If you live in or are heading to South India, there are a host of stunning waterfalls to witness, each with its unique personalities and stories to tell. The trails that lead to these spots are short, making them perfect for a long weekend away from the hustle of city life. We’ve rounded up a few of the best waterfall hikes to add to your bucket list. By Eshita Srinivas
Away from the hustle of the concrete jungle, straight into the serene, verdant landscapes of dense forests, for those who enjoy a good hike, nothing beats a visit to the lap of mother nature over the weekend. Add in a stunning waterfall and a picturesque hike, and you’ve got an experience you can’t miss out. Peppered across the breadth of South India are resplendent waterfalls that come with the promise of breath-taking views and pleasant, short treks. All you need to do is strap on your hiking boots and head on over to the starting point over the weekend. Here are a few waterfall hikes you need to add to your to-do list.
These waterfall hikes will make your weekend getaways more picturesque
Athirappilly, Kerala
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God’s own country is home to this gleaming waterfall, located 70 kilometres from Kochi and 100 kilometres from Munnar. The falls are located 1000 feet above sea level and fall from a height of 80 feet off the Anamudi mountains of the Western Ghats. The journey to Athirappilly falls is as breathtaking as the location itself. It involves making your way through Athirapally forest, which houses Asiatic elephants, leopards, tigers, and hornbills. The Chalakudy river, which flows through South India, feeds the waterfall.
The trek route is well paved and easy-to-follow, taking you a little over 20 minutes to complete. There are washrooms along the way, and you might be greeted by monkeys and a host of colourful birds along the rocky pathway. Eventually, the trek will lead you to the base of the waterfalls. While this one’s for beginners, more experienced trekkers who’d like to challenge themselves can go through five-hour treks from Charpa and Kurishumudi. If you’re headed during the monsoons, be wary of slippery pathways.
Best time to head here: Anytime through the year
Hanuman Gundi, Karnataka
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Perched between the Karkala and Lakya dams in the Kudremukh National Park, this beautiful waterfall is about 80 kilometres from Mangalore and falls from a height of 72 feet. Those heading here will have to work for a glimpse of the pristine, tiered waterfall. About 300 steps carved into the hillside lead to the waterfall and get quite slippery during the monsoon. That said, it’s an easy way to the top during most other seasons and perfect for beginners. Besides this path, the waterfall is also a part of the Kudremukh trek, which takes about 4-5 hours. The forest department manages the waterfall, and a nominal entrance fee is charged to enter the area. Regardless of which hike you embark on, the view of lush trees and jagged rocks along with the crystal-clear waters is worth it.
Best time to head here: January-February; October-December
Talakona, Andhra Pradesh
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About 241 kilometres from Bengaluru, 192 kilometres from Chennai, and 569 kilometres from Hyderabad, Talakona waterfalls are housed within the Sri Venkateswara National Park in Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh. Water roars down a cliff, into a valley from a height of 270 feet here and that, along with the dense forests around it, make it a sight to behold. This is the largest waterfall in Andhra Pradesh and is the local-favourite weekend destination.
Local lore states that the water here is enriched with healing herbs and the region was declared a biosphere reserve in 1990 due to the diverse set of medicinal plant species here. In the forests that surround it are sambars, porcupines, Indian giant squirrels, slender loris, mouse deer, and panthers.
The short, two kilometre trek here begins at the Siddeswara Swamy temple and includes a canopy rope walk, which stands at about 40 feet in height. Different routes, spanning various difficulty levels will lead the way and several caves offer good spots to stop over at. It will take you a little over 30 minutes to eight hours, depending on the trail you choose, to complete the trek one way and along the way you’ll go through the beautiful dense forests of the region.
Best time to head here: September-February
Agaya Gangai, Tamil Nadu
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About a 92-kilometre drive from Salem, the Agaya Gangai falls are located in Eastern Ghat’s Kolli Hills. The waterfalls feed the river Aiyar from a height of 300 feet. Like most other falls on this list, the short kilometre-long trek goes through dense forests. About 1300 steps will pose a challenge along the way, and it will take you about 45 minutes to get to your destination, one way. If you go through a different route, with the starting point being the base of the hills in a village called Puliyancholai, it should take you about five hours to get there. This path is challenging and best embarked on by the experienced. You could stop along the way to look at the caves of Korakka Siddhar and Kalaanginatha Siddhar.
