Odisha is known to preserve India’s largest forest land area, which includes various species of plants, trees, animals, and mesmerizing waterfalls. The tourism sector has seen Odisha’s growth due to its natural beauty, and tourism recognized it globally.
However, Odisha’s waterfalls have a unique attraction for visitors both locally and internationally. NO matter if it’s a sunny day or cloudy, waterfalls offers tremendous fun.
So, here are some of the best Waterfalls of Odisha that are worth visiting:
Badaghagara Waterfall
It is a waterfall that has water all around the year. Part of a small river called the Machha Kandana. It has a height of sixty meters. It is located at a distance of nine kilometres from the district headquarters of the Kandahar district.
It is a part of a shorter waterfall called Sanaghagara Waterfall, which begins three kilometres upstream.
Duduma Waterfall
It is a horsetail type waterfall with a height of 175 metres. It has two sub-waterfalls, one in the Koraput district in Odisha and another in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
It is formed by the Machkund River, which is a pilgrimage destination. Nestled between thick coverings of deciduous forest, it looks like a gateway to heaven.
A dam has been constructed on it, consisting of 6 units and a capacity of generating 120 megawatts of electricity. It is located about 92 km away from Koraput and 177 km away from Vishakhapatnam.
Barehipani Waterfall
Barehipaniis the second-highest waterfall in India, with 400 metres. And it is a perennial stream with water all around the year. It is nested around Simplipal Natural Park, which makes it a prime location for tourism. The River Budhabalanga generates it.
It houses 1076 species of plants belonging to 102 families with 96 species of orchids. The fauna here totals 42 species of mammals like tiger, giant squirrel, leopard and Asian elephants, 242 species of birds and 30 species of reptiles.
Harishankar Waterfall
It is named after the temple it is attached with, the Harishankar temple, which was constructed around the 14th century, making it a pilgrimage place. It is located in the hills of Gandhamardan, south of the city of Rourkela.
Inside the temple, there is a huge statue of Lord Hanuman and a dancing statue of Lord Ganesha. The nearest town from where you can reach here is Jharsuguda.
There are various tourist spots like Ispat Nehru Park, Indira Gandhi Park and Hanuman Vatika.
Khandadhar Waterfall
It is a horsetail type of waterfall dropping from a height of 244 metres, making it India’s 12th highest waterfall. It is situated in the Sundergarh district of the state. Tourists can hike here in the post-monsoon season as it is the best time to visit it.
It is named after a goddess named Khand Kumari. It streams out of a deep hole and is the source of water for the tribes like the Pauri Bhuliyas.
Pradhanpat Waterfall
It belongs to the city of Deogarh and is blessed with astounding hills and deep forests. It falls from a height of 9.1 metres and makes soothing echo sounds. It is perfect for photography tours due to its verdant beauty.
The steep hills, the waterfall and the dense forest make it ideal for picnics. The temples of Deogarh add another choice to visit when near Pradhanpat falls.
Nrusinghanath Waterfall
It gets its name from the temple it is close to, the Nrusinghanath temple. It is situated at the foothills of the Gandhamardan hill, towards the north. It is surrounded by dark forest and hilly terrains of Bargarh District.
The best time to visit the fall would be between October and March. There are many smaller waterfalls like Gadadhar, Pitrudhar and Chaladhar around the temple of Nrusinghanath.
Handibhanga Waterfall
It is carved out of the Bahalada Village of Keonjhar District. It flows down from a height of 30 metres; the best time to visit would be between October and March. It is located near another famous waterfall called the Sanghaghra waterfall.
Village sightseeing is also a good option to learn more about the cultures and traditions of the tribes living in that area. Many wild animals like the Indian Gaurs can be found roaming in the forest.
Phurlijharan Waterfall
It is located in the Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary in the Kalahandi district. It is 15 kilometres away from the city of Bhawanipatna. Its flow direction is that you can see a good rainbow during the day when the sunray falls on it.
It descends from a height of 9.1 metres. The best time to visit is in the months between September to January.
Murga Mahadev Waterfall
This waterfall also gets its name from the temple adjacent to it, called the MurgaMahadev temple. Visiting this place is during the festivals of Kartika, Shravana, and Shivratri shows the real charm of the area.
The best time to visit this place would be between October to March as the weather during these months is pleasant. It is one of the major picnic spots in Odisha. It drops from a height of 30 feet and is a perennial type of waterfall.
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