SEE YOU AT THE WATERFALL
We’re right in the middle of the Indian monsoon, and there’s no time like now to catch one of nature’s most amazing sights: water cascading down tall cliffs
Sanchita Guha
Most people, except those rather adventurous, wait it out during monsoon before going on their next trip. To the average traveller, India isn’t at its best when it rains. But the thing is, some parts of India are, indeed, at their best when it rains.Waterfalls, those magnificent things in nature under which so many Hindi film heroines have frolicked in wet saris, truly come to life in mid-monsoon, as the rivers that feed them swell with the downpours. Here are six of the best, around the country.
1 Dhuandhar Falls, Madhya Pradesh: Often compared with the Niagara Falls of North America, Dhuandhar (aka Dhuadhar) gets its name from the visual illusion of smoke at the bottom of the cascade — because the water, falling with huge force from a great height of almost 100 feet, kicks up spray that appears to be a shroud of smoke. The falls are a part of the Narmada river system, and in less fierce months (November to May), it’s possible to do boating under the falls, even in moonlight. Location: At Bhedaghat, 30km from Jabalpur city.
2 Jog Falls, Karnataka: Once you’ve seen the natural beauty of Karnataka, you might be repelled forever by the soulless infotech parks of the state capital Bengaluru. Jog Falls, said to be the second highest plunge waterfall in India, is one of the crown jewels of the state. Fed by the Sharavathi river, Jog has four distinct streams, and the real beauty of this quartet is best enjoyed from a distance.
Location: About 110km from Shimoga city, and 40km from Sagar (aka Sagara) town.
3 Athirapally Falls, Kerala: Now this one isn’t just a looker, but thanks to the first Baahubali film, this waterfall is a bona fide movie star as well. The massive Athirapally Falls, fed by the Chalakudy river, is a jawdropping sight when it’s fully awakened by the rains. Because of its width and visual impact, this one, too, gets compared to Niagara Falls.
Location: About 32km from Chalakudy station, and 54km from Thrissur city. 4 Kempty Falls, Uttarakhand: Everyone’s favourite picnic spot, Kempty Falls can be overwhelming because of the number of people splashing about in the rock pool below the waterfall. But if you’re a non-swimmer, you’ll have fun standing in the waist-deep water and then dropping to your knees for a full dip.
Location: About 15km from Mussoorie town.
5 Chitrakote Falls, Chhattisgarh: This one is similar to Dhuandhar, a mesmerising sight when the volume of water reaches its full potential in peak monsoon, fed by the Indrabati river. Spread over a huge area — it’s nearly 500 feet wide — and the water dropping down more than 90 feet, Chitrakote Falls looks like the king of the world. Who needs the Niagara, now? Location: About 38km from Jagdalpur town. 6 Dudhsagar Falls, Goa: Everyone goes to Goa for the beaches, but this waterfall, fed by the Mandovi river, is a beauty best seen during the rains. Its huge rock pool is a crowd-puller. Location:
About 60km from Panaji city, and 46km from Madgaon town.