Best time
June – January
Ideal stay
1–2 days
Altitude
~100 m
Athirapally is Kerala’s grandest waterfall, where the Chalakudy River drops in a wide, roaring curtain into a deep forested gorge. During the monsoon the spray can be felt from the viewpoint, and on bright days rainbows hang in the mist.
Upriver, Vazhachal and Charpa add more cascades, while the surrounding rainforest shelters hornbills, elephants and rich birdlife. Close to Kochi and easy to combine with Valparai or Nelliyampathy, Athirapally makes a spectacular short stop on any Western Ghats trip.
Highlights
- Athirapally Falls
- Vazhachal Falls
- Charpa Falls
- Sholayar rainforest drive
- Great hornbill habitat
Things to do
Waterfall viewpoints and trailsRainforest driveBird watching (four hornbill species)River-side picnics
Combine with
Vazhachal · Valparai (via Sholayar) · Kochi (about 2 hours)
Gallery
Photos via Wikimedia Commons. See credits.
Next up
Kodaikanal →