Hogenakkal Falls – Niagara Falls of India
Area: Hogenakkal
Duration: 03 Hour 12mins (180kms)
About Hogenakkal Falls
Hogenakkal Falls is a
waterfall on River Kaveri in South India on the Kaveri river in the Dharmapuri
District. The name of the waterfall has been derived from two Kannada words –
‘hoge’ meaning smoke and ‘kal’ meaning rock, because the mist created by water
hitting the rocks creates a feeling of smoke emanating from the rocks. It is a
major tourist attraction given to its medicinal baths and hide boat rides,
projecting itself as a major tourist attraction.. It is located 180 kms from
Bangalore and 46 km from Dharmapuri. Limestone rocks in this site are one of the oldest of its kind in
South Asia.
Kaveri River is
originated from Talakaveri in Brahmagiri hills in Western Ghats.
Kaveri River
joins various tributaries on the way down and creates waterfalls as water flows
through the rocky hills. Water falls is almost 20mtr(66ft) high and sounds like
thunder.
After the falls
the river enters Mettur Stanley Reservoir. The river has organic matter which
makes river land fertile.
At Hogenakkal the river spreads out over a wide area of sandy
beaches, then flows through to the Mettur Dam and creates a 60 sq mi (160 kms)
lake called Stanley Reservoir. Built in 1934, this project improved irrigation
and provided hydropower.
Hogenakkal Waterfalls is your perfect day trip destination from
Bangalore. The brilliant milky waterfalls and never ending river will leave you
excitement with joy!
The rocky formations in the course of Kaveri create a
magnificent site. In addition, the coracle ride(Boating) will help you indulge
deeply in the sparkling experience of Hogenakkal falls.
You can hire a car or hop on your bike and reach Hogenakkal in
about 3 hours. After spending another 3 hours at the place, including the
coracle ride, you can reach back to Bangalore on the same day.
Boating in Hogenakkal
Boating in Hogenakkal is allowed during the dry-season as the
water falls are not strong enough to disrupt the passage of the boats. This is
the main source of income for these boat operators. The coracles are about 2.24
m (7 ft 4 in) in diameter, but still can take a load of eight persons at a
time. These coracles are made of bamboo, and with all materials available takes
about a day to build. The bottom of the boats are made waterproof by the use of
hides, but sometimes with sheets of plastic. Use of plastics in the Hogenakkal
vicinity, not just for boats, has been criticised due to problems with
pollution. These boats are steered and propelled using a single paddle, making
them unique. The coracles are locally called parisal in Tamil and either teppa
or harigolu in Kannada.
Coracle is a small boat which can carry a maximum of 7 people,
including a guide. The cost of enjoying the coracle ride would come upto Rs 900
for 6 people. However, if you are a family of 4 or a couple, you can either
wait for more people to join you or keep the boat to yourself. But, you will
have to bear the entire cost. Negotiating with the coracle owners is possible.
But, if you are visiting Hogenakkal Waterfalls during peak season or on a
weekend, the chance of getting a better deal is elusive.
When you start your coracle ride in Hogenakkal Waterfalls, you
will have to wait for some time to be impressed. But, when you listen the
roaring sound of water turning into an uproar, you will realize that you are up
for a treat. The coracle goes as close as possible to the waterfalls and as the
strong current of Kaveri river splashes the cold water on you, the admiration
for nature’s magnanimity grows stronger in you.
After rowing for some time, you will reach some spots along
the banks of Kaveri River where you can take a dip in the holy waters. These
spots are less crowded as compared to the main area, from where you started
your coracle trip. You can swim at these spots. Life jackets are available for
you here. But, to be on the safe side, you should carry life jackets from the
beginning itself. If you don’t plan to jump in the waters, Life jackets
wouldn’t be necessary.
From that spot, you will be able to get a bird’s eye view of
the Hogenakkal Waterfalls and vast kaveri river.
Coracle Ride timings: The last coracle ride would be around 5
pm. Hence, make sure to start your ride in afternoon so that you can peacefully
enjoy the experience. Normally, one coracle guide does approximately 2 trips.
If you are starting a trip around 2 pm, that would be the last trip for the
coracle owner. Hence, he wouldn’t rush to complete the ride. But, if you start
your ride around 4:30 pm, he might rush you to complete the ride before it gets
dark.
Food at Hogenakkal:
You will find many eateries here selling fried fish and other
delicacies. Make sure you check the hygiene factors before embarking upon a
joyful trip for your taste buds.(Fishes found over here katla, robu, kendai,
keluthi, valai, mirgal, aranjan and jilaby.)
Other places you may be interested :
Oil Massages: Your trip to Hogenakkal waterfalls can include an
oil massage from an experienced Masseuse. The massages at Hogenakkal Waterfalls
are actually famous.
Weather:
The best season to visit is soon after the monsoons, when the
river is in full spate. But some tourists prefer to visit during off-season to
skip the crowd. The temperature in summer varies between 23–34 °C (73–93 °F)
while during the winter it is still pleasant and ranges from 13–27 °C (55–81
°F)
How to Reach Hogenakkal Falls
The distance between Bangalore and Hogenakkal Falls is about 180
km and it can be covered in 3 to 4 hours, depending on the route you choose to
travel on, and the flow of traffic. There are 3 routes that you can choose from
to reach Hogenakkal Falls. The shortest route includes traveling via NH 7. You
can also opt to drive via NH 209 or NH 7 and Dharmapuri-Hogenakkal Road. For
the shortest route, you have to take Langford Road,Hosur Road, Sarjapur Main
Road and Madivala Road to NH7. Then, continue on NH7 to A.Reddihalli. Exit from
NH7 and follow Dharmapuri – Hogenakkal Rd to your destination in Bevanurmalai
R.F.
Source :
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