Waterfall Tourism in the Monsoons in India.

August to November are the best months of the year to watch the waterfalls in India. That's when the gently cascading waters would transform into gushing, plunging, voluminous, outstanding, powerful and intimidating water bodies - adding magnetism to an already attractive mountain landscape.

While some have the luxury of being perennial, some aren’t!

Meaning – no rainfall….no waterfall. So now you know why you need to visit the nearest waterfalls this monsoon.

The three waterfalls of India which have topped the lists are:

Kunchikal Falls – 1493 feet drop - the highest waterfalls in India and the second highest waterfalls in Asia. It is located in the Western Ghats and is caused by the River Varahi in Shimoga District of Karnataka State. While Rivers Tunga and Bhadra flow through the Shimoga District, Rivers, Sharavathi, Gangavathi, Tadadi and Kali originate in this District. But that’s not the cause for the highest waterfalls in India. It is being on the Western Ghat slopes and receiving one of the highest degrees of rainfall in the country that is causing it. The popular ‘Jog Waterfalls’ and ‘Barkana Falls’ which draw thousands of tourists are also in Shimoga District.

 Barehipani Falls – 1309 feet drop – a two-tiered waterfall which is the second highest waterfalls in India and is formed by River Budhabalanga in in Mayurbhanj District of Orissa State. The falls are situated in the Simlipal National Park which is home to 100 Royal Bengal Tigers and 432 Asian Elephants among other wildlife.

 Langshiang Falls – 1106 feet drop – the third highest waterfalls in India which is formed by River Kynshi in West Khasi Hills District in Meghalaya State. These falls are just 10kms away from the biggest River Island of Meghalaya State – ‘Nongkhnum Island’.

And my personal favourites are:

 Jog Falls – 829 feet drop – the second highest ‘plunge-waterfall’ in India – formed by Sharavathi River in Shimoga District in Karnataka. 1500 steps lead downhill from the view point to the bottom of the hill - opposite the falls giving you the complete full-frontal view of the falls which is a rarity considering that most natural landscape surrounding natural waterfalls do not permit the fully frontal up-close view. It’s the monsoon water that turns this stringy drop to a full-blown avalanche of white frothy water causing misty surrounding.

Hogenakkal Falls – 66 feet drop – formed by River Kaveri in Dharmapuri District of Tamil Nadu State. Its claim to fame is its resemblance to the Great Niagara Falls because of which it is also called the ‘Niagara of India’. Boat rides are major tourist attraction here.

Dudhsagar Falls – 1017 feet drop – formed by River Mandovi on the Goa-Karnataka border in Goa State. It is a multi-tiered waterfall located in Bhagwan Mahavir Wild Life Sanctuary on the Western Ghats. During the monsoons, the Dudhsagar Falls swell up to a width of 100 feet making it one of the most powerful falls in India. Riding the train over the Falls is a major tourist attraction. Trekking around these Falls is another major tourist attraction. Tourists are allowed in this area only from October.

Dhuandhar Falls – 98 feet drop – formed by River Narmada in Jabalpur District of Madhya Pradesh State. This is a large roaring waterfalls which is heard from a distance. In peak monsoon, these Falls look like there are taking the Earth with them. The cable-car ride over these Falls is a uniquely thrilling experience.

Kiliyur Falls – 300 feet drop – formed by overflow of Yercaud Lake in the Eastern Ghats in Tamil Nadu. It is a picturesque multi-tiered waterfall which falls down a stone slope. The monsoon-volume of the water in the Falls causes several mini umbrella falls on the slopes – increasing its visual appeal.

Meenmutty Falls – 984 feet drop – the highest waterfalls of Kerala State in Wayanad District. Scores points on visual eye-appeal of a thundering waterfall in dense virgin forests of the Western Ghats.

Pix courtesy: Wikipedia, mytraveltalk, odiya, walkthroughindia, kingnutin.flickr, thinkingparticle.

Summer Festival in the Nilgiris!

Nilgiris Mountains beckon all the flower, fruit, spice, tea, boat-racing, vintage-cars, horses, dogs, sports, art lovers from all over the country to participate in the 16-day Summer Festival organized by the Department of Tourism, Government of Tamil Nadu during the second-half of May this year.

