The beautiful Athirappilly Waterfalls in the southern parts of India are the largest waterfall in Kerala and a popular place for tourists worldwide. The Chalakudy River feeds this impressive waterfall. It has three falls that drop 80 feet and leave you in awe.
The Athirappilly Waterfalls also called the “Niagara of India”, have been used in a few South Indian & Bollywood movies because of how beautiful they look. Films like “Guru,” “Dil Se,” “Baahubali,” and many others brought a lot of people to the falls.
Several streams bring the waterfall down to the 80-foot level. It is a tourist hotspot in Kerala and is on the border between the districts of Ernakulum and Thrissur. Every season, it draws a wide range of tourists.
It starts in the higher parts of the Western Ghats, near where the Sholayar region begins. The Athirappilly falls flow through the lush greenery of the Vazhachal forest and into the Arabian Sea, creating a spectacular view of sparkling water, emerald jungles, and azure skies. The beautiful waterfalls seem to be worth taking a trip to see.
History of Athirappilly Falls
Before the early 1980s, not much was known about or done at Athirappilly Falls. But it became well-known when the Kerala State Electricity Board proposed a controversial hydroelectric project that called for building a dam upstream of the waterfall. People were against the project for many reasons, including the fear that it would dry up the waterfall.
In the late 1980s, suicidal behavior was seen in the Tamil movie “Punnagai Mannan”, which was filmed at Athirappilly Falls. Kerala Tourism also started advertising the state, and in one of its catchy ads, the waterfall was shown, bringing the area even more attention.
Location and procedure to get in Athirappilly Falls
The falls are 72 km northeast of Kochi, in Athirappilly Panchayat. To get to the falls, people must go into the Sholayar Forest Reserve in Thrissur, about 40 km from the Kochi airport and around 30 km from the Chalakudy railway station. You’ll travel there in about two hours.
The Forest Department and Vana Samrakshana Samithi decided who will provide entry ticket and visiting timing from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., people can get in.
Foreigners must buy tickets, which cost 100 rupees for Indians and 30 rupees for everyone else. Also, you have to pay an extra 20 rupees for the videoncamera—parking costs between 10 and 30 rupees depending on the type of car.
You can see the waterfall from the side of the road near the ticket booth, right before the parking area. Inside the entry, there are multiple more places to look at the waterfall, one at the top and one at the bottom. Each one will take about 10 minutes to walk to.
The path through the forest to the bottom of the waterfall is steep and requires some work, so not everyone can do it. This trail is closed when it rains a lot to keep people safe. If you go down to the base, you should bring about a change of your cloth or wear a rain jacket because the spray from the waterfall is powerful and you will get wet.
Near where you enter the waterfall, there are a lot of snack stands and small restaurants. Please don’t bring food with you here, or dangerous monkeys might steal it from you.
What to Do and How to Get the Most Out of Your Visit Athirappilly Waterfalls
Over a million people come each year from June to November during the monsoon season, when the waterfall is at its most spectacular. For a peaceful experience at Athirappilly Falls, avoid visiting Kerala’s Onam festival in August and September.
One of Kerala’s most popular tourist attractions, the Sholayar Reserve Forest is home to unusual species, including the Malabar Pied Hornbill, Great Hornbill, and Malabar Grey Hornbill. You will also be able to see the nearby Vazhachal Falls with your tickets, which are around 5 kilometers downstream from Chalakudy. In contrast to the vertical plunge of Athirappilly, the Vazhachal waterfall has more of a rapid feel to it. You’ll also come across Charpa Falls, a tiny cascade that bursts into life during the monsoon season.
What Else is Nearby to Do in Athirappilly Falls?
The nature village of Ezhattumukham-Prakriti Gramam has a dam, a botanical garden, a children’s park, and a long suspension bridge. It’s a nice spot for lunch. The kids will love Thumboormozhi on the way to Athirappilly Falls.
After you go over Athirappilly Falls, you’ll get to Malakkappara tea estate, which is close to the border with Tamil Nadu. The journey lasts approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes.
The Thrissur Divisional Tourism Promotion Council and the Athirappilly Destination Management Council work together to give a complete “forest safari” trip that includes the following sites and the waterfalls.
Two river parks near Athirappilly are fun for the whole family: Silver Storm and Dream World.
Take Some Time to Admire the Majestic Falls’ Beauty
Athirappilly Falls is one of those places that, once you see it, will be ingrained in your memory for many years due to its breathtaking natural beauty and roaring waterfalls. It is well known that the picturesque and evocative beauty of the location draws in many tourists, many of whom return to the site on many occasions. We hope that you find our guide towards the Athirappilly Waterfalls in Kerala to be helpful when you finally make the trip there.
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