Jog Falls
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barreling through a 290 m
(293 meter) deep chasm, and plunging down a precipice 253 m (253
meter) in height down into the Gerusoppe Valley. Known variously as the Gerusoppe Falls,
Gersoppa Falls and Jogada Gundi, it is the second highest untiered waterfall in the country and the second
highest plunge falls after the Nohkalikai Falls in the East Khasi Hills
district of Meghalaya, which falls to a depth of 335 m (335 meter). The falls is
located on National Highway 206 which connects Honnavar with Tumkur.Description
In the summer, the waterfall is hardly recognizable as only a couple of streams flow down the face of the cliff. The reason for that is the Linganamakki Dam upstream, across the Sharavati River,
which serves the Mahatma Gandhi Power Generating Station. The hydro-electric power generation station generates
1,200 megawatts of power and was the brainchild of the Sir M. Visveswaraya. With the onset of the South-West monsoons in
the month of June the falls come to life. The surplus water released from the reservoir and the run-off from the
surrounding places, downstream of the dam creates a spectacle that has to be seen to be believed. The best time to see
the falls is from August to December.
The falls consists of four breathtaking cascades. The Raja, Roarer, Rocket and Rani combine in an arc of about half a kilometer to create a breathtaking spectacle. Raja is the biggest of the cascades and is special because it pours all of the 253 m (253 meter) in a sheer drop, the highest in India. Roarer is so named because of the sound it creates when flowing through a chasm, much below the level that Raja cascades from. The velocity that the water generates in the chasm means it meets the waters of the Raja at an angle of 45 degrees.
The Roarer is next to Rani and a huge quantity of water passing through a constriction creates a series of jets of water. Rani is more somber and the water cascading down from the fall crashes across the rock face to create a tremendous amount of spray and mist. The falls is best viewed from Watkins Platform and Bombay Bungalow. There are 1,400 steps leading down to the base of the gorge, but the climb down and up again is only for the fittest. Expect to get drenched by the mist and the spray that is generated by the falls.
In 2007, due to heavy monsoon rains, the Linganmakki Dam was on the brink of overflowing. The waters of the dam had to be released and spectators saw the Jog falls in its full splendor. The price however, was that a few villages downstream were flooded and the fishing community distraught.
Geology
The Sharavati River originates in the heights of the Western Ghats at Ambutirtha, and is joined by the Haridravati and Yenne Hole before plunging down the ravine to the delight of viewers. Located in the dense deciduous forests at the foothills of the Western Ghats, the terrain around it is fascinating too. For a botanist, there is a bounty of flora with some species of plants, flowers and orchids that are found nowhere else in the world. The rocky face of the cliffs are good nesting sites for birds, and with the diversity of the Western Ghats, the bird watcher will not be disappointed. For the zoologist, if you are lucky, you might sight the Giant Indian Squirrel with its resplendent flaming orange coat and a busy tail. Bonnet Macaques are in plentiful, but the Black Faced Langurs are more elusive. The area is also ideal for trekking.Reaching Jog Falls
Accommodation
There is basic accommodation at Jog Falls in at the Youth Hostel and the state run KTDC Hotel. An air-conditioned double bedroom accommodation will cost anywhere between $ 50 USD to $ 60 USD . The nearest high end accommodation is at Shimoga, 105 kilometers away.Do you see any omissions, errors or want to add information to this page? Sign up.
Author: jackmartis. Last updated: Jan 12, 2015