The District Capital of Nilgiris District – Ooty – a Hill Station at 7350 feet altitude in Tamil Nadu, is going to play host to the Summer Festival held in May where the Nilgiri Mountain Range is going to display its proud possessions in various shows held at various locales in Ooty and its environs.

 o   Flower Show: More than 150 types of imported and indigenous flowers would be put on display at the Botanical Garden in Ooty. Indian floral arrangements, Japanese floral arrangements, flower rangoli, Bonsai, vegetable carving are some of the many activities and competitions held here. The Flower Show tradition in Ooty has been in practice since 1896. A 2-day Flower Show would also be held at Kodaikanal in which florists from all over the country would participate.

o   Rose Show: More than 3000 types of Roses will bloom this May in Ooty to participate in the prestigious Rose Show which happens every summer.

o   Fruit Show: More than 25000 tourists visit the Sim’s Park in Coonoor to participate or view the tons of fruits on display – organized by the Department of Horticulture which has been in practice for more than 50 years.

o   Vegetable Show: The Nehru Park in Kotagiri is visited by more than15,000 people every summer for the Vegetable Show organized by the Department of Horticulture for 2 days. The Star attraction of this show every year is the depiction of the Map of India using red, yellow and green Capsicums.

o   Spice Show: Department of Horticulture organizes the Spice Show at Gudalur in the Nilgiris each year putting on display the immense wealth of spices that grow in the Nilgiri Mountains.

o   Dog Show: The third oldest Dog Club in India – the ‘South of India Kennel Club’ has been organizing the Dog Shows in Ooty at the Government Arts College Grounds for more than 107 years. You will get to see some of the best looking and well trained canines strut around in this show. The same event shall be held at Kodaikanal as well.

o   Boat Race & Boat Pageantry: The Ooty Lake will dazzle with countless boats which will all muster to participate in this century-old spectacular tradition of boat pageantry and competitions in Ooty. This is a jumbo crowd puller with tourists and natives of Bangalore, Chennai, Kerala and other nearby towns thronging to the Ooty Lake to see this event every summer. The Kodaikanal Hill Station would also host a boat-race organized by its Boats Club this may in its scenic Kodaikanal Lake.

o   Vintage Car Rally in Ooty is an interesting piece of the Annual Nilgiris Summer Festival where many vintage cars will drive around the main town of Ooty to display their antiquities.

o   A Marathon Race would be held in Ooty for the ‘fit and the fast’.

o   The Breeks HADP open-air stadium in Ooty will be the venue for the 9-day Summer Cultural Festival comprising dance, drama and music programs.

o   Hot-air balloon Show: In one of the largest ballooning events of India, scores of hot-air balloons shall fill the skies of Ooty in a colourful and elaborate display of hot-air balloons.

o   Amateur Photo Contest: Ooty is where all the photography-enthusiasts and amateurs get their chance to click and compete for a prize in the Summer Festival.

o   Painting Exhibition: Artists are invited to showcase their creativity in their paintings in the Painting Exhibition in Ooty.

 

o   Heritage Building Trek: You would be given a guided-tour of the great centuries-old Heritage Buildings of Ooty which throw insights into the history of these Mountains and Ooty in particular.

o   Eco-trekking: Where there are verdant mountains, there is eco-trekking and Ooty offers myriad such opportunities to explore and enjoy the natural lush green Mountains, valleys, forests and tea-gardens.

 

o   Catch-a-Fish Event: This amusing event shall be held in Kodaikanal during the last week of May this year.

o   Horse Competition: Kokaikanal which is famous for its horses would hold a competition for Horses this May.

o   Sports Competition: Kodaikanal District Sports Office would conduct sports competitions in hockey, football, volleyball and mini-marathon in Kadaikanal at the Bryant Park.

 You may not be allowed to dance atop the Nilgiri Mountain Railways 'Shahrukh Khan style'…..but you certainly can ride this steam-locomotive-turned-diesel-locomotive – one of the rare and few ‘toy trains’ of India while you climb up the Nilgiri Mountains for an interesting summer this May.