The highest waterfalls in India are regularly attracting tourists from all over the world. This attraction is due to their fabulous beauty and the wonderful weather in India. These waterfalls are so mesmerising that people are even named after these waterfalls. This article lists the top 10 biggest and highest waterfalls in India to visit and some of them are located in the states of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
India is home to thousands of beautiful waterfalls with lush greenery surrounding them. Amongst all these, some are so big that they become major tourist attractions for visitors as well as locals alike, with a huge number visiting them every year.
How Waterfalls are Formed?
Waterfalls are formed by the natural process of erosion. Water falling from a height is responsible for the formation of waterfalls, while the rocks and pebbles present in it are responsible for creating the cascade effect.
When this stream of water with rocks and pebbles falls, it goes on to carve out a path through solid rock, which eventually becomes a waterfall. Waterfalls may occur along the edge of an upland area or escarpment arising from streams that drain an area of relatively hard bedrock. Waterfalls usually form in a narrow valley due to erosion.
Highest Waterfalls in India
Most of the biggest waterfalls in India have fast become tourist attractions to a lot of visitors because of their natural magnificence and splendour. So here are some of the highest waterfalls in India, which are undoubtedly the biggest ones in the country as well:
1. Kunchikal Falls
This waterfall is located on the hillside of the Western Ghats and is a major tourist attraction in Kerala. It is located at an altitude of 2,066 metres. It is formed by the Kunkad River, which falls vertically in a gorge.
The path to reach this waterfall has to be trekked for about one hour from Kannur town and this is also unarguably one of the highest waterfalls in India.
This waterfall has been described as Kerala's Grand Canyon and its beauty has been compared to that of Niagara Falls in the USA. The water from the Kunchikal river falls into the gorge so suddenly that it creates a magnificent spectacle, creating a surreal effect for the visitors who come to this place.
2. Barehipani Falls
Located at an altitude of 2,000 metres above sea level on the mountain slope near Darjeeling, this waterfall is believed to have medicinal properties. It is formed by the Bahrampani River. The waterfalls in a semicircular fashion into a deep pool surrounded by colourful woods and forests, which makes it an interesting sight to see and it's also one of the biggest waterfalls in India.
3. Kedarnath Falls
This spectacular waterfall is located at an altitude of 1,330 metres on the Mandakini River in Uttar Pradesh. It is said that Lord Shiva himself destroyed the temple here, which was built by one of his ardent worshippers named Dharmendra.
The waterfall is surrounded by stunning greenery so one can experience a breath-taking and mesmerising view here.
4. Kalavati Falls
This waterfall is located at an elevation of 2,440 metres in the Western Ghats, Maharashtra India. This waterfall has been voted as one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world. Its water plunges from a height of 200 meters to 600 meters and was discovered by James Rennell in 1838.
This place with its crystal-clear water is breathtaking to see, and so it's also been voted as one of the biggest waterfalls in India. The elevation of this waterfall also makes it one of the highest waterfalls in India.
5. Garbhaji Falls
It's located near Srinagar in Kashmir and has been voted one of the highest waterfalls in India. It's formed by the Jhelum River and falls from a height of nearly 176 meters. It's one of the highest waterfalls on earth and you can get a bird's eye view of it and its surroundings.
The eureka position gives you the feeling that you are right next to this waterfall and provides a panoramic view of it, but you will have to trek for about 6 km to reach there, so this is also one of the biggest waterfalls in India.
6. Dudhsagar Falls
This waterfall is one of the most famous waterfalls in India. It's located at an elevation of 1,924 metres above sea level and is a major attraction for tourists. The waterfall is formed by the Alaknanda River, which falls from a height of about 88 to about 14 metres.
The best time for visiting this waterfall is generally between October to March when it rains so much that the sudden drop in water height does not create too much of a problem, and also during summers when there are no torrential rains.
7. Nohsngithiang Falls
This waterfall is among the biggest waterfalls in India. It's located on the East Khasi hills in India, which flows down an altitude of 1,462 metres. The waterfall drops from a height of 315 metres. The main attraction of this waterfall is its location and also because it's so close to the little town of Sarmahbarda, which has been voted as one of the highest waterfalls in India.
8. Zum Dam
This waterfall is located on the Zum River, which falls from a height of about 128 metres so that you get to see a beautiful sight when you visit this place. It's located in Himachal Pradesh and from here the waterfall looks like a petal of a flower.
The Zum River, which takes its name from this waterfall, is a major tributary that enters into the Chenab River. The river eventually enters Pakistan so it also provides you with an interesting view of the India-Pakistan border.
9. Baglung Bharati
This waterfall is located on Baglung Hills at an altitude of 2,972 metres above sea level. It's one of the biggest waterfalls in India because it forms a magnificent spectacle while falling from its height and has been voted as one of the highest waterfalls in India. It's a major tourist attraction, especially during the monsoon season.
10. Nohkalikai Falls
Located in the state of Meghalaya near Cherrapunji, this waterfall is located at an altitude of 2,360 metres above sea level. It's also one of the highest waterfalls in India because it provides you with such a beautiful view that you won't be able to forget after your visit here.
It's formed by the Mahi River. The water falls into a deep pool surrounded by steep rocks and forests, which is quite interesting to see.
11. Ozarde Falls
This spectacular waterfall is located at an altitude of 1,560 meters in Maharashtra and it has been ranked number five on travel sites for best tourist attractions in India. This waterfall has a serene environment with amazing scenery and natural interactions. This waterfall was voted as one of the best waterfalls in India.
It's formed by the Kosli River and falls from a height of about 100 metres. You can easily get there through a cable car and take a panoramic view of this waterfall from here. It's not very easy to visit this place because it requires a one full day long trekking but if you want to experience the beauty that nature has come up with then this is one place to visit.
Conclusion
All these waterfalls are well-known for their sheer beauty and captivating nature. Their sheer size, the steep falls and the greenery around them make them quite a sight to behold. These are definitely top on the list of highest waterfalls in India. The stunning scenery provided by these waterfalls makes one want to go back again and again.
FAQs
Which waterfall is the highest in India?
There are a lot of waterfalls with amazing features and great heights, and there are also some notable ones like Kunchikal Falls, Keranath Falls, Barehipani Falls, etc.
Which is the best waterfall in India?
The best waterfall in India is a term that all aforementioned waterfalls in this article can match up to as they are each unique in their way.