Super Waterfall Hogenakkal

Driving 46 kms from Dharmapuri we can reach a beautiful picnic spot Hogenakkal. The lush green ambience of this hill station presents a visual feast of tall trees with giant rocks on the way. Hogenakkal is located in the Dharmapuri district of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu and is sitting in the border of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Hogenakkal means Smoky Rocks. The words hoge means smoke and kal means rock in Kannada language. When the water falls on the rocks, it looks like smoke is coming out of rock. You can see here. Hogenakkal waterfalls is celebrated as the Niagara of India. It is situated 750 feet above sea level.

The area is surrounded by Melagiri hills and offers lovely panoramic view. Cauvery(Kaveri) water spreads for miles around making sandy beaches, drops and creates numerous waterfalls as the water cuts through the rocky terrain. As water travels through the forests filled with herbal plants and shrubs, it is supposed to be having curative powers. People can take bath in the running river Cauvery before and beyond the falls. You can pick your spot (there is plenty) to enjoy a bath in cool water. You can have a healthy oil massage near the river bed, spending a minimum sum of Rs 100. There is a hanging bridge to cross one of the tributaries and the entrance fee is Rs 5 per head. To visit the main falls and Cini falls, Rs 8 is charged by the local authority. On footpaths we can see fish and chicken shops. Freshly caught fish are cooked and sold here. We can observe Carbonatite rocks in this site which are considered the oldest of its kind in the world.

Boating is available during the season. Small boats made of bamboo are used to take the tourists on the river. The coracles are about 2 metre in diameter and its bottoms are made water-proof using plastic sheets. These coracles are steered and propelled using a single paddle (a unique driver). Riding in the small boat (Coracle), Parisal in Tamil, on the river Cauvery is a nice experience. If your parisal moves on a water current, it gets rolling leading to a joyful moment. The ride costs Rs 160 per person. Boat operators take minimum 6 persons per ride (max. 8 persons). Some coracles are converted into petty shops selling fried fish masala (Rs 20 per piece), water bottles and snacks.

For lunch, there are few hotels. We recommend the restaurant run by TTDC at the entrance of the parking lots. Better you bring your lunch with you. Or buy in Petrol bunks on the national highways.

TheTamil Nadu Government is constructing the Hogenakkal Integrated Drinking Water Project here to provide safe drinking water to two districts Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri.

On the other side there is a lot to be desired in terms of organization, cleanliness, hospitality. Tamil Nadu Tourism Department should have noted on, This place is recommended for poor people alone. Avoid going on Saturday and Sunday as the place is crowded. Wear slippers because the pathway is slippery. Be careful! Monkeys are everywhere. Don’t take bath at risky places.