Best time to head here: June-August
Vazhvanthol, Kerala
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A trek through eucalyptus plantations is on the itinerary if you choose to head to these falls in Kerala. A five-kilometre hike is a breeze for professionals and a fun challenge for beginners. Along the way, right at about the two-kilometre mark, you’ll find a small waterfall that you can relax and take a break at. This trek is usually guided. The Vazhvanthol falls are also a part of the trekking route of Agasthyakoodam, the second highest peak in Kerala. The trek often begins at Chathancode and follows the Thodayar river into the Shola forest. You’ll be greeted by a host of butterflies, snakes, frogs, and other small animals along the way.
Also a tiered waterfall, this one features pools as deep as 40 feet due to the force of the fall itself and is a mere 48 kilometres from Trivandrum.
Best time to head here: December-February
Catherine, Tamil Nadu
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Any visit to the region with stunning Nilgiri Hills for a backdrop is incomplete without a visit to these picturesque falls, where the water rushes down from a height of 250 feet. Lush tea plantations meet the Shola forest to greet you on your hike to this double cascading waterfall. Several vantage points like Dolphin’s nose are good stopovers along the way. The starting point is usually Aravenu or Kotagiri, and it will take you just about an hour, depending on your endurance, to cover a kilometre and get to your destination.
The gorgeous Nilgiri Hills in the background personifies the beauty of the Catherine Falls in Coonoor. If you plan to holiday in Coonoor or Ooty, this waterfall hike is a must. At this fall, water flows fiercely from the staggering height of 250 feet (approx.), making the pool at the surface perfect for swimming. The Catherine Waterfalls is a double cascading fall that is engulfed by lush green tea plantations. If you’re in Ooty, you must head here.
Best time to head here: March-May, September-February
Thalaiyar Falls, Tamil Nadu
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One of the most popular tourist spots, this one is 40 kilometres from Kodaikanal. It also happens to be one of the highest waterfalls in Asia, falling from a height of a whopping 975 feet. It’s also one of the widest, spanning over 13 kilometres from Ghat road to Kodaikanal. They’re popularly known as Rat Tail Falls since their appearance resembles a silvery line much like a rat’s.
There’s no direct path to the falls and you’d need to walk along one of the walls on either side of the falls to reach the centre. The trek to this spot starts at the Manjalar dam and takes you to the bottom of the falls, passing by mango orchards along the way. Post the Kamakshi shrine, the path gets tricky, with large boulders posing a challenge. But the payoff at the end of the 15-kilometre long trek is worth it. You can watch the pristine waters hit the rocks for hours once you make it. Head to the Dum Dum Rock for a breathtaking view of the falls and the dam. You might encounter wild boars, bison, and snakes along the way.
Best time to visit: October-March, July-September
Kiliyur Falls, Tamil Nadu
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About four kilometres from the Yercaud bus stand, the Kiliyur falls lie in the Servaroyan hill range. They drop from a height of 300 feet into the valley down below and look stunning right after monsoons. The trek to this beautiful destination is not easy. Starting from Yercaud Lake, this trek spans about two kilometres and involves several slippery paths, bumpy rocks, and muddy trails. The last leg of this trek, which spans about 500 metres, involves a host of steps. Be sure to pop by for a relaxing, fun waterfall hike out if you live close to the area.
Best time to visit: Any time of the year, especially July-August
Magod Falls, Karnataka
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Fed by the river Bedti, this waterfall falls from a height of 650 feet, its roar piercing the quiet of the surrounding lush forest. You’ll need to trek through rocky pathways to make it to the waterfall and along the way to this spot, you’ll spot porcupines, spotted deer, flying squirrels, and other wild animals. The two-tiered waterfall is also the base camp for a few treks, including the popular sunset point Jenukallu Gudda, which is six kilometres from here. This spot is located 88 kilometres from Hubli and 107 kilometres from Gokarna, so if you’re in the area, do visit it.
Best time to head here: October-January.
Feature and hero image: Rashi Raffi/Unsplash
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