Kerala Waterfalls - A Guide to Kerala Travel

Kerala is every vacationer’s dream destination. Verdant plains, rocky mountains and sandy beaches apart, Kerala is also famous for its picturesque waterfalls, the waters of which are believed to possess medicinal properties. While the soft whispers of ocean tides seek to eliminate any kind of fatigue, the thunderous roar of waterfalls in God’s own country is something one must experience at least once in a lifetime.

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Kerala abounds in natural resources like lakes, forests, mountains and waterfalls. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that this southern state is the epitome of beauty in the Indian subcontinent and if you want to feel Nature at her natural best, Kerala is the place to head to.

The Athirapally and Vazhachal waterfalls are situated on the edge of the Sholayar forest range, to the east of the Chalakudy river, and are about 5 kilometers apart from each other. These two waterfalls fall from a great height of about 80 feet and merge with the Chalakudy river. The beauty of these waterfalls is that they rise from a dense forest range that abounds in greenery. The cool, inviting waters are every tourist’s dream come true.

Palaruvi means "milk waterfall", and literally so. The enchanting Palaruvi waterfall, located 75 kilometers from Kollam, gushes down from a magnanimous height of 300 feet and is joined by several smaller cascades as it falls down into a huge pool below. This pool is ideal for swimming and is a popular tourist destination. There are ruins of ancient temples on the rocky mountain ranges nearby and the water from the Palaruvi is believed to have rare medicinal properties.

50 kilometers east of Kozhikode are the Tusharagiri waterfalls, bordering the tribal village of Tusharagiri. Tusharagiri means "snowy peak" and the waterfalls get their name from the Chalippuzha river that diverges into three waterfalls, thereby creating a snowy spray. Of the three waterfalls that make up the Tusharagiri, Thenpara is the highest, falling from an altitude of 75 meters. The entire place is full of dense foliage and rocky hillocks, and besides the waterfalls, Tusharagiri is also a trekker’s paradise.

These two beautiful waterfalls are located near Kochi and comprise a chain of waterfalls amid dense green jungles. The Cheeyappara waterfall descends symmetrically in seven steps. Needless to say, these two spots are popular with most tourists visiting Kerala.

The Chethalayam waterfall is about 12 kilometers from Sulthan Bathery. This breathtakingly beautiful waterfall is not easily accessible and one has to trek almost 4 kilometers to catch a glimpse of its crystal clear waters.

This is a very violent waterfall, which falls from a huge cliff that is ideal for rock climbing. A 3-tiered cascade, one can reach the Soochipara waterfall by walking through the dense Wayanad forest.

Situated 74 kilometers from Cochin, the Thommankuthu waterfall is surrounded by dark caves and rocky cliffs. This waterfall is a big hit with nature lovers, as it offers a heady mix of cool waters, dark, unexplored caves, and tough, mountainous terrain.

Mulamkuzhi is a small village about 15 kilometers from Malayattur. The river Mulamkuzhi flows through the nearby mountain ranges and cascades into a huge waterfall with sweet, medicated water. The Venanbravady waterfall near Malayattur is also worth visiting.

Located between Munnar and Pallivasal, Attukal is excellent for trekking. The beautiful Attukal waterfall offers a lovely respite for the weary traveller.

10. Nyayamkad Waterfall

The Nyayamkad waterfall is located at a distance of 10 kilometers from Munnar. Fresh, cool spring waters cascade down the hillock from an amazing height of about 1,600 meters. This is a famous picnic spot.

18 kilometers from Munnar, the Power House waterfall is a huge cascade falling from a height of 2,000 meters. Known for its scenic beauty, this waterfall is en route the famous Periyar wildlife sanctuary and is thus a part of every tourist’s itinerary.

Also known as the Valanjamkanam waterfall, the Kesari waterfall lies between Kuttikanam and Murinjapuzha. This waterfall is famous for its calmness and the silence of the mountain range through which it flows.

The Maramala waterfall is near the town of Eerattupetta and one has to trek through a rocky, mountainous cliff to get there. The waterfall cascades from a height of 60 meters and falls down to meet the Teekoy river.

The Dhoni waterfall is a 3-hour trek uphill from the foot of the Dhoni hills, 15 kilometers from Palakkad. The waterfall is surrounded by a thick reserve forest that adds to the beauty and serenity of the place.

15. Meenvallam Waterfall

This waterfall is located at a distance of 8 kilometers from the Thuppanad junction. The waterfall gushes down from a height of 20 to 25 feet and there are several small 10-tiered waterfalls that join together to fall into a clear pool below. The higher tiers are almost inaccessible.

A favourite picnic spot, the Perumthenaruvi waterfall on the banks of river Pamba flows down a rocky path into a 60 to 100 feet deep valley.

The Aruvi waterfall is located at a distance of 60 kilometers from Thiruvananthapuram in the Peppara forest range. This is one of the secluded virgin waterfalls in Kerala and falls from a height of four feet.

The upper slopes of the Neyyar reservoir house these two very beautiful waterfalls. These waterfalls can be reached by trekking a distance of 2 kilometers through the thick forests around the reservoir.

30 meters in height, the Kanthanpara waterfall lies 12 kilometers to the southeast of Kalpetta and offers a grand view of the mountain range through which it cascades down.

The Sentinel Rock waterfall is a 3-tiered waterfall, falling from a height of over 200 meters. The rocky area around the waterfall is ideal for rock climbing. The waterfall cascades down into a large pool, where tourists indulge in sports like white water rafting.