5 Most Wonderful Waterfalls I have seen

“There is a hidden message in every waterfall. It says, if you are flexible, falling will not hurt you.”

― Mehmet Murat Ildan

I remember the days when we zealously bought greetings cards for new year and look forward to our own collection. We used to have long chats in the school bus about our favorite kind of scenary in the cards. There were village scenes with bull-carts, milkmen and thatched houses; there were pine forests with morning rays tickling down the canopy, there were lakes, and seas and mountains. But what I loved the most even then were waterfall. River cascading through the hills symbolized the new energy with which we begin a new year.

Here are the top five most beautiful waterfalls I have seen in India.

Dassam Falls, Jharkhand

The fall of ten streams, Dassam Falls for me is nostalgia. We didn’t go on vacations to exotic places in our childhood. Travel was not an integral, or even a peripheral part of our lifestyle. So, this was one of the few trips we had from our maternal aunt’s home at Tata Nagar. We drove to Dalma Pahari and Dassam Falls on a day trip from Jamshedpur. 

A short trek from the Tata-Ranchi highway, Dassam falls is one of the most beautiful falls I have seen in India. Deep in the jungles of the Chhota Nagpur Plateau, Kanchi, a tributary of the Subarnarekha River takes a plunge.

Jog Falls, Karnataka

The Magical Jog (C) Backpack & Explore

The first in my list is Jog Falls of Karnataka– the second highest plunge in India. While the view of Jog Falls is indeed memorable, there are many more memories to take away from this quaint place. The sparkling lakes, the opulent forests, forts and culture. 

What’s special about Jog is that the water does not cascade over the rocks in a tiered fashion. The water here thunders down the slope losing contact with the rocks, making it the tallest un-tiered waterfall in India. Even in the dry seasons the slow plunge of this perennial waterfall amidst the dense forests has a magical effect on the viewer. I wish could go to the bottom but because of several accidents the stairway has been closed for tourists.

Bharachukki Falls, Karnataka

Barachukki Falls in Shivasamudram (C)Backpack & Explore

Barachukki is the larger of the pair of waterfalls in the island of Shivasamudra in Karnataka. This cascade is formed when river Cauvery that runs down a 75 metre gorge before it divides into two branches that flow around the island of Shivanasamudra. The view of this fall right after monsoon. Located only 139 km from the city, it is a top destination for a one-day trip from Bangalore.

Related posts:

• Post-Pandemic Day Trip to Manchinbele and Shivasamudram
• Day Trip to Shivasamudram and Talakadu

Kanchanjunga Falls, Sikkim

Kanchanjunga Falls (C)Bakpack&Explore

“Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder”, and Kanchenjunga falls to me is indeed a thing of beauty.

There’s a legend of how the waterfall was hidden away from tourists for the longest time. Since it is tucked away from the motorable road, tourists passed by it towards other attractions without any knowledge of the falls. Then in the 90s, Topjor Bhutia, a local tour guide, apparently discovered this secret gem by accident. I can’t guarantee the genuineness of this story, but I can guarantee that your senses will be pleased by this gorgeous waterfall.

It is now a must-see attraction on your Sikkim itinerary if you plan to stay in Pelling or Yuksum.

Dudhsagar Falls, Goa

Located deep inside the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary in Goa, the Dudhsagar falls is a true spectacle. It is a must-see attraction for anyone visiting Goa for the first time.

To protect the environment the tourism in the area is put under tight control. There is now only one legal way to visit the Dudhsagar falls. You have to park your car outside the gates and book a jeep safari from there. You have to drive 68 km from Panjim to Kulem for booking the jeep safari. It is a 1.5-2 hour drive on an average day.

The jeep then takes you on an off-roading trip through the sanctuary. Despite all the efforts, it’s still crowded because it is so popular. Even in the peak season with all the crowd, I loved the experience of the Jeep safari, walking in the forest and listening to the music of waterfalls while sitting near the pool.

Check out the best places for jungle safari in India.

This was my 23rd post of the BlogchatterA2Z Challenge 2022. If you liked this post, please share it with your friends to plan your next adventure. Thank you for all your support and encouragement throughout this month.