Tourist places › Waterfall
Kunchikal Falls
India's tallest waterfall, 455 m, deep in restricted forest near Hulikal
At 455 metres, Kunchikal Falls on the Varahi River is officially the tallest waterfall in India, dropping in four tiers through rocky boulders near Nidagodu village. It's a genuinely remarkable natural feature, but not one you can simply drive up to.
The falls sit inside a restricted hydroelectric zone, so a gate pass — available at Hosangadi village, about 15 km away — is required before visiting, and since the Mani Dam and an underground power station were built on the Varahi, water flow here has dropped considerably outside the monsoon months. Plan around the July–September window and arrange the pass in advance.
Highlights
- 455 m (1,493 ft) total height across four tiers on the Varahi River — the tallest waterfall in India
- Flow has been greatly reduced since the Mani Dam and an underground power station were built upstream
- Entry requires a gate pass, issued at Hosangadi village, about 15 km away
Getting there
Outside current Malnad Yatra bus coverage; reached via Hulikal/Hosangadi by private vehicle, with the forest gate pass arranged beforehand.