Malenadu Waterfalls

Malenadu waterfalls at a glance

This table covers the major Malenadu waterfalls in four districts, from north to south. Access notes are kept general unless a distance is confirmed by Karnataka Tourism, because roads and gates change often.

Falls	District	Nearest town	Access	Best season	Character
Jog	Shivamogga (Uttara Kannada border)	Sagara	Road to viewpoints	July to November	Sharavathi drops 253 m in four streams
Unchalli (Lushington)	Uttara Kannada	Siddapur, Sirsi	Road, then 1 km on foot	After the monsoon	Aghanashini falls 116 m into a gorge
Magod	Uttara Kannada	Yellapur (17 km)	Road, railed walkway	July to December	Bedthi drops into a deep rocky ravine
Sathodi	Uttara Kannada	Yellapur	Road, short walk	Most of the year	Wide, low fall where forest streams meet
Shivaganga	Uttara Kannada	Sirsi	Road to a forest viewpoint	Monsoon to early winter	Tall fall seen across a deep valley
Burude	Uttara Kannada	Siddapur	Steep forest walk down	October to February	Falls in several steps with pools
Vibhuti	Uttara Kannada	Kumta	Road, short walk	After the monsoon	Small forest fall near the Yana rocks
Apsarakonda	Uttara Kannada	Honnavar	Road, short walk	Monsoon to winter	Small fall by a temple near the sea
Barkana	Shivamogga	Agumbe	Forest trail, permission needed	October to February	Tall drop into the Sita valley
Onake Abbi	Shivamogga	Agumbe	Guided forest trek	After the monsoon	Rainforest fall far from any road
Kunchikal	Shivamogga	Hosanagara	Not open to the public	Not applicable	Tall cascade on the Varahi
Kudlu Theertha	Udupi (ghat edge)	Hebri, Agumbe	Ticketed forest walk	December to January	Pool and fall in Someshwara forest
Sirimane	Chikkamagaluru	Sringeri, Kigga	Road, then steps	Monsoon to winter	Easy family fall with a viewing area
Hebbe	Chikkamagaluru	Kemmangundi	Jeep and a walk	October to February	Falls 168 m in two stages
Kalhatti	Chikkamagaluru	Kemmangundi	By the road	Monsoon to winter	Beside the Veerabhadreshwara temple
Manikyadhara	Chikkamagaluru	Baba Budangiri	Road, then steps	Monsoon to winter	Thin spray fall sacred to pilgrims
Jhari	Chikkamagaluru	Attigundi	Jeep track through estates	After the monsoon	Milky white fall in coffee country
Kadambi	Chikkamagaluru	Kudremukh	By the road	Monsoon to winter	Roadside fall on the Kudremukh road
Hanumana Gundi	Chikkamagaluru	Kudremukh	Road, then steps down	After the monsoon	Falls into a rocky pool in the forest
Abbey	Kodagu	Madikeri (6 km)	Short walk through estates	Monsoon to winter	Wide fall in coffee and pepper land
Iruppu	Kodagu	South Kodagu	1 km forest trail	Monsoon to November	Falls near the Rameshwara temple
Mallalli	Kodagu	Somwarpet	Road, then many steps	After the monsoon	Kumaradhara drops below Pushpagiri

Most of these Malenadu waterfalls are a day trip from one of the main bases in our Malenadu travel guide. For the towns and taluks around each, see the district map of Malenadu.

Why are there so many waterfalls in Malenadu?

There are so many waterfalls in Malenadu because heavy monsoon rain falls on hills that drop sharply to the coast. Rivers such as the Sharavathi, Aghanashini, Bedthi, Kali, Sita and Varahi rise in the hills and tumble west down the Western Ghats to the Arabian Sea.

East flowing rivers like the Tunga, Bhadra and the streams that feed the Kaveri make smaller falls on gentler slopes. That is why the tallest Malenadu waterfalls sit on the western edge of the hills, near Jog, Agumbe and Kudremukh. Most of them depend on the rains, so they are biggest from July to October and much thinner by April.

Jog Falls: the biggest name among Malenadu waterfalls

Jog Falls is the most famous of all Malenadu waterfalls, where the Sharavathi river drops about 253 m (830 ft) in four streams known as Raja, Rani, Roarer and Rocket. It sits on the border of Shivamogga and Uttara Kannada, a short drive from Sagara.

Jog falls looks very different through the year. The Linganamakki dam upstream holds back much of the river for power, so the falls are full only in a good monsoon and can be thin by summer. In heavy rain the gorge often fills with mist and you may see nothing at all for an hour.

There are viewpoints on both sides of the gorge. The district has carried out work on new tourist facilities. During that work the main entrance was closed for long spells while alternative viewpoints stayed open. Check the current status with your hotel before you drive in.

Uttara Kannada falls: Unchalli, Magod and Sathodi

Uttara Kannada has the most waterfalls in Malenadu, spread around Sirsi, Siddapur and Yellapur. These falls sit among areca and pepper gardens, so the drives are as good as the falls.

Unchalli Falls

Karnataka Tourism describes Unchalli as a 116 m drop of the Aghanashini, first recorded by the British officer J D Lushington in 1845, which is why it is also called Lushington Falls. A road reaches within about a kilometre and you walk the rest to a viewing deck. It is one of the most photographed Malenadu waterfalls.

Magod Falls

At Magod the Bedthi river drops into a deep rocky ravine, about 17 km from Yellapur. A walkway with handrails leads from the parking to the viewpoint. Karnataka Tourism suggests July to December as the best time. Stop at Jenukallu Gudda nearby for the valley view.

Sathodi, Shivaganga, Burude and Vibhuti

Sathodi is a wide, low fall where small streams meet near the Kodasalli dam. It holds water for most of the year. Shivaganga is seen from a forest viewpoint above a deep valley. Burude, near Siddapur, needs a steep walk down to several steps of falling water. Vibhuti is a small forest fall on the Kumta side near Yana.

On the Honnavar side, close to where we are based, Apsarakonda is a small fall beside a temple that you can pair with the beach. On all these roads, pepper vines climb the areca palms in the gardens you pass.

Shivamogga and Agumbe falls: Barkana, Onake Abbi and Kudlu Theertha

The Agumbe rainforest has some of the tallest Malenadu waterfalls, but most of them are in protected forest and need permission. Plan these as proper outings, not quick stops.

• Barkana: one of the tallest falls in India, dropping into the Sita valley about 10 km from Agumbe. Reaching it needs Forest Department approval and a guide.
• Onake Abbi: a tall fall deep in the rainforest, reached by a guided forest trek.
• Kudlu Theertha: inside Someshwara sanctuary on the Udupi side of the ghat. It is a ticketed walk of about 2 km, often closed from June to November.
• Kunchikal: a tall cascade on the Varahi below the Mani dam. It lies inside a hydro project area and is not open to visitors.

Chikkamagaluru falls: Hebbe, Kalhatti, Sirimane and the Kudremukh road

Chikkamagaluru has the widest mix of Malenadu waterfalls, from roadside falls you can see from the car to ones that need a jeep and a walk.

Around Kemmangundi and Baba Budangiri

Hebbe falls about 168 m in two stages, Dodda Hebbe and Chikka Hebbe, about 10 km from Kemmangundi. You can walk the forest trail or take a forest department jeep part of the way and walk the rest. Kalhatti is right beside the Veerabhadreshwara temple on the Kemmangundi road. Manikyadhara near Baba Budangiri is a thin fall reached by steps. Jhari is reached by a jeep track through coffee estates near Attigundi.

Around Sringeri and Kudremukh

Sirimane, near Kigga, is the easiest family outing among the Malenadu waterfalls of this district, with steps down to a viewing area. On the road towards Kudremukh, Kadambi is visible from the roadside, while Hanumana Gundi needs a long flight of steps down to a rocky pool. Carry water and a little coconut burfi for the climb back, since shops are rare.

Kodagu falls: Abbey, Iruppu and Mallalli

Kodagu’s Malenadu waterfalls are smaller than Jog but easy to combine with estate stays. They sit among coffee, pepper and cardamom.

• Abbey: about 6 km from Madikeri, reached by a short walk through private estates. Karnataka Tourism lists entry from 9 am to 5 pm.
• Iruppu: in the Brahmagiri hills of south Kodagu, near the Rameshwara temple. A forest trail of about a kilometre leads to the falls.
• Mallalli: near Somwarpet, where the Kumaradhara drops below Pushpagiri. Expect a long flight of steps.

When is the best time to visit Malenadu waterfalls?

The best time to visit Malenadu waterfalls is from late September to December, when the falls are still full after the monsoon and the trails are reopening. July and August give the most water, but many forest falls are closed and the roadside ones may be hidden by mist.

Months	What the falls are like	Good for
June to August	Biggest flow, mist, many closures	Jog, Magod, Kalhatti, roadside falls
September to December	Full falls, clearer skies, trails open	Almost every fall on this page
January to February	Less water, cool and clear	Hebbe, Kudlu Theertha, Sirimane
March to May	Thin or dry, forest fire season	Sathodi and a few spring fed falls

So the best time to visit Malenadu waterfalls depends on the falls. For the rain itself, read our Malenadu monsoon guide.

Are Malenadu waterfalls safe? Closures and rules

Malenadu waterfalls are safe if you stay behind barriers and follow local advice, but every year people drown in pools that look calm. The current at the base of a fall is far stronger than it looks. Rocks covered in algae are as slippery as soap.

• Do not swim or wade unless locals confirm it is safe that day.
• Respect monsoon closures. District officials and the Forest Department close many falls and trails during heavy rain.
• Forest permissions: falls inside sanctuaries or national parks, such as Barkana and Kudlu Theertha, need tickets or prior approval.
• Timings: most forest gates close by late afternoon. Leave in time to walk out in daylight.
• Leeches: expect them on any forest walk from June to October.
• No plastic, no alcohol: many gates check bags. Carry a cloth bag and a steel bottle.

Malenadu waterfalls trek: which falls need a walk?

A Malenadu waterfalls trek can be anything from 200 steps to a full day in the rainforest. Use this rough guide to pick falls that suit your group.

1. No walk: Kalhatti, Kadambi and the main Jog viewpoints.
2. Short walk or steps: Magod, Unchalli, Abbey, Sirimane, Manikyadhara, Iruppu.
3. Steep or long steps: Hanumana Gundi, Mallalli, Burude.
4. Jeep and forest walk: Hebbe, Jhari, Kudlu Theertha.
5. Full Malenadu waterfalls trek with permission: Barkana, Onake Abbi.

For any proper Malenadu waterfalls trek, wear shoes with good grip and go with a local guide. Carry salt or a leech repellent too. Our Malenadu trekking guide explains the Forest Department booking system.

Photography tips for waterfalls

Malenadu waterfalls are hard to photograph well because of mist, spray and deep shade. A few small habits make a big difference.

• Keep a dry cloth in your pocket for the lens. Spray from big falls like Jog reaches far.
• Go in the morning or late afternoon, when the light is softer.
• For silky water, rest the camera on a rock and use a slow shutter.
• Include a person or a tree for scale. Without it, a 100 m fall can look small.
• Never step past railings for a shot. Many accidents happen this way.

Sample day plans for Malenadu waterfalls

These sample days link nearby Malenadu waterfalls with a good lunch in between. Start early, because most forest gates close by late afternoon.

From Sirsi or Yellapur

Morning at Magod and Jenukallu Gudda, lunch in Yellapur, afternoon at Sathodi. On a second day, drive to Unchalli and walk down to Burude if your legs allow.

From Sagara or Agumbe

Jog in the afternoon from Sagara. From Agumbe, spend a day at Kudlu Theertha on the Someshwara side and end at the Agumbe sunset point.

From Chikkamagaluru or Sringeri

Kalhatti and Hebbe from Kemmangundi in one long day. From Sringeri, see Sirimane in the morning and drive the Kudremukh road past Kadambi to Hanumana Gundi.

From Madikeri

Abbey in the morning, then a long drive south to Iruppu. Keep Mallalli for a separate day on the Somwarpet side.

Plan the rest of your trip

Pair these Malenadu waterfalls with the peaks, forests and homestays in our Malenadu travel guide. For a full list of sights beyond the falls, see Malenadu in Karnataka. Before you head home, pick up some kokum rind or hill honey from the region. You can also browse all our farm products.

Frequently asked questions about Malenadu waterfalls