banks.