Although living in Karnataka, we chased waterfalls in Meghalaya on our short and sweet Meghalaya trip from Bangalore, had an amazing encounter with the majestic Athirapally waterfalls in Kerala on our Bangalore to Kerala Road Trip and even visited some majestic waterfalls on our trip to Uttarakhand and Shimla and Manali trip. And yet, one of the highest waterfalls of India – the Jog Falls Karnataka – evaded us for years. Until finally this year materialised our trip to Shimoga. And from there, we drove to witness the magic of Karnataka – the Jog Falls.
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About Jog Falls Karnataka
Majestic waterfalls that gush through the mountains and jungles, falling off the clips with great energy are often so mesmerising. That’s the reason we love chasing these waterfalls. After chasing the majestic waterfalls of Meghalaya years back, it took us several years before we finally got the chance to greet the Jog Falls. Located in the Shivamogga district of Karnataka, Jog Falls is one of India’s highest and most spectacular waterfalls. Here are some interesting details about Jog Falls –
- Jog Falls has a height of about 253 meters (830 feet), making it one of the tallest waterfalls in India.
- The falls are divided into four distinct cascades known as Raja, Rani, Rover, and Rocket, each with its unique flow pattern and appearance.
- The falls are formed by the Sharavathi River, which flows over the rocky cliffs, especially impressive during the monsoon season when the water volume increases significantly.
- Jog Falls is located approximately 30 km from Sagara and 60 km from Shivamogga. It is accessible by road, and the nearest railway station is Talguppa.
- There are trekking trails around Jog Falls, offering opportunities for nature walks and exploration.
How to reach Jog Falls
There are several ways to reach Jog Falls Karnataka :
By Air
The nearest airport is Mangalore International Airport, around 180 km away. Alternatively, you can fly to Hubli Airport, which is about 130 km away. From the airport you can hire a taxi or take a bus to Jog Falls. On our previous Coastal Karnataka Road Trip, we planned to drive from Mangalore to Udupi to Murudeshwar to Shimoga and then visit Jog Falls. But we had to return back from Mangalore due to lack of time. Had we been able to take that road trip from Murudeshwar to Jog Falls, that must have been a very beautiful road trip which passes via Agumbe as well.
By Road
Jog Falls is about 400 km from Bangalore. You can drive or take a KSRTC (Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation) bus to Sagara and then another bus or taxi to Jog Falls. We drove to Shimoga and stayed in the main town of Shimoga district. From here, we again drove to Jog Falls the next day. There is an excellent connectivity of Jog Falls by road from both Mangalore and Hubli as well as stated above. You can again drive or take a bus or taxi from any of these places.
By Train
The nearest railway station is Talguppa, which is about 13 km from Jog Falls. You can hire a taxi or take a local bus to reach Jog Falls. Alternatively, you can reach Sagara, which is about 30 km away, and then take a taxi or bus. There are also overnight trains from Bangalore to Shimoga town which provide an excellent option to visit Jog Falls and Shimoga from Bangalore. You can take a friday night train from Bangalore to Shimoga. And again a sunday night train from Shimoga to Bangalore.
On our own trip to Jog Falls Karnataka, we stayed in Shimoga town for 2 nights. And we drove from Shimoga to Jog Falls on the second day of our trip. The drive from Shimoga to Jog Falls is very scenic. It passes through lush green and dense ghats, winding roads through thick forests. On the way, you will pass through several beautiful ponds and grasslands before you finally reach the mystic mountains where the parking lot for Jog Falls is located. However, the road condition is amazing.
Best viewpoints to see Jog Falls Karnataka
Jog Falls offers several excellent viewpoints to appreciate its stunning beauty. Here are some of the best viewpoints:
Viewpoint from the Main Entrance
This is the most popular viewpoint, providing a panoramic view of the falls. From here, you can see all four cascades that constitute the Jog Falls – (Raja, Rani, Rover, and Rocket) in their full glory.
Watkins Platform
Located near the main entrance, this platform offers a slightly elevated view of the falls, allowing for a different perspective and great photo opportunities. In fact, when the myst finally cleared, we had an excellent view of the waterfalls from exactly this platform.
British Bungalow
This viewpoint is a bit higher up and offers a more distant view of the falls. The British Bungalow viewpoint provides a more serene and picturesque setting. However, it doesn’t provide a full frontal view of the Jog Falls.
