Hogenakkal

Hogenakkal Waterfalls, known as the 'Niagara' falls of India, are not a single waterfall but a series of falls and they offer a promising holiday destination for nature lovers from within and outside the country.

It is located in the Dharmapuri district of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu,about 180 km (110 mi) from Bangalore and 46 km (29 mi) from Dharmapuri town.It is sometimes referred to as the "Niagara of India".With its fame for medicinal baths and hide boat rides, it is a major site of tourist attraction. Carbonatite rocks in this site are considered to be the oldest of its kind in South Asia and one of the oldest in the world.This is also the site of a proposed project to generate drinking water.

The village of Hogenakkal is located in the district of Dharmapuri in the State of Tamil Nadu. The main modes of transport in the region of Hogenakkal Falls are buses and walking on foot. You can also opt for boat rides in the river Cauvery while visiting Hogenakkal.


Hogenakkal is considered as one of the most beautiful places in the state. The broad stream of the River Kaveri gets forked at this point, forming an island from where one stream continues on while the other plunges into a deep chasm to create one of the loveliest waterfall giving these rocks the name Hogenakkal which means "smoking rock".

Another attraction is the diving skills of local kids, who can show their diving skills for a fee. They can dive for you from a height of around 30 feet into the water and climb straight up back on the rocks in no time, all for mere Rs 5/- from the spectator.

This riverside spa is famous for coracles, masseurs and roaring waters. The sound of the Kaveri river, roaring between rocky banks, is a constant presence in most places in Hogenakkal. At Hogenakkal, the Kaveri river enters the plains and the river dashing against the rocks is a great sight. The river, here flows through a wooded valley, splitting and merging and splitting again around rocks, and little islands with towering trees, and boulder-strewn out crops, which are covered only when the river is in spate with the rains of the monsoon.

Boats will also be available to travel from one bank of the Cauvery River to another, and these can be taken up for rates ranging around Rs 15 to 30. You can also opt for adventure rides through coracles. While these are not actual modes of transport per se, they are a fun opportunity to explore the waterways.


Boating in Hogenakkal is allowed during the dry-season as the water falls are not strong enough to disrupt the passage of the boats. Local coracles operate from both the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka banks of the gorge.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.[15] 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 Tamiland either teppa or harigolu in Kannada.

Freshly caught fish are sold by the gorge and also various vendors selling water and snacks up and down the gorge rowing their coracles is not uncommon. The fish caught include katla, robu, kendai, keluthi, valai, mirgal, aranjan and jilaby. After leaving the gorge, on the left shore one can find improvised stalls set up on the sand. There, one can let the fresh fishes be prepared in one of the many kitchens. Also, many people can be found swimming or bathing around there.


Travellers takes own Risk to Adventure @Bank of Waterfalls .

How to Reach:

Bus:
Buses are available within the village limits. Most of these buses are buses that connect the village of Hogenakkal to other villages in and around the place, and tourists can take these buses in order to get in and around the village of Hogenakkal too.
From Bangalore every 15 min to Krishnagiri.