If you have a sense of beauty within your heart and the thrill of adventure within your soul, and if you want to spend some relaxing moments in the lap of nature, enjoying its wild symphony and inimitable lullabies, then visit the incredible waterfalls in Kerala.
Blessed with dense forests, mountains, rivers, and abundance of scenic beauty, Kerala is an abode for numerous awesome waterfalls. It is a delight to watch water gushing from unbelievable heights and hear the roar full of life and vibe. There are too many waterfalls in the state and some of them are considered as among the best waterfalls in the country. Here is a list of top 6 amazing waterfalls in Kerala which are worth a visit.
1. Athirappilly Waterfalls: The Best among the Waterfalls in Kerala
Athirappilly Waterfalls, located in the Chalakudy Taluk of Thrissur district, near the evergreen forest of Sholayar ranges, is the largest of all the waterfalls in Kerala and one of the best tourist destinations in India. This 80 feet high, 330 feet wide waterfall, nicknamed as “the Niagara of India”, originates from the Western Ghats, with a smooth beginning. It gradually becomes turbulent and crashing through steep rocks of deep valleys it cascades down from 80 feet height with a wild roar and joins the Chalakudi River.
You have to trek 2 kilometers to reach the top of the falls through the enthralling beauty of the lush green forest, filled with teak, bamboo and eucalyptus plantations. The roaring sound of the gushing waterfalls, mist over the falling water and the natural beauty of the surrounding will definitely take your breath away. There is a narrow path towards the bottom of the falls, where you can enjoy the thrilling waterfall in its close proximity, an experience you will never forget. Lured by the scenic beauty of these waterfalls, several film makers have chosen this place as a shooting spot.
Though monsoons add more charm to these falls, trekking will be too risky and dangerous. Best season to visit is September to January. Visiting time is from 8 am to 6 pm.
Chalakudy (30 km) is the nearest railway station from where you can get taxi or bus to reach the site. Nearest airport is Cochin international airport at 55 km away.
2. Palaruvi Waterfalls : Take a Herbal Bath and Relax
Palaruvi Waterfalls, situated in the Thenmala ranges of Kollam district, is one of the highest waterfalls in Kerala. It falls from a height of 300 feet and provides a milky white treat to the eyes. The word “Palaruvi” literally means “stream of milk”. The water reaches the falls after flowing through medicinal herbs and hence it is believed to have healing properties. Even Ayurveda doctors suggest their patients to take a bath here, which is equivalent to herbal bathing. Special bathing places and separate changing rooms are provided here for ladies and kids.
It is a two-step waterfall but the visitors are usually crowded in the bottom fall and pool. The top fall flowing through layers of rocks are considered unsafe. It is a popular trekking destination for adventurous people, who undertake a 5 km to-and-fro trekking trail to the top fall through deep forests, caves and streams.
Best time to visit Palaruvi waterfalls is during or immediately after the Monsoon, that is from June to January. The falls dry up during the summer months. The visiting hours are from 8 am to 5 pm. It is a safe picnic spot protected by guards who take care of the safety of the tourists.
Punalur is the nearest railway station at 35 km. From Kollam town it is 82 km by road. Nearest airport is Trivandrum international airport at 86 km.
3. Thusharagiri Waterfalls : Trekker’s Delight
Thusharagiri, situated at Kodencherry in Kozhikode district, is a “Green Paradise”, rich in plantations of rubber, areca nut, ginger, pepper, spices and other plants. With a number of beautiful waterfalls in the middle of the forest, it has become a popular tourist destination in Kerala. Two streams originate from Western Ghats and combine to form a river named Chalippuzha, which then separates to form three waterfalls, producing snowy spray, which we call Thusharagiri waterfalls. The fine droplets of water cover the mountain with a silvery veil. The word Thusharagiri literally means “snow-capped mountain”. The highest of these three falls cascades from a height of 75 meters.
This beautiful serene place, with lush green forests and steep rocks, offers adventurous trekking and rock climbing. There is a long adventurous trek trail starting from Thusharagiri to Vythiri in Wayanad, through river paths and numerous waterfalls, which will take almost a whole day to complete. Another unique attraction is a crocodile farm run by the State forest department.
The site is suitable to visit any time during the year, except peak monsoon. The best time is from October to March.
Nearest town is Kodencherry at 11 km. Nearest railway station is Kozhikode at 60 km and the nearest airport is Karipur international airport at 75 km.
4. Thommankuthu Waterfalls : In Memory of a Hunter
Situated in the Thodupuzha Taluk of Idukki district, in the Kaliyar forest range, Thommankuthu is a beautiful 7-step waterfall where you can enjoy both adventure and beauty in full spirit. Starting from a height of 1500 m from the nearby hills, the waterfall drops as small streams and cascades through seven layers of rocks and forms a pool at each step. Thommankuthu fall was named after a great hunter called Thommachen Kuruvinakunnel, who, about 100 years ago, revealed to the outer world about the presence of this incredible waterfall in the deep forest.
It is a great picnic spot and the government has recognized Thommankuthu as an ecotourism destination. To reach the top, you have to trek about 12 km through lush green forest, hilly terrain and steep rocks. You can see several caves and many other waterfalls in the area. Guards are ready to guide you. In addition to trekking, you can enjoy fishing and boating in the nearby lake, and even horse riding.
Best time to visit here is from September to May. Monsoon season is not preferred due to difficulty in trekking. Visiting hours are from 10 am to 6 pm.
Nearest town is Thodupuzha at 18 km from Thommankuthu. Nearest railway station is Ernakulam at 60 km and nearest airport is Cochin international airport at 80 km.
5. Meenmutty Waterfalls: An Adventurous Trek into Nature’s Lap
Meenmutty Waterfalls located in Wayanad district of Kerala is one of the largest waterfalls in Kerala. Water cascades from a height of 1000 feet over 3 stages producing a triple tier effect. The word ‘Meenmutty’ in Malayalam literally means ‘where fishes are blocked”. To reach the top of this incredible fall you have to trek 2 km through a deep forest through the Wayanad-Ooty road. It is a difficult route and care should be taken especially during Monsoon season.
Trek to the first tier of the falls is prohibited due to the risky journey and the number of accidents in the past. Trekking is limited up to the second tier which is called the main falls. It is advisable to take help of a guide for safety purpose. The initial trek route is through a coffee plantation and then begins the tough forest trail. You can enjoy the amazing view of the green valleys and surrounding mountains that will refresh your mind and make you forget all the tiredness of the journey. You can go down to the falls and can swim in the shallow portion of the pool. It is advised to avoid the third tier because the trek will be too steep and tough.
The most suitable time to visit Meenmutty is from October to May. Monsoon time is to be avoided.
Located at 29 km from Kalpetta in Wayanad district, the site is easily accessible by road. The nearest railway station is Kozhikode at 97 km and the nearest airport is Karipur international airport at 107 km.
6. Soochipara Waterfalls: the Perfect Place of your Choice
Soochipara Waterfalls, also known as Sentinel Rock waterfalls, is one of the most visited waterfalls in Kerala in Wayanad district. This three-tiered waterfall surrounded by lush green forests of Vellarimala mountain range, cascades from a height of 200 meters and joins in Chaliyar River, hitting down the needle like rocks. The word ‘soochi’ in Malayalam means needle and ‘para’ means rock. This beautiful waterfall will give you some memorable moments that you will relish in your entire life.
To reach the falls, you have to do a nature walk for about 30 minutes from Meppadi, enjoying the pristine beauty of the surroundings. It is an ideal place for trekking and rock climbing. In the pool beneath the falls you can enjoy swimming, bathing and water rafting. Another unique attraction is the tree-top huts in the dense forests that will offer you vivid views of the mountain ranges. Every moment you spent here will rejuvenate you with fresh energy.
The best time you can visit Soochipara waterfalls is from October to March, between 9 am to 5 pm. To maintain a pollution-free environment, plastics are strictly prohibited.
Soochipara is 22 km from Kalpetta and the nearest town is Meppadi. Nearest railway station is Kozhikode at 78 km and nearest airport is Karipur international airport at 93 km.
It is a delight to watch the waterfalls during monsoon seasons due to the voluminous supply of water; but it is risky too due to the chance of slippery and accidents. So please be careful while trekking, when you visit the waterfalls in Kerala during Monsoon.