Mungaru Male Point
Named after the popular Kannada movie “Mungaru Male“, this viewpoint offers a unique angle of the falls and is especially beautiful during the monsoon season.
Steps Leading Down to the Falls
For a more adventurous experience, you can take the steps that lead down to the base of the falls. The trek can be challenging, but the view from the bottom is worth it. You’ll get a close-up view of the powerful cascades. However, I am not so sure if it is allowed to access these steps as of today. As, the gates were closed when we visited.
Top of the Falls
If you prefer to see the falls from above, there are viewpoints near the top where you can see the water gushing down the cliffs. This provides a different perspective and showcases the height of the falls.
Sharavathi Valley View
Located a short drive from the main falls, this viewpoint offers a breathtaking view of the Sharavathi River valley and the surrounding landscape. It’s a great spot to enjoy the natural beauty of the area.
Facilities near Jog Falls
There is a parking facility at the main viewpoint of Jog Falls Karnataka. Also, right opposite the parking complex there is government run restaurant and an adjoining restroom. Don’t keep your expectation too high with respect to the hygiene and food options available at the restaurant. It is very basic. And same goes true for the restroom as well. Right opposite to the view point there is a government guest house which has accommodation facilities – basic rooms. However, the views from here are awesome. Nevertheless, I was little disappointed with the facilities available near Jog Falls Karnataka. Given it is one of the most renowned waterfalls of India. And thousands of tourists flock here daily.
I wish there were some nice resorts nearby from where you could get a clear view of the Jog Falls. Like there are resorts around the Athirapally Waterfalls in Kerala. Or, the condition of the government run facilities was better. Like, we were highly impressed by the facilities and premises of Hotel Mayura Durg, run by KSTDC , which is located right opposite to the Chitradurga Fort.
Where to stay near Jog Falls Karnataka
I could see some homestays and a few resorts here and there on the way from Shimoga to Jog Falls. But, at the last 15-20km stretch I couldn’t see any. Right opposite to the Jog Falls view point there is a government accommodation. But it doesn’t have any food facilities. There is one government run restaurant at the view point available for food. In my opinion, best will be to stay in the town of Shimoga. Particularly if you are traveling with family like we did. There are plenty of hotels available in Shimoga as well as traditional Malnad houses that run homestays. Also, the town of Shimoga is equipped with all the facilities that you might need, with plenty of food outlets too.
We stayed in Royal Orchid Shimoga on our own trip to Shimoga. Although the hotel doesn’t live upto the Royal Orchid brand but it was a ok-ok stay. And it was very centrally located in the main market area of Shimoga. So, we had everything at our disposal that we might need. Here’s a list of hotels in Shimoga that you can browse and choose from.
What is the best time to visit Jog Falls Karnataka
The best time to visit Jog Falls is during the monsoon season (June to September) when the waterfalls are in full flow. The flow remains high till October. However, when we visited the Jog Falls Karnataka in June the flow was not yet so high because of the late monsoons this year. So, it is best to check on the monsoon conditions and enquire with some local people who will know about the current conditions of the Jog Falls water volume, before you plan a trip.
What to pack and wear when visiting Jog Falls Karnataka
Wear comfortable cloths and shoes or slippers. And definitely carry an umbrella. Keep a light jacket with you. This region of Karnataka is one of the wettest in India. Specially if you are visiting in the monsoon months, be ready for sudden showers. When we visited jog falls in June, the whole area was full of monsoon clouds and myst. It was also drizzling in small bursts and for a few minutes the rain even intensified. Since we were expecting it, we carried an umbrella each. And also had kids jackets with us for added protection against the cold wind.
Which other places can I visit with Jog Falls Karnataka
There are several places of interest in the Shimoga District. These include trekking paths through dense forests and hills, natural waterfalls, backwaters of Sravanthi Thunga river, animal safari and wildlife encounters, ruined forts and mesmerising hill top views. Read the complete details of our 3 days trip to Shimoga from Bangalore to know how we planned our time in Shimoga. Along with Jog Falls we also visited Honnemaradu – a mesmerizing backwaters picnic spot, Shimoga Wildlife Sanctuary and Zoo and Shakrebeilu elephant camp in Shimoga. And I have also covered in the above post details of all the other places of interest in and around Shimoga. If you have more time at hand, you can plan to cover some of those as